Recovery-funded highway and bridge projects supported 44,922 jobs in October, while 6,017 jobs were supported by recovery-funded transit projects. The total of 50,939 jobs for October is up 6.2% from six months ago prior to the start of the summer construction season, when jobs supported by recovery-funded surface transportation improvements peaked at 74,760 during July.

The committee reported Thursday that highway, transit, and wastewater formula projects totaling almost $36 billion funded by the recovery act are out to bid, under contract, being constructed, or completed. The figure accounts for 94% of the $38 billion available under the act for these formula programs.

"The recovery act has indeed worked," House T&I Committee Chairman James Oberstar, D-Minnesota, said in a statement. "We've invested in America and in our people. I hope the next Congress builds on this success and makes a serious commitment to rebuild our national infrastructure and put people to work."

Direct job creation from these projects has resulted in payroll expenditures of $4.5 billion, according to the committee, which calculates that $764 million in unemployment checks have been avoided as a result of this job creation. Furthermore, these jobs have generated nearly $919 million in federal taxes paid by workers and their employers. 

There are now 44 states that have begun work on at least 90% of their recovery act highway projects, the report indicates.

More information is available at bit.ly/HTIC852.