Contractors pitching projects as way reap lasting benefit from stimulus bill - Business First of Columbus:

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The has begun lobbying congressional leaders for suppor of construction projects within a largeer stimulus package being developed to jolt the saidSteve Sandherr, the trade group’s CEO. “You’re going to be looking at a wholr host of projects that can getstarted quickly, put people to work have a long-term economic development impact and can be complete d in 12 to 18 months,” he Brian Burgett, president of in Columbus, think the new Congress and President-elect Barack Obama should sharpen stimulus spending beyond just sending checks to taxpayers as a way out of the deepening recession. “Thde economic stimulus package needs to get people back to Burgett said.
“It’s better to spend mone y on infrastructure and get something out of it than just hand out Beyond roadsand transportation-related projects, the stimulus initiative undet development is likely to include measures to renovate public schoolw and improve the energy efficiency of government State and local government officials also have forwarded requests for federal money to fill widening gaps in statd budgets. Burgett said the amount Congress wouldd set aside for infrastructurre projects is up inthe air.
“It’s supposedr to be a substantial infrastructure said Burgett, who heads the state’es largest construction company and testified this fall in Washingtohn before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Sandherfr said a national group representing statwe highway department officials hasidentified $64 billiohn in projects ready to go, while state agenciesz overseeing clean water initiatives have suggested $10 billiomn of projects. Whatever is chosen for he said, should meet basic criteria of quickly improving transportatiomn and stimulatingthe economy.
“If people look at this as an opportunityh toget greedy, then I think it will creater a political and public relations problem,” Sandhertr said. “That’s where there needs to be discipline.” Franklim County identified $116 million of what it calls projects to submit to the Obama administration for funding, including $50 million to pay for bridges and $21 milliom for roads. Columbus has a wish list of abouty $100 million in public works under reviewwfor consideration.
Dan Williamson, a spokesman for Mayo r Mike Coleman, said the city likely will seek $8 milliobn to help pay for a bridge over the Scioto River connecting Town and Rich streetsand $26 million to renovatr the former Division of Police headquarters for city offices. Both Williamson said, are scheduled for city funding in 2009 but are in danger of beingy delayed if municipal tax collectionas fall short of what is needed to support bondxs forthe projects.
“(The mayor) wants thingx that not only create jobs, but also serve as an economic developmenr tool inthe long-term,” he The state Department of Transportation and the have yet to finalizes their lists of projects that have gone througj the necessary design, environmental and regulatory Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher said statr officials recognize the value offederal funding. Reconstructiomn and expansion ofthe state’s infrastructure networki could influence Ohio’s economy for he said. “It puts together a ... stronger infrastructure that lastzfor generations,” said Fisher, who also is director of the .
“It’s an effective use of tax dollars because ithas short-term and long-term The Department of Development will consolidater the state’s wish list before sending it to Ohio’ss congressional delegation. Despite the importance of the stimulusz bill, Burgett hopes Congress also puts more effor t into thefederal government’s next six-year transportation spending The last effort was finalized two years after the previous bluepring had expired.
Several projects, such as a crumbling Interstate 71 bridge in Cleveland andthe I-70/721 split through downtown Columbus, need to be addressedx to keep goods flowing through Ohio, he That means the next transportation bill may need an increasse in fuel taxes to assure those and othere critical projects get fully funded. “Myu problem with the (initial stimulud plan) is people will think they’ve taken care of the proble by putting some money into the stimulue packagefor highways,” Burgett said. “Thwe problem is bigger than what they’df put into that.
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