USDOT rescinds from states $857 million in unobligated federal-aid highway funds

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has rescinded $857 million in unobligated Federal-aid highway funds from states as of June 30. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) announced the move in a notice June 21.

The funds were rescinded as part of the Department of Transportation Appropriations Act, 2017, title I of division K, Public Law (Pub. L) 115-31. This was part of the short-term bill approved in May that funds the federal government through September this year.

Any funds not allocated or obligated by states as of May 31 were included. Programs affected include the Highway Safety Improvement Program, Railway-Highway Crossings Program and the Surface Transportation Block Grant Program, among others.

The top 10 states losing funding by amount include:

1. California – $88.7 million
2. Texas – $85.3 million
3. Ohio – $41.4 million
4. Pennsylvania – $39.9 million
5. Michigan – $31.1 million
6. New York – $29.6 million
7. Florida – $26.9 million
8. New Jersey – $24.6 million
9. North Carolina – $24.1 million
10. Georgia – $23.8 million

The FHWA notice is available here, and includes tables showing each state’s total rescinded amount and the itemized amount from each program.