Utah tallies $12B in road projects

But state expects to get far less from stimulus package

TAYLORSVILLE — From St. George to Logan, transportation and municipal planners are preparing a list of road projects that will cost more than $12 billion, with the hope that the money would come from President-elect Barack Obama's proposed stimulus package.

Obama has proposed an economic-stimulus package with the goal of creating jobs by funding state and municipal infrastructure projects. But if Congress passes Obama's plan, Utah won't likely receive anywhere near $12 billion, said Ahmed Jaber, the Utah Department of Transportation's systems, planning and program director.

"We're looking roughly at $225 million," Jaber told the Utah Transportation Commission on Wednesday morning.

The $225 million is the amount of money the federal government gave to Utah road-building projects last year. Transportation planning officials believe Obama's stimulus package will be the same amount.

The six-page list from the Utah planners contains about 300 projects. All the projects must be ready to go within 90 days, and the bidding among construction firms, project design and employee hiring must be finished in that time, "so people could start working and help the economy," Jaber said.

The projects range from beginning work on the Mountain View Corridor in Salt Lake County to "micro-surfacing" U.S. 191, which is Main Street in Blanding, San Juan County. Other projects include widening portions of Riverdale Road in Weber County and State Street in Utah County.

In November, UDOT Executive Director John Njord announced that he planned to put 50 projects totaling $3.9 billion on hold indefinitely, as the state struggles with fewer tax revenues and a budget crunch. Although some of the 50 projects landed on the Obama economic-stimulus wish list, others are not included because they can't be ready in 90 days.

In addition to state and municipal projects, the Utah Transit Authority also is preparing a list that includes 11 projects estimated to cost $2.2 billion. The items on the list range from work currently under way, such as a TRAX light rail line to the Salt Lake City International Airport, to new projects such as an overpass for rail over North Temple in Salt Lake. UTA will receive a different allotment of money that is separate from the estimated $225 million that UDOT expects.

UDOT officials and municipal planners may continue to add to their list until Congress passes the proposed bill. Then it's crunch time, said UDOT deputy director Carlos Braceras.

"Once the bill is signed, we would have one week to submit the projects," Braceras said.

It's unclear whether there will be any earmarks on the stimulus package. UDOT officials said the federal government will support projects based on the number of people employed and the size of the salaries.

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