The committee also released its monthly update of how many transportation jobs have been created or sustained by the recovery act. In August, 63,137 direct jobs were created or sustained, a 53% increase since March, when the committee began releasing a monthly tally of jobs.

"The recovery act has had a very positive effect in turning this country around through the worst recession the nation has experienced since the Great Depression," committee Chairman James Oberstar, D-Minnesota, said in his opening statement.

State DOTs have 16,268 highway and transit projects underway or completed, and have already spent almost $7 billion on completed projects since the program began. Forty states have begun work on at least 90% of their recovery act highway projects, according to the committee's data.

While studies are constantly released detailing how many jobs have been created or sustained around the country that helped individuals and families make it through the recession, this week some of those people had the opportunity to testify in front of the committee and share their personal stories of recovery.

"Investments in projects under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act rescued many of us. I've worked on two such projects this year," said Greg Mobley, a laborer from Indiana, in his opening statement. "It's good, honest work that put money in our pockets and allowed us to support our families. And it improved local transportation, making life better for people who live in Indiana."

It wasn't only individuals that received the direct jobs from transportation investments who benefitted from the recovery act. Foothill Transit in California described how it was able to not only sustain jobs, but also invest in new technology that will provide a better experience for its customers in the future.

"When recovery act funding was made available, we first used as much funding as possible to support our ongoing operations in light of diminished local funding due to the economic slowdown," Doran Barnes, executive director of Foothill Transit, said in a prepared statement. "Our primary focus is always the delivery of high-quality service to our transit riders."

During Wednesday's hearing, Oberstar also highlighted a new report released by the American Association of State Highway and Transit Officials. It summarizes the state transportation projects that have been constructed this past summer and the jobs that have been created thanks to the recovery act. (see related story)

Witness statements, a statement of subject matter, and a video of Wednesday's hearing are available at bit.ly/HTIC092910.