Arlington is anticipating nearly $20 million in federal stimulus money, the majority of which will go toward infrastructure and transit projects in the county.
Of the $19.3 million, $9.0 million will be from federal, formula-based funding programs. Arlington will also benefit from $10.3 million going to the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) for the Courthouse Road Interchange Project.
“Our vision and our ability to plan has helped us enormously,” said Board Chairman Barbara Favola.
Funding for the Arlington Boulevard at Courthouse Road Bridge and Interchange Project has been one of Arlington County’s top stimulus priorities.
During last year’s state budget cuts, VDOT removed $10.3 million from the project, which had previously been fully funded. The project, intended to promote safety and reduce congestion at the interchange, is scheduled to go to construction this fall.
The county has also received official notification of a total of $1.6 million to go toward homelessness prevention and affordable housing initiatives. The county board on Saturday formally approved the money, and county manager Ron Carlee recommended allocating up to $453,360 of Community Block Service Grants to three nonprofit housing developers.
The Board also authorized two competitive grant applications worth an additional $7.1 million. One grant, totaling about $6 million, is for transit investments for greenhouse gas and energy reduction. The other of about $1 million will go to clean and reline water mains in three areas of the county. The money would allow the county to essentially double the amount of water main cleaning and relining it could complete in a given year.
