training of fta staff and sometimes we just get on the phone and walk our grantees through the process, stech by step by step, because that's what's necessary. in that regard, mr. chairman, i can't overstate how proud we are of the extremely hard work of the fta staff in putting this money to work, especially in our ten regions spread around the country. they've been working morning, noon and night to reach them and make sure the dollars are put to work. this collaboration is instrumental in keeping our implementation on track. of the recovery act funding provided, $1.74 billion or 21% has been obligated so far in another 4.1 billion or 50% are in process for obligation in the near term. i'm informed as i was coming over here we're hopeful of obligating another couple hundred million dollars today. these figures equate to about 19,000 jobs currently obligated and another 45,000 jobs for the grants in process. in addition, 55 million dollars in recovery act funds have been transferred from the federal highway administration to fda for public transportation projects. these transfers reflect loc