WASHINGTON, Sept. 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Transportation agencies reacted positively to news that President Barack Obama plans to include immediate transportation investment in his recipe for economic recovery.

"We are highly supportive of President Obama's proposal to immediately invest $50 billion to rebuild roads, expand high speed rail, and rehabilitate airport runways," said John Horsley, executive director of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.

"We have demonstrated that investing in transportation infrastructure is one of the fastest ways to create and sustain jobs. An AASHTO January 2010 survey of states showed 9,800 ready-to-go projects valued at nearly $80 billion. If Congress wants to pass legislation investing in our transportation infrastructure, the states stand ready to put those dollars to work."

Horsley pointed out that the states' track record creating and sustaining jobs is excellent. More than 90 percent of Recovery Act-funded transportation projects, representing approximately $48 billion in investments, are under contract.

More information on how states are delivering Recovery Act projects can be found at http://recovery.transportation.org. Details on states' ready-to-go projects survey is online at http://downloads.transportation.org/Ready-to-Go.pdf.

The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) is the "Voice of Transportation" representing State Departments of Transportation in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. AASHTO is a nonprofit, nonpartisan association serving as a catalyst for excellence in transportation. Follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/aashtospeaks.

SOURCE American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials

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