[Comm-Council] FW: NEWS RELEASE: Governor Launches First Federal Transportation Stimulus Project

[HOKLIN Lonn * DO PA]

Lonn Hoklin

Public Affairs Manager

Oregon Department of Administrative Services

503.378.2627

503.428.2169 (cell)

________________________________

From: GOVERNORS Press [mailto:governors.press at state.or.us] 
Sent: Thursday, March 19, 2009 11:01 AM
To: communications at state.or.us
Subject: NEWS RELEASE: Governor Launches First Federal Transportation
Stimulus Project 

 

 

 

Theodore R. Kulongoski

          Governor

          

 

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 19, 2009

 

Contacts: 

Anna Richter Taylor, 503-378-6169

Rem Nivens, 503-378-6496

Jillian Schoene, 503-378-5040

 

Governor Launches First Federal Transportation Stimulus Project 

Membership also announced for Oregon Way Advisory Group

 

(Salem) - Today Governor Ted Kulongoski launched the first federal
transportation stimulus project for Oregon funded through the American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The project involves paving and adding a
safety barrier to a portion of the Sunset Highway, which has been on a
state priority list for more than two years. This project will help a
local company preserve and create jobs while also addressing critical
safety needs on this state highway.  

 

"This project is just one of hundreds of examples you'll see with
increasing frequency of how transportation spending will help Oregon's
economy by creating jobs and improving our transportation
infrastructure," Governor Kulongoski said. "In addition to the immediate
economic benefits, this project is also improving the long-term safety
and efficiency of our infrastructure - which is critical to moving
people, commerce and goods."

 

The $5 million project, funded by the federal American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act, was awarded to Baker Rock Resources. The project will
allow Baker Rock Resources to maintain and possibly add to its employee
level. The company recently has seen reductions in its workforce from
the recession. 

 

The project includes paving about seven miles of the Sunset Highway
between 185th Avenue and Glencoe Road and installing a cable safety
barrier along the divided highway. Without the additional federal
transportation dollars coming to Oregon, the safety improvements and the
jobs that work will create, would not have been included in the project.


 

"Baker Rock Resources is exactly the kind of company that is the
backbone of Oregon's economy," Governor Kulongoski said. "Small,
family-run companies like Baker Rock will benefit directly from the
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Go Oregon and the Jobs and
Transportation Act - resulting in economic opportunities for communities
and companies across the state."

 

The Governor also underscored the need for the state legislature to pass
the Jobs and Transportation Act of 2009, which the Governor introduced
in January. The Governor's initiative would make annual investments in
transportation across Oregon - creating jobs, maintaining and
modernizing current assets and making investments that ensures Oregon
has a transportation system that is safe, efficient, green and meets the
demands of a 21st century economy.

 

"Coupled with a strong federal partner,  the Jobs and Transportation Act
will help put Oregonians back to work immediately, create sustainable
jobs for the long-term and ensure we have a green, safe and efficient
transportation system that moves people, commerce and goods, while also
reducing our carbon footprint," Kulongoski said. 

 

Also announced today was the membership of the Oregon Way Advisory
Group. 

 

The Governor created the group through executive order in February and
is made up of public and private sector leaders with sustainability
expertise to assist state agencies, local governments and others seeking
federal stimulus grants. The proposals for the grants must meet the
Oregon Way criteria: promote energy efficiency, renewable energy and
carbon reduction; and above all, create sustainable quality jobs for
Oregonians. 

 

To view the biographies of the Oregon Way Advisory Group members, click 
here <http://oregon.gov/recovery/docs/031909_oregonway_announcement.pdf>
. 

 

For more information about what the ARRA means for Oregon, go to: 
http://www.oregon.gov/recovery

 

-30-

 

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