OCR Text |
Show UTAH UNABLE TO SPEND FEDERAL HIGHWAY FUNDS Instead of running short of federal highway funds, Utah is one of many states that have been unable in late years to spend their federal road funds as fast as congress con-gress has appropriated them. Under the 1944 program, which actively began Oct. 1, 1945, Utah has spent or has obligated $8,-688,300, $8,-688,300, or about 62 of the total available, and still has to its credit an unexpended and unobligated balance of $5,223,700, or enough, at its present rate of construction to carry on for another 20 months. Sen. Arthur V. Watkins (R., Utah) went into the federal aid highway situation in Utah with the bureau of public roads, and was furnished the above figures. It was explained to him that in the past two and three-quarters years, Utah has been spending or obligating federal road funds at the rate of $3,160,000 per year. Unless that rate is accelerated, the funds still remaining of past appropriations would carry Utah's road work well into 1949, by which time the first appropriation under the new two-year road program will become available. The bureau of roads gave Sen. Watkins a table showing the manner in which Utah has been able to utilize the $13,912,000 which it was allocated under the 1944 act the funds on which the state is still drawing. That table shows: Work completed $4,599,400; Construction now in progress $3,457,500; Contracts awarded but construction construc-tion not started $671,400; Plans approved but not yet placed under contract 188,000; Programmed, but no plans approved: ap-proved: And not ready to be contracted $3,700,200; Unprogrammed $1,355,500. |