The stimulus and the states: California and Missouri await their funds

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

California is facing down a $42 billion budget gap and now Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced lay offs of over 10,000 government workers and an immediate halt to all public works projects. All this while another state, Missouri, takes the lead in applying stimulus money to the ailing transportation system by having the first economic recovery act in the country already under construction. Pete Rahm, Director of the Missouri Department of Transportation, makes a stop at The Takeaway on his publicity push.

"I think this is important to also demonstrate to the country that the highway industry can be a factor in addressing the problems of the recession."
— Pete Rahm, director of the Missouri Department of Transportation, on using stimulus funds for the state's highways

Here's the Missouri Department of Transportation's stimulus wish list:

Guests:

Pete Rahm

Hosted by:

Daljit Dhaliwal

Comments [1]

John

Curious, as a typical taxpayer. If I need concrete work done at my home (patio, driveway,...sidewalk) it is roughly $20/sf from excavation to finishing. For a sidewalk, isn't that about $60/lf? With $35M for sidewalk and trail improvement, and I'd like to know what trails are ailing right now, this equates to about 110 miles of sidewalk?
SO, just how many miles, or linear feet, of sidewalk will be improved? What trails will get improvements, and what are those improvements?
This is the kind of transparency I would like to see.

Feb. 28 2009 12:11 AM

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