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UVM Theses and Dissertations

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Format:
Print
Author:
Joecks, Sawyer McKinley
Dept./Program:
Community Development and Applied Economics
Degree:
MPA
Abstract:
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 has been a pivotal government response to economic downturn in the American economy, and a solution to replacing or repairing aging American infrastructure. In Vermont, the ARRA made $125 Million available to the State for transportation-related projects. The Vermont State Legislature and the Vermont Department of Transportation (VTrans) then deliberated over how to spend the money. This deliberation became a plan, which was passed as Act 50 in Vermont in 2009.
In this thesis I do not intend to explore the merits and effectiveness of the act itself, or a national perspective on how it has helped the United States. My focus is exclusively on transportation dollars given to Vermont and subsequent implementation analyses, although I will incorporate some background information on the act itself and larger-scale phenomena when appropriate.
This thesis will examine the background of how this money made its way through government institutions into the end product of funding "shovel-ready" projects in Vermont. In addition, arguments will be presented pertaining to why specific state institutions made ineffective decisions to the detriment of the goals of the Recovery Act, and explore a total of four alternative modes of implementation. I will also connect my arguments and research with academic works in the field of Public Administration in regards to intergovernmental relations and decision making.