"President-elect Barack Obama is pledging to put millions of Americans to work by building and repairing the nation's highways and bridges and a new survey of state "ready-to-go" transportation projects is the road map he needs to make it happen," said John Horsley, Executive Director of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO).

The District of Columbia and all 50 state Departments of Transportation responded to the survey. More than five thousand "ready-to-go" projects worth $65 billion were identified. These transportation infrastructure projects are considered "ready to go" because they could be under contract within 180 days, supporting an estimated 1.8 million American jobs, if the funding were made available.

"Right now, 41 states are facing budget shortfalls and many of our state departments of transportation have had no choice but to delay critical projects that will fill potholes, enhance safety, and extend the lifespan of the nation's aging bridges," Horsley said. "This survey shows that state DOTs are ready to quickly put the economic stimulus dollars and people to work."

In a similar AASHTO survey conducted in January of this year, all 50 states and the District of Columbia responded, identifying approximately 3,000 projects worth $18 billion that could be under contract within 90 days.

The Federal Highway Administration estimates that approximately 35,000 jobs are supported by every $1.25 billion invested in transportation projects.

In addition to the highway projects, some states also indentified transit, rail, water, and aviation "ready-to-go" projects. More compressive assessments are available from the following modal organizations.

Airports Council International at: http://www.aci-na.org/news/2008_oct29

American Association of Port Authorities at: http://www.aapa-ports.org/Press/PRdetail.cfm?itemnumber=11208

States for Passenger Rail Coalition at: http://www.s4prc.org/inthenews/2008news/stimulus_2.pdf

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) at: http://www.apta.com/media/releases/081029_federal_funding.cfm

The American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) Vice President of Economics and Research William Buechner, PhD. testified on Capitol Hill about the link between transportation investment and job creation. Find his testimony at: http://transportation.house.gov/Media/File/Full%20Committee/20081029/Buechner.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.