"If Congress wants to support small business, create thousands of jobs here at home and stimulate the economy, it should invest in the more than 3,000 'ready to go' highway projects that could be under contract within the next 30-to-90 days." said John Horsley, Executive Director of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO).

Earlier this year more than 40 states and the District of Columbia responded to a survey conducted at the request of Congressional Committees. More than $18 billion worth of "ready to go" projects were identified. "Those projects are still waiting to be funded," Horsley said.

Congressional leaders are considering a second stimulus package that could pump as much as $150 billion into the ailing U.S. economy. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said this week that Congress will hold hearings over the next month to determine the exact price tag of the plan, and "it's likely to include money for infrastructure projects."

"Funding these 'ready to go' projects offers Congress a tremendous opportunity to put Americans to work and help cash strapped states repair and replace our crumbling infrastructure." Horsley said.

Analysts estimate that for every $1 billion invested in transportation projects, approximately 35 thousand jobs are created.

In addition to the highway projects, 16 states, identified by asterisk in the table below, also reported ready-to-go transit, rail, and waterways projects. Those responses indicate some 66 transit, 21 rail, and 1 waterway project that could be launched if funds were available.

* Arizona, Connecticut, DC, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Wisconsin also have Rail/Transit/Aviation/Waterways Ready to Go Projects not included in the above chart.

Arizona = 2 transit projects (5 park-and-ride lots and 100 articulated buses) at $785 million.

Connecticut = 11 transit projects at $579 million.

DC = 1 transit project at $6.4 million.

Illinois = 43 aviation projects (rehabilitation, widening, construction) at $170 million, 22 transit projects (CTA, Metra, Pace, and downstate agencies) at $1.2 Billion and 18 rail projects (9 passenger and 3 freight and 6 rail freight) at $327.7 million.

Kansas = 6 transit projects at $9 million.

Maine = 1 transit project at $6 million (bus replacement) and 1 ferry/waterways project at $12.5 million (Governor Curtis replacement).

Maryland = 3 transit projects at $21.2 million.

Massachusetts = 11 transit projects at $50.2 million and 5 rail trail projects at $10.8 million.

Michigan = 4 transit projects (buses/van, bus rehab, facility, and support equipment) at $82 million.

Missouri = 4 aviation projects at $12.5 million, 21 transit at $12.8 million, and 2 waterways at $26.0 million.

New Jersey = 5 transit projects (1 light rail extension, 1 commuter rail station, and 3 platform reconstructions) at $152 million.

New York = 1 transit project (400 buses) at $200 million and 1 rail project (passenger improvements) at $10 million.

Ohio = 19 transit projects at $17.9 million.

Pennsylvania = 22 transit projects (3 SEPTA, 2 Port Authority, and 17 other transit systems).

Vermont = 1 transit project at $18.5 million (capital replacements), 1 aviation project (improvements and maintenance) at $0.5 million, and 2 rail projects (facilities improvements and materials) at $10.5 million.

Wisconsin = 2 rail projects at $50 million (1 track realignment and 1 rail line improvement).

Survey conducted January 2008.

The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) is the "Voice of Transportation"representing all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. AASHTO is a nonprofit, nonpartisan association serving as a catalyst for excellence in transportation.