April 14, 200916 yr Stimulus Money To Improve Rails In Jefferson County Posted: 5:37 pm EDT April 14, 2009 Updated: 7:04 pm EDT April 14, 2009 http://www.wtov9.com/news/19179579/detail.html Ohio Transportation Stimulus funds will be used to improve the Gould Tunnel outside Mingo Junction in Jefferson County. Mike Paprocki with The Brooke Hancock Jefferson Metropolitan Planning Commission said, "It's an important link from the rail yard. It connects Norfolk Southern Railroad and Ohio Central Railroad. That services a lot of coal mines and trains that go to the Apex mine."
April 14, 200916 yr Strickland said studies of long-term projects, as well as some types of preliminary work, position the state for future economic growth. That includes a two-year study of a highway and rail project on the east side of Cincinnati and the design of a 3-mile road connecting Interstate 490 to Cleveland's art and museum district. The cost is $20 million apiece. Strickland, that's not the intent of the stimulus money.
May 20, 200916 yr ***cross-post*** Cool map showing how stimulus funds are being dispersed by county throughout the country. Cuyahoga County is getting more money the LA and Cook Counties. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/files/specials/interactives/wdc/stimulus_counties/index.html?SITE=JRC
May 20, 200916 yr From what I saw on the map only the county Houston is in is getting more money than Cuyahoga.
May 20, 200916 yr I'm not sure how accurate that map is. Elsewhere on UO there's a story about NYC's Second Avenue Subway receiving federal stimulus money, but in the map, New York County (Manhattan) shows a $0 figure.
May 27, 200916 yr Now THIS is what a stimulus is. Lots of imbedded links and graphics at the following location: http://seekingalpha.com:80/article/138584-china-inks-deal-with-siemens-for-world-s-largest-high-speed-rail-network China Inks Deal with Siemens for World's Largest High Speed Rail Network by: James Rickman May 20, 2009 China plans to create the world's largest high-speed rail network. The Chinese Ministry of Railways is planning to buy 1,000 high-speed trains within the next few years. The current order from Siemens (SI) includes the first trains to serve the new high-speed line between Bejing and Shanghai. ........ A report just released by the U.S. Federal Transit Administration, “U.S. Rail Modernization Study“ (http://www.fta.dot.gov/documents/Rail_Mod_Final_Report_4-27-09.pdf) estimates it may cost $50 billion to bring the rail systems in Chicago, Boston, New York, New Jersey, San Francisco, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., into good repair and $5.9 billion a year to maintain them. These seven city systems carry 80% of the nation’s rail transit passengers, making more than 3 billion passenger trips a year. They also include some of the oldest subways and commuter railroads. Some of their facilities date back more than a century. ............. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
June 17, 200915 yr Investment in Public Transit Plans to improve public transportation across the country got a big lift recently, as lawmakers in Washington, D.C., committed more than $17 billion for high-speed rail and other public transportation projects. "This investment marks a bold step for our nation's transportation system," said Ohio PIRG Federal Transportation Advocate John Krieger. "After decades of waiting, American high-speed rail is ready to leave the station." Historically, the United States has spent nine times more on highway projects than public transportation. But with an aggressive push for transit by Ohio PIRG and our allies, record levels of transit ridership, and growing frustration with airports and traffic, that is changing. Transit Projects Ready To Go This February, as Congress debated President Obama's economic recovery package, Ohio PIRG made the case for more transit investment. In the end, lawmakers committed $9.3 billion to high-speed and intercity rail. This funding came on top of $8.4 billion designated for other public transit agencies. According to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, states across the country have nearly 800 shovel-ready transit projects. From high-speed rail in California to a new commuter rail line between Columbus and Cleveland, the transit funding could help us begin laying the tracks. But there's still a lot of work left to do. Later this year, Congress is scheduled to reauthorize the Transportation Bill, which could allocate nearly $500 billion in transportation funding over the next six years. In the coming months, Ohio PIRG will be building public support and reaching out to our congressional delegation to ensure that Congress continues to make public transportation a top priority. It's time Ohio makes a serious push for mass rail transit in the Buckeye state. The cost of building mass rail transit is 4 times cheaper than building super highways and the less cars we keep on the roads, the less re-construction of highways and less air pollution will be two benefits of mass rail transit for Ohio and America. Dennis Spisak Mahoning Valley Green Party Ohio Green Party www.ohiogreens.org www.votespisak.org/thinkgreen/ "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
June 18, 200915 yr http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2009/06/mayor_frank_jackson_questions.html Mayor Frank Jackson questions why Cleveland won't get $135 million in stimulus money Posted by Joan Mazzolini/Plain Dealer Reporter June 17, 2009 21:05PM Cleveland won't be getting $135 million in promised stimulus funds, and Mayor Frank Jackson is worried money for two major highway projects may slip away. The Ohio Department of Transportation announced this week that Opportunity Corridor, a three-mile parkway from Interstate 490 to University Circle, would not be getting the promised $20 million for planning. In April, it told the city $115 million of the $200 million in stimulus money for the Inner Belt Bridge would not be coming. ........ "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
June 18, 200915 yr The Inner Belt bridge repair is critical, as are the Riverbed Street and Flats East Bank rebuilds... But to hell with money for the stupid Opportunity Farce Freeway. It's not needed and, in fact, will harm the City.
June 18, 200915 yr Yes, I believe I remember reading somewhere that you're opposed to building a freeway there.... But I don't remember them proposing to build a freeway. They're building a boulevard with intersections, not interchanges. Your militant opposition and use of inaccurate descriptions are causing me to start defending the project. Do you realize how abhorrant that is?? "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
July 9, 200915 yr Cities Lose Out on Road Funds From Federal Stimulus http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/09/us/09projects.html?_r=1&ref=politics Two-thirds of the country lives in large metropolitan areas, home to the nation’s worst traffic jams and some of its oldest roads and bridges. But cities and their surrounding regions are getting far less than two-thirds of federal transportation stimulus money. full article at link
July 9, 200915 yr What does everyone think about the way the money has been allocated thus far? Ohio's stimulus money saves Medicaid from cuts, Government Accountability Office says Posted by Joan Mazzolini / Plain Dealer Reporter July 08, 2009 19:48PM http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2009/07/ohios_stimulus_money_saves_med.html Stimulus funds have already plugged Ohio budget deficits and kept the state from cutting health services for poor women and children and other key programs, according to a new government report.
July 9, 200915 yr I'll offer an opinion on only those projects/programs I know/care about. When those projects come up for consideration, then I'll offer an opinion. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
July 14, 200915 yr http://www.nationalcorridors.org/df2/df07132009.shtml#Understanding Understanding – And Fixing --- The Current Crisis Requires A Deeper Understanding Of American History By James P. RePass, Publisher, Destination: Freedom This past week’s New York Times carried an important article on the current economic crisis and the Obama Government’s “Stimulus” response to it. Entitled, “Cities Lose Out on Road Funds”, it ran July 8 and was written by NY Times infrastructure specialist Michael Cooper and his colleague Griff Palmer. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
July 14, 200915 yr Here's the article........ Cities Lose Out On Road Funds From Federal Stimulus From The New York Times JULY 8 --- Large metropolitan areas around the country are getting a disproportionate amount from the federal stimulus money for roads and bridges and other transportation projects. There is a history of states giving short shrift to large urban transportation projects in favor of spending more in outlying areas, and it appears the same thing is happening with the stimulus money, according to a story in the New York Times by Michael Cooper and Griff Palmer. ......... The article, pix and a graph of how the 20 largest metro areas fared at http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/09/us/09projects.html?_r=1&hp "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
July 14, 200915 yr The rural bias is unsustainable. I feared so much this stimulus transportation money would go for sprawl, more than urban cores. If it does, it is a big shame and waste and will only have us more oil dependent...and keep the hole on urban cores growing and growing. The following statement scares the hell out of me, especially in Ohio, where we just cannot sustain anymore of this willy nilly haphazard suburban sprawl... "The stimulus law provided $26.6 billion for highways, bridges and other transportation projects, but left the decision on how to spend most of it to the states" May the Rock God help us all!
July 31, 200915 yr This just goes to show you--the GOP and it's rural constituents are hypocrites. Complain about the wasteful federal spending then take the majority of it. It says a lot why the conservative revolution really went nowhere. On the other hand, the mainly Democrat urban politicians should not let this one go either. They campaigned on change, now change the way these projects are funded!
August 2, 200915 yr http://dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/08/02/Stim_Contracts.ART_ART_08-02-09_A1_5NEL2D7.html?sid=101 Stimulus competitors push down price tags Sunday, August 2, 2009 3:39 AM By Doug Caruso THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Intense competition for jobs and lower material costs are pushing bids for highway stimulus projects well below state estimates. Some companies are even cutting profit margins to make sure they win the contracts and the jobs they promise. "It goes to show the competition we've seen on these jobs," said Scott Varner, a spokesman for the Ohio Department of Transportation. "We've seen more bidders on contracts than we did in the past." [email protected]
August 2, 200915 yr Ohio Wants $57 Million In Stimulus For Highway Study 4/13/2009 7:09:22 AM Matt Leingang, Associated Press Writer Ohio wants to spend $57 million in federal stimulus money on highway projects that won't begin for years, an unusual strategy for money that President Barack Obama said should be used to give the economy an immediate job-creating jolt. There's nothing wrong with spending money on planning. It's still work, it's still employing people, and it may lead to better investment of future monies.
August 3, 200915 yr And if we don't start planning better transportation options and systems all that will happen with those stimulus $$$ is resurfacing roads.
August 26, 200915 yr http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2009-08-25-construction-stimulus_N.htm Aug 26, 2009 Building slump stretches stimulus money By Brad Heath, USA TODAY WASHINGTON — Federal stimulus money will pay for hundreds of extra roads, bridges and buildings this year because almost all of that work has been far less expensive than expected. The stimulus law President Obama signed in February was slated to pour billions of dollars into thousands of building projects across the country, perhaps the best-known part of a $787 billion plan to create jobs and revive the economy. As that work began this summer, the state and federal officials in charge of paying for it say a dramatic slump in the construction industry brought bargain prices. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
February 19, 201015 yr Full list of grant recipients: State Amount Location Project Description AK $ 3,640,000 Juneau Auke Bay Loading Facility AL $ 52,500,000 Birmingham NS Crescent Corridor intermodal facility AR $ 5,000,000 Bella Vista Bypass for future I‐49 (leverage for TIFIA loan) AZ $ 63,000,000 Tucson Construct new streetcar line CA $ 46,000,000 San Francisco Improve and replace Doyle Drive CA $ 33,800,000 Colton Improve Colton Crossing freight corridor CA $ 20,200,000 Otay Mesa Improve freight border crossing CA $ 30,000,000 (Several) Stockton‐Oakland‐W. Sacramento marine highway CO $ 10,000,000 (Several) Boulder‐Denver managed lane BRT service DC $ 13,566,000 DC Metro Metro bus only lanes and improved service HI $ 24,500,000 Honolulu Pier 29 container yard, Honolulu Commercial Harbor IA $ 5,600,000 Dubuque Millwork District street redesign IA $ 8,463,000 Ames Ames Intermodal Transportation Facility IL $ 100,000,000 Chicago CREATE Program IL $ 22,000,000 Normal Normal Multimodal Transportation Center IL $ 6,000,000 (Several) Madison County multimodal facility/harbor IN $ 20,500,000 Indianapolis Complete urban bicycle/pedestrian trail IN $ 10,000,000 (Several) Milton‐Madison bridge replacement KY $ 10,000,000 (Several) Milton‐Madison bridge replacement KY $ 12,964,443 (Several) Appalachian Regional Short Line upgrades LA $ 45,000,000 New Orleans UPT/French Quarter Streetcar MA $ 55,500,000 (Several) Montachusett/Fitchburg/Westminster rail improvements MA $ 20,000,000 Revere MBTA Blue Line Ocean Avenue facility MA $ 20,000,000 New Bedford Fast Track New Bedford bridges MD $ 14,832,000 DC Metro Metro bus only lanes and improved service ME $ 14,000,000 (Several) Portland‐Searsport‐Eastport 3‐Port Strategy MI $ 30,000,000 Port Huron Port Huron Bridge replacement MI $ 25,000,000 Detroit M‐1 Rail Project MN $ 35,000,000 St. Paul Union Depot renovations MO $ 50,000,000 Kansas City Green Zone program of projects MO $ 5,000,000 (Several) Bypass for future I‐49 (leverage for TIFIA loan) MS $ 20,000,000 Gulfport Port rail line improvements MT $ 3,500,000 Whitefish U.S. 93 upgrades MT $ 12,000,000 (Several) Lake County Transportation Connectivity Project NC $ 10,000,000 Salisbury I‐85 Corridor Improvement (leverage for TIFIA loan) NJ $ 5,800,000 Philadelphia Greater Philadelphia bicycle & pedestrian network NM $ 31,000,000 (Several) U.S. 491 Corridor improvements NV $ 34,400,000 Las Vegas Bus lane conversion and bus service improvements NY $ 83,000,000 New York Penn Station area improvements OH $ 20,000,000 Kent Kent transit station construction OH $ 30,000,000 (Several) CSX Freight rail double‐stack clearance OK $ 49,480,000 Tulsa I‐244 Arkansas River bridge replacement OR $ 23,203,988 Portland SW Moody Avenue rebuilding PA $ 35,000,000 (Several) CSX Freight rail double‐stack clearance PA $ 17,200,000 Philadelphia Greater Philadelphia bicycle & pedestrian network RI $ 22,300,000 N. Kingstown Program of port projects SC $ 10,000,000 Charleston U.S. 17 redesign SC $ 10,000,000 (Several) Myrtle Beach‐Latta hwy extension (leverage for TIFIA loan) SD $ 10,000,000 (Several) Oglala‐Pine Ridge U.S. 18 improvements TN $ 2,820,458 (Several) Appalachian Regional Short Line upgrades TN $ 52,500,000 Memphis NS Crescent Corridor intermodal facility TX $ 20,000,000 Dallas $400m TIFIA loan for second highway loop around D‐FW TX $ 23,000,000 Dallas Dallas streetcar transit connection VA $ 30,440,000 DC Metro Metro bus only lanes and improved service VT $ 3,150,000 Burlington Urban streetscape and roadway expansion WA $ 35,000,000 Spokane U.S. 395 North Spokane Corridor WA $ 30,000,000 Seattle South Lake Union biotech hub main street WI $ 21,500,000 Milwaukee Juneau Avenue and Wisconsin Avenue bridges rehab WV $ 1,766,127 (Several) Appalachian Regional Short Line upgrades WV $ 33,000,000 (Several) CSX Freight rail double‐stack clearance WY $ 6,000,000 (Several) Red Loge‐Cocke‐Cody Beartooth Highway segment $ 1,498,126,016 61 Total Project Awards
February 19, 201015 yr Here is a map and list of TIGER projects:http://www.blldzr.com/TIGER/index.html
February 19, 201015 yr Why is the US DOT paying for such localized projects? If it's based on potential national economic impact, Detroit should be getting much more funding and Tucson's application for the streetcar project should be laughed at and dismissed.
February 21, 201015 yr ^These grants, as I understood were only eligible for projects that were very near construction or had already begun. Anything in pure speculative phases was ineligible. I could be mistaken.
February 21, 201015 yr ^These grants, as I understood were only eligible for projects that were very near construction or had already begun. Anything in pure speculative phases was ineligible. I could be mistaken. Often times the ones stagnated in speculative phases are the ones that large sums of money the most. :| Tuscon is getting 63,000,000 for a streetcar while New York's Penn Station is getting 83,000,000. Come on, that's a bit skewed. I don't think we can be too mad though; most of the applications were for highways yet they gave a very generous portion of the money to innovative rail and transit systems projects.
February 24, 201015 yr Stimulus Funds Support 12,000 Projects John D. Boyd | Feb 23, 2010 4:48PM GMT The Journal of Commerce Online - News Story Stimulus funds for transportation infrastructure have so far paid to complete more than 3,000 construction projects around the United States and are now supporting three times that many under construction. Those numbers come from the latest oversight report from the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, based on data as of Dec. 31. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act set aside $64.1 billion for expenditures under the committee’s jurisdiction. The report said nearly 17,000 projects totaling $56 billion have already been identified. Full story at: http://www.joc.com/government-regulation/panel-tallies-12000-stimulus-projects-so-far
March 9, 201015 yr This was released yesterday by the American Road & Transportation Builders Association.... http://newsblaze.com/story/2010030814060200001.pnw/topstory.html Published: March 08, 2010 201 Highway Improvement Projects Underway or Completed in Ohio Thanks to Stimulus Law WASHINGTON, March 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- There are currently 201 American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA)-financed highway construction projects underway or completed in Ohio involving $464.2 million in funds, according to data released today by the Washington, D.C.-based American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA). The projects underway or completed have supported or are supporting 12,916 jobs in Ohio that would otherwise not exist, says ARTBA Vice President of Economics & Research Dr. Bill Buechner. ARRA, signed into law on February 17, 2009, provided $48 billion for transportation improvements over two years, including $27.5 billion for highway, bridge and related construction projects nationwide. The law is having significant impacts on the transportation construction industry in all 50 states. ARRA provided $936.5 million to Ohio for highway, bridge and related improvements. This one-time bonus added more than 81 percent to Ohio's regular federal highway funds under the current federal surface transportation law--Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU)--bringing the state's total federal highway funding in 2009 to a record $2.08 billion. According to Buechner, a Harvard-trained economist, another 180 projects have been identified and are slated to be under construction shortly. The following shows the number of ARRA-financed highway projects and amount obligated in each Ohio congressional district. Congressional District Number of projects Amount Obligated ---------------------- ------------------ ---------------- 1 12 $15,619,221 --- --- ----------- 2 19 $39,387,829 --- --- ----------- 3 32 $26,644,964 --- --- ----------- 4 18 $36,303,046 --- --- ----------- 5 21 $23,691,576 --- --- ----------- 6 23 $174,245,417 --- --- ------------ 7 25 $37,874,488 --- --- ----------- 8 22 $19,390,970 --- --- ----------- 9 24 $40,819,817 --- --- ----------- 10 8 $29,172,595 --- --- ----------- 11 6 $20,309,719 --- --- ----------- 12 22 $63,193,885 --- --- ----------- 13 28 $53,929,082 --- --- ----------- 14 28 $36,944,494 --- --- ----------- 15 8 $27,590,830 --- --- ----------- 16 21 $33,399,087 --- --- ----------- 17 18 $35,333,090 --- --- ----------- 18 35 $51,924,060 --- --- ----------- 19 8 $10,131,427 --- --- ----------- Multidistrict/Statewide 3 $30,498,660 ----------------------- --- ----------- A full report can be obtained by contacting ARTBA's Jeff Solsby at [email protected] or 202-289-4434. For 108 years, ARTBA has represented the U.S. transportation design and construction industry before Congress, the White House, federal agencies, news media and general public. SOURCE American Road & Transportation Builders Association "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
September 13, 201014 yr Good op-ed in the NY Times about the value of the first stimulus-funded transportation projects... September 11, 2010 Building the Bridges to a Sustainable Recovery By ROBERT H. FRANK Last year’s economic stimulus program helped stem a crisis that was poised to rival the Great Depression. That’s the conclusion of the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, which recently assessed the program’s impact. Now, those stimulus payouts are waning, and are being offset by spending cuts by state and local governments. As a result, a fragile economic recovery is faltering. Many policy economists from both major political parties agree that additional stimulus would help put the recovery back on track. But many analysts say that growing fears about budget deficits make that step politically unthinkable. All the while, however, we’re facing vivid examples of failing infrastructure across the country. Clearly, the maintenance and rebuilding of bridges, roads, water systems and the like can’t be postponed forever. And the work will never be cheaper to accomplish than right now, when high unemployment and excess capacity have put the opportunity cost of the necessary labor and equipment near zero. Full op-ed at: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/12/business/economy/12view.html?_r=1&src=buslnhttp://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/12/business/economy/12view.html?_r=1&src=busln
September 14, 201014 yr Monday, Sep. 13, 2010 Where Did the Transportation Stimulus Money Go? By Michael Grunwald Time Magazine Once upon a time, Republicans hated President Obama's stimulus package because it wasn't pouring enough money into infrastructure. In July, in front of a giant road sign covered in red tape, GOP Representatives complained that only 1% of the package's $48 billion for transportation had been spent. "As funds sit idle, so do workers," said John Mica of Florida, the top Republican on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Jean Schmidt of Ohio hoisted a bright orange worker's vest for the cameras: "I want to see this all over the highways!" Back then, even House minority leader John Boehner of Ohio was calling for "shovel-ready projects that will create much needed jobs." Not anymore. Obama's new proposal to pour another $50 billion into "roads, railways and runways" has gotten no support whatsoever from Republicans. They're now marching in lockstep against all stimulus spending; they say the government simply can't create jobs, except through tax cuts. Of course, Obama has proposed new tax cuts as well, and Republicans aren't backing those either. These days, they'd march in lockstep against apple pie if Obama served it. The President knows this, which is why his new plan should be understood mostly as a political gesture before the midterms, a way of reminding voters that he wants to do stuff and Republicans don't. But it's also an opening salvo in a looming battle over the future of transportation funding in the U.S. Which makes this a good time to ask: What's going on with that first $48 billion? (See why Obama doesn't want to call his new economic plan a stimulus.) Find this article at: http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2017466,00.html
September 14, 201014 yr Ahh the Democrats vs Republicans dog and pony show continues, meanwhile America's infastructure continues it's steady decline. Anyone care to take a wager on what percentage of stimulus funds end up going to the "Party of No" and their "Red" states and districts while the Dems give up the rhetoric of "cooperation" to their "Blue" state and district constituents?
September 27, 201014 yr Demand for TIGER II funding overwhelms supply Friday, September 24, 2010 Nearly 1,000 construction grant applications for more than $19 billion from all 50 states, U.S. territories and the District of Columbia far exceeded the $600 million in TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) II dollars the U.S. Department of Transportation can award for infrastructure projects ranging from highways and bridges to transit and ports, Secretary Ray LaHood said following the August deadline for submissions. The overwhelming demand for TIGER II grants continues a trend. Last February 17, the Department announced 51 grant awards from nearly 1,500 applications for TIGER I grants nationwide. The TIGER I requests were for almost $60 billion worth of projects, 40 times the $1.5 billion available under that program. "The wave of applications for both TIGER II and TIGER I dollars shows the backlog of needed infrastructure improvements and the desire for more flexible funds," said Secretary LaHood. "This also shows the opportunities still before us to create jobs, to reduce congestion, make wise environmental choices and help generate lasting economic growth." READ MORE AT: http://www.rtands.com/newsflash/demand-for-tiger-ii-funding-overwhelms-supply.html "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
September 28, 201014 yr They should just allocate funds per population. No more big digs which costs 14+ billion. It would be far to give LA 18 billion every 10 years or Cincinnati and Cleveland 2.1 billion every 10 years. I think they could do alot with it compared to a 14 billion dollar boondoggle. You get more for you money in Ohio than Calif or New england.
September 28, 201014 yr They should just allocate funds per population. Would that be population per the last Census count? From the most recent Census estimate? Or based on population projections for when the federally project would likely be completed and available for use (which could be years away)? What may be fair to some growing cities may not be fair to those that are stagnant or shrinking. What about cities that pay more gas taxes or other taxes than cities of a similar population that pay less? Should a large city with lots of traffic and air pollution like Atlanta get more funding to expand roads and induce more traffic only because it produces more gas taxes than a smaller city like Portland which uses more tax dollars for transit and is in compliance with pollution standards? Should we be rewarding cities like Atlanta only because they are larger and produce more taxes? "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
September 28, 201014 yr I would say it's to keep all cities on an even playing field. Atlanta has never been penalized for their bad air and they still get full funding from their projects. I think smaller Metro's like Buffalo could benefit greatly. Why have 6 or 7 thriving metro's when you can have 20+ thriving metro's if they can get funding for the things that they need? All cities over 1 million or close to it should have light rail. Cities like Des Monies would need it as well because constructing them now will be much much cheaper than constructing them 20-30 years from now when their is no gas. Just give all major cities a chance to compete instead of a handfull.
September 29, 201014 yr Actually, FHWA has penalized Atlanta for its bad air. It restricted federal funding for some road expansion projects. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
October 1, 201014 yr Report gives stimulus package high marks By Lori Montgomery Washington Post Staff Writer Friday, October 1, 2010; 10:01 AM The massive economic stimulus package President Obama pushed through Congress last year is coming in on time and under budget - and with strikingly few claims of fraud or abuse - according to a White House report to be released Friday. Coming barely a month before November's midterm elections, which will determine whether Democrats retain control of Congress, the report challenges public perceptions of the stimulus aid as slow-moving and wasteful - an image that has fueled voter anger with the dominant party. Even some former skeptics who predicted that the money would lead to rampant abuse now acknowledge that the program could serve as a model for improving efficiency in government. By the end of September, the administration had spent 70 percent of the act's original $787 billion, which met a White House goal of quickly pumping money into the nation's ravaged economy, the report says. The administration also met nearly a dozen deadlines set by Congress for getting money out the door. Full story at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/30/AR2010093007382.html
October 2, 201014 yr "By the end of September, the administration had spent 70 percent of the act's original $787 billion, which met a White House goal of quickly pumping money into the nation's ravaged economy, the report says. The administration also met nearly a dozen deadlines set by Congress for getting money out the door." Which would be why all my DC buddies at their consulting firms that had been given stimulus funds that they won for various "studies" had the various government agencies falling all over themselves to give them more money and to craft some additional scopes of work... No its not wasteful at all, and look at all the money that was expended by the deadline.... Total success! Oh and by the way the economy in DC couldnt be better!
October 18, 201014 yr For all of those politicians who have criticized the Stimulus Act.... Stimulating Hypocrisy: Scores of Recovery Act Opponents Sought Money Out of Public View By John Solomon and Aaron Mehta | October 17, 2010 Rep. Pete Sessions, the firebrand conservative from Dallas, Texas, has relentlessly assailed the Democratic-passed stimulus law as a wasteful "trillion dollar spending spree" that was "more about stimulating the government and rewarding political allies than growing the economy and creating jobs." But that didn’t stop the Republican lawmaker from reaching his hand out behind the scenes to seek stimulus money for the suburb of Carrollton after the camera lights went dark and the GOP campaign against the 2009 stimulus law quieted down Full story at: http://www.publicintegrity.org/articles/entry/2532/
October 18, 201014 yr So much misinformation out there on this topic... no way has 70% of the money been "spent". It's likely that 70% of it has been "allocated", which means a project was designed, put out for bid, and a contract has been awarded, but not built. No way has 70% been "spent". Big difference.
October 20, 201014 yr I wouldn't be surprised to see that more than 50% of the stimulus funding ended up in GOP controlled districts. I remember reading last summer while some Senators were arguing against it on the Senate floor their staffs were busy churning out letters requesting funding. I ask Dennis Kucinich in my district--where is our pork? My streets and sidewalks are crumbling! Meanwhile some Tea-party backed anti-stimulus guy has sound barrier walls being constructed in his Columbus suburb. Grrrrrr! :whip:
October 20, 201014 yr ^ Not to be too off-topic, but I think Dennis! actually has a good track record of bringing home the bacon for District 10. I'm not sure about specific stimulus projects, though. There was an article in the PD today about the Stephanie Tubbs-Jones (aka East Side) transit center opening today. It was partially funded by stimulus dollars. I wonder if he was involved in getting that funded (as part of the Cleveland-area delegation) even though it's not in his district.
October 20, 201014 yr ^ Not to be too off-topic, but I think Dennis! actually has a good track record of bringing home the bacon for District 10. I'm not sure about specific stimulus projects, though. There was an article in the PD today about the Stephanie Tubbs-Jones (aka East Side) transit center opening today. It was partially funded by stimulus dollars. I wonder if he was involved in getting that funded (as part of the Cleveland-area delegation) even though it's not in his district. I have no evidence or time to actually check his numbers vs others. My rant is purely based on what I see around me--which is crumbling Cleveland infastructure on the near West Side. To this day at quick glance at the website Recover.gov it seems like Cleveland isn't busting at the seams with funding. I did, however, read many stories last summer of anti-stimulus congressional members ranting in public and on the floors of their respective houses while at the same time writing countless letters begging for funding. Remember--it's only pork if it's something spent outside of your district.
October 20, 201014 yr DOT 188-10 Wednesday, October 20, 2010 Contact: Olivia Alair Tel: (202) 366-4570 Secretary LaHood Announces More Than 70 Innovative Transportation Projects Competitively Funded Under TIGER II Requests Top $19 Billion for $600 Million Program Forty-two capital construction projects and 33 planning projects in 40 states will share nearly $600 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s popular TIGER II program for major infrastructure projects ranging from highways and bridges to transit, rail and ports, Secretary Ray LaHood announced today. Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) II received nearly 1,000 construction grant applications for more than $19 billion from all 50 states, U.S. territories and the District of Columbia. The tremendous demand for TIGER II project dollars follows a similar demand for TIGER I project dollars. On February 17, 2009, the Department announced 51 grant awards from nearly 1,500 applications for TIGER I grants nationwide. The TIGER I requests were for almost $60 billion worth of projects, 40 times the $1.5 billion available under that program. TIGER I dollars were made available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. “These are innovative, 21st century projects that will change the U.S. transportation landscape by strengthening the economy and creating jobs, reducing gridlock and providing safe, affordable and environmentally sustainable transportation choices,” said Secretary LaHood. “Many of these projects could not have been funded without this program.” Roughly 29 percent of TIGER II money goes for road projects, 26 percent for transit, 20 percent for rail projects, 16 percent for ports, four percent for bicycle and pedestrian projects and five percent for planning projects. An example of projects funded is $47.6 million to the City of Atlanta to construct a new streetcar line connecting many of the most important downtown residential, cultural, educational and historic centers, demonstrating the Department’s commitment to improving quality of life in major metropolitan areas. TIGER II also provided $20 million to the New Hampshire Department of Transportation to replace the deteriorating Memorial Bridge that connects Portsmouth, NH, with Kittery, ME. The bridge is at the end of its service life and has a bridge sufficiency rating of six out of 100. Safety concerns recently required a maximum three-ton weight restriction on the bridge, causing all truck traffic to be detoured. The project demonstrates the Department’s commitment to bringing the nation’s aging road and highway infrastructure to a state of good repair. In addition, TIGER II funds are being used to support a $546 million TIFIA (Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act) loan for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority to build the Crenshaw/LAX Light Rail Line, a key piece of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s 30/10 initiative to construct 12 major transit projects in 10 years rather than 30, exemplifying the Department’s commitment to bold, regional transportation projects that create jobs in the short term while reinvesting in long term economic competitiveness and livability. Under TIGER II, more than $140 million is reserved for projects in rural areas. As a competitive program, TIGER II is able to fund the best projects from around the country. Using merit-based evaluation criteria allows the Department of Transportation to address some of the nation’s most critical challenges like sustainability and economic competitiveness. This marks the first time that the U.S. Departments of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development (HUD) have joined together in awarding grants for localized planning activities that ultimately lead to projects that integrate transportation, housing and urban development. Almost 700 applicants sought up to $35 million in TIGER II planning grants and up to $40 million in HUD Sustainable Community Challenge Grants. HUD’s funds can be used for localized planning efforts, such as development around a transit stop and zone or building code updates and improvements. The two Departments, along with assistance from the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, participated in the evaluation of the planning grant applications. To ensure the important investments made by the Recovery Act continue, President Obama recently announced a comprehensive infrastructure investment plan that would be front-loaded with $50 billion to expand and renew America’s roads, railways and runways. To learn more about President Obama’s infrastructure investment plan, click here. TIGER II grants were awarded to projects that have a significant impact on the nation, a region or metropolitan area. The projects chosen demonstrate their ability to contribute to the long-term economic competitiveness of the nation, improve the condition of existing transportation facilities and systems, increase energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improve the safety of U.S. transportation facilities and/or enhance the quality of living and working environments of communities through increased transportation choices and connections. The Department also gave priority to projects that are expected to create and preserve jobs quickly and stimulate rapid increases in economic activity. A complete list of capital grant recipients can be viewed at: http://www.dot.gov/docs/tiger2grantinfo.pdf A complete list of planning grant recipients can be viewed at: http://www.dot.gov/docs/tiger2planninggrantinfo.pdf "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
October 20, 201014 yr A complete list of capital grant recipients can be viewed at: http://www.dot.gov/docs/tiger2grantinfo.pdf A complete list of planning grant recipients can be viewed at: http://www.dot.gov/docs/tiger2planninggrantinfo.pdf A quick search of this yields only one hit for Ohio and Cleveland--the Mayfield Rd Station. Unless my PDF search function is not operating properly?
October 20, 201014 yr That is correct. But it was actually the University Circle-Cedar station reconstruction that got funded -- the only Ohio recipient. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
October 21, 201014 yr TIGER: Not the first time Ohio's been snubbed for transportation funding Business First - by Adrian Burns Date: Wednesday, October 20, 2010, 4:54pm EDT - Last Modified: Thursday, October 21, 2010, 9:49am EDT ...I’ll admit that when I first heard TIGER II grants were to be announced Wednesday, I got excited. Most people don’t know what a TIGER grant is: It stands for Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery. But many in the transportation infrastructure field know the grants' value. Full story at: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/blog/2010/10/not-the-first-time-weve-been-snubbed-fo.html
October 24, 201014 yr I wouldn't be surprised to see that more than 50% of the stimulus funding ended up in GOP controlled districts. I remember reading last summer while some Senators were arguing against it on the Senate floor their staffs were busy churning out letters requesting funding. I ask Dennis Kucinich in my district--where is our pork? My streets and sidewalks are crumbling! Meanwhile some Tea-party backed anti-stimulus guy has sound barrier walls being constructed in his Columbus suburb. Grrrrrr! :whip: Do you have a reason for doubting this validity of this report or are you just Nay-Saying becaus you are Republican? Just asking...
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