American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)

Progress on ARRA
The $10 million Centennial Hills Transit Center and Park & Ride lot is the first transportation project in Southern Nevada to be built using ARRA funds.  Although work has only just started, already an estimated 45 people are working on site – work that RTC could not have started this quickly without ARRA funds.   By end June, the project will have generated over 2,000 man-hours of work, contributing $100,000 in payroll to the local economy.   Many more people will be employed as construction ramps up during the summer.

Another $5.5 million in ARRA funds is helping RTC move ahead with the new $14 million Central City Terminal, where work is expected to start in early July.

Work on the RTC’s Boulder Highway Rapid Transit line, which received $19 million in ARRA funding, is expected to start in the fall of 2009.

Three other projects, expected to use some $20 million in ARRA funds, are now being advertised for
bids and should start in the next couple of months.  These include the landscaping of I-15 between
M.L.King and Rainbow, the resurfacing of 8 miles of US.95 north of Kyle Canyon Rd, and the
Laughlin/Searchlight Welcome Center. 

American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) was signed into law by President Obama on February 17th, 2009. It is an unprecedented effort to jumpstart our economy, create or save millions of jobs, and put a down payment on addressing long-neglected challenges so our country can thrive in the 21st century. The ARRA is an extraordinary response to a crisis unlike any since the Great Depression, and includes measures to modernize our nation's infrastructure.

There are nationwide transportation investments using the ARRA funds totaling $34 billion; $27.5 billion toward highway and bridge projects and $6.9 billion for transit projects. Southern Nevada has been allocated $39 million for highway projects and $34 million for transit projects. The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) in cooperation with local jurisdictions has developed a prioritized list of projects for funding under the ARRA allocations.

RTC Projects
The local roadway and transit projects to be funded through ARRA in Southern Nevada were approved by the RTC Board of Commissioners on Thursday, March 12, 2009.
Approved ARRA Highway and Transit Project List for Southern Nevada (PDF)
Approved ARRA Highway and Transit Project Map

The RTC developed these local priorities in cooperation with the local jurisdictions of Clark County, Boulder City, Henderson, Las Vegas, Mesquite and North Las Vegas. This collaborative effort identified specific projects that would help achieve the objectives of the ARRA.
ARRA funds will be used for projects that will create jobs in Southern Nevada and help reinvigorate the local economy. The available roadway funding will go to maintenance and pavement preservation projects that are particularly effective at creating jobs. These projects can be started quickly, which is a major goal of the ARRA. Distributing the available funds over several projects will ensure that all parts of the Southern Nevada region will benefit from the ARRA investment.

The funds for transit that RTC receives under ARRA will be spent primarily on construction. ARRA funds will be used to construct dedicated transit lanes for the ACE Rapid Transit along Boulder Highway, the new downtown transportation terminal (PDF), and a park and ride facility (PDF) at US 95 and Durango Drive.

NDOT Projects
The ARRA provides $135 million that the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) can use for road and bridge projects anywhere in the State of Nevada. The State Transportation Board has approved a list of these projects in Southern Nevada that have an estimated total cost of $69 million.

In June, 2009, NDOT selected four additional projects to be undertaken in Southern Nevada using $5 million in ARRA funding set aside for Transportation Enhancements and for Non-Urban Transit projects .

Updated: Approved ARRA NDOT Projects List for Southern Nevada (PDF)
Approved ARRA NDOT Projects Map
More information on Nevada’s ARRA program may be viewed at:www.nevadadot.com/projects/stimulus.

Summary Map
Summary map of all ARRA projects in Southern Nevada

The Transportation Improvement Program
Funds provided under the ARRA are ADDITIONAL to the regular federal highway and transit funds received by the State of Nevada and The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC). These are listed in the Transportation Improvement Program for Fiscal Years 2009-2012 (PDF)

ARRA Reports and Certifications
Each state is required to make a number of reports regarding progress in implementing the ARRA. Progress reports may be viewed at www.recovery.gov

Jacob Snow, General Manager of the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC), signed a letter on Friday, March 27, 2009, certifying that the ARRA transit projects have received the review and vetting required by law and are appropriately using taxpayer funds. Section 1511 Certification

Susan Martinovich, Director of Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT), signed a letter on Tuesday, March 17, 2009, certifying that the state will maintain its effort with regard to state funding for the types of projects that are funded by ARRA. Section 1201 Certification

Susan Martinovich, Director of Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT), signed a letter on Monday, March 16, 2009, certifying that ARRA projects have received the review and vetting required by law and that they are an appropriate use of taxpayer funds. Section 1511 Certification

Governor Gibbons signed a letter certifying that the State of Nevada will accept the funds made available under ARRA on Tuesday, March 10, 2009. Section 1607 Certification

Progress Reports on RTC projects funded through ARRA
In the interests of transparency and accountability, the RTC is making available information on the progress being made on ARRA projects.

Interim Quarterly Report for Q2 2009 for RTC Project 2010: Central City Terminal
Interim Quarterly Report for Q2 2009 for RTC Project 2701: Centennial Hills Transit Center and Park & Ride
Interim Quarterly Report for Q2 2009 for RTC Project 2020: Boulder Highway ACE Rapid Transit

Additional reports will be made available as contracts for RTC projects are awarded and work starts.

Summary Report on ARRA Transit Funds allocated to Southern Nevada, submitted to the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee of the US House of Representatives April 3, 2009

Report on RTC ARRA Projects submitted to the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee of the US House of Representatives April 3, 2009

Progress Report on RTC ARRA projects submitted to the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee of the US House of Representatives for the period ending January 31, 2010.