DOT Gives Almost $1 Bln. to Florida for Hurricane Repairs

May 18, 2005 8:30 AM, EDT

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he Department of Transportation said it gave the state of Florida almost $1 billion in federal hurricane recovery, following last year’s storms.

DOT Secretary Norman Mineta made the announcement Tuesday at a news conference with Gov. Jeb Bush (R) in Tallahassee. Mineta said Florida will receive $928 million through the Federal Highway Administration’s emergency relief program.

The funds will be used to reimburse the state for past and future damage repair work to help restore the state’s highways and bridges to their pre-hurricane condition.

“President Bush pledged the full cooperation and support of the federal government at a time when people were still dazed by the quick destruction of the storms that unleashed their deadly power on communities throughout Florida. Today, we are making good on that promise,” Mineta said.