As we all watch Obama announce his aids, plans to stimulate the economy, and meetings he has the appointed already attending, infrastructure seems to be the keyword here. I was quite impressed with his “let’s not reinvent the wheel” concept to jump-start the economy, rather take what worked 70 years ago and improve upon it.
I was forwarded an article in ENR the other day by a friend in the A/E industry who has been watching Obama like a hawk, waiting for any type of news to report. The article went on to say the following (I broke it up into bullet points, but make sure to read the full article here):
- States could be requesting up to $136 billion for highways and other infrastructure projects. These projects, according to Pennsylvania Governer Edward Rendell who is chairing the National Governors Association this year, are ready to go and can be let within 180 days. Further, these are not pothole projects, rather major reconstruction.
- Rendell has asked the Speaker (Pelosi) to attach a use-it-or-lose it provision, encouraging states to use the money quickly for projects rather than to hold in their transportation accounts.
- Rendell estimated that over 70% would go for highways and other transportation projects. The remaining would include water and sewer facilities, ports, and levee projects.
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