Cities, counties and regional agencies are in a mad dash to compile their lists of “shovel-ready” projects that would meet the federal funding guidelines in Obama’s bill.
Projects must have all plans signed off and ready, secured public right-of-ways, an engineer’s cost estimate and complete environmental review to be eligible for the funds.
For cities that have unfunded projects waiting on the shelf, the work has been more about compiling lists of those projects than rushing to meet the requirements for new ones.
Most of Glendale’s projects involve road and sewer system reconstruction, and capital improvements for Glendale Water & Power, including $11 million for a chromium removal water treatment plant and $25 million for an advanced citywide meter system.
Every federal dollar captured would be one less needed for city projects, officials said.
“By throwing a wide net, we’re hoping to catch a few fish, even if they’re not the ones that we would have most preferred,” Councilman Ara Najarian said. “I think it’s a wise strategy for Glendale.”
Even as Obama tries to build consensus for his stimulus package on Capitol Hill, governing entities in California are trying to do the same for how to disperse the money once it arrives.
The exact figure earmarked for California public infrastructure projects isn’t yet known, but officials have put it close to $3 billion or more. The League of California Cities and the California State Assn. of Counties have been discussing one proposal that would divvy money according to an existing formula that relies on regional transportation agencies, and another that would give power to the state Transportation Commission.
