American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)
Twin Cities metro area will benefit from the federal stimulus funding in several ways
Minnesota will receive about $4 billion in funds under the federal ARRA, though that number could increase as agencies apply for grant programs still being developed. The Metropolitan Council will have a say in the spending of at least $325 million of the state’s total.
As the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the Twin Cities area, the Council has allocated a significant portion of funds targeted to highways and transit. Additional federal funds are available for wastewater collection and treatment facilities, and public housing facilities.
Federal funds available for various Council activities:
Transportation
- HIGHWAYS: Metro-area highway projects are eligible for about half of the $151 million in recovery act funding for counties and cities in Minnesota. The Minnesota Department of Transportation has chosen metro-area road and bridge projects for $168 million in funding, subject to Council approval.
- ARRA funding for transportation projects.
- TRANSIT: The Council will receive $70.6 million in ARRA funds through the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for metro area transit projects, primarily bus purchases. In addition, federal stimulus funding allows Metro Transit to hire five new police officers, and Metro Mobility to add more fuel efficient vehicles to their fleet.
- ARRA funding for transit projects.
Water/Wastewater
- ARRA funding for clean water projects will support five MCES wastewater infrastructure projects that are underway. Additional funds, administered through the Public Facilities Authority, will also be used to provide low-interest loans for other MCES infrastructure projects, reducing debt service costs and user rates for wastewater collection and treatment infrastructure and services.
- ARRA funding for wastewater and water projects.
Housing
- Public housing facility improvements are slated for the Family Affordable Housing Program through $212,000 in capital improvement funds provided in the Recovery Act.
- ARRA funding for housing projects.
