The Iowa Transportation Commission has approved the use of $30.9 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) for transportation and transit projects in Iowa, Gov. Chet Culver announced this morning. Those ARRA funds included $5 million for transportation enhancement activities and $25.9 million for transit projects. Among the transportation enhancement projects to receive funding will be the Principal Riverwalk, which was awarded $873,235.

“During these tough economic times, we must do all we can to improve our economy and put Iowans back to work,” Culver said in a press release. “”I am proud to announce that with this action by the Transportation Commission, we are doing just that. Thanks to President Obama’s recovery package, we now have millions of dollars to help improve our infrastructure. And as today’s efforts show, we are not waiting to use these funds in order to help our communities and put Iowans back to work.” According to the Federal Highway Administration, a $100 million investment in transportation infrastructure construction could support and retain nearly 2,800 jobs.

The commission also approved increased funding of approximately $25.9 million in ARRA funds for Iowa’s two statewide transit programs that target facility improvements and vehicle replacement. Greater Des Moines has already received $7.89 million for similar transit improvements.

Additionally, the commission approved revisions totaling approximately $227.8 million in the highway section of the 2009-2013 Iowa Transportation Improvement Program as a result of the $238.2 million appropriation the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) will receive in federal highway funding through the ARRA. The revisions do not specify which projects in the program will use ARRA funding; that announcement will be forthcoming from the Iowa DOT, Culver’s office said.

The Commission also approved more than $2 million in funding for road construction projects in Story City, Dubuque, Iowa City and Spencer. The funds were secured through the state’s Revitalize Iowa’s Sound Economy (RISE) program.