Amador County – Amador County is OK in light of the state highway funding freeze, Amador County Transportation Commission Executive Director Charles Field said Tuesday. ACTC is working this week with local municipalities to identify projects for expected federal funding. “Fortunately, the Highway 49 Bypass is done, fortunately the Defender Grade intersection is done,” Field said. On the periphery lies expected federal infrastructure spending. “We’re not greatly affected by the state crisis on streets and roads because we’re between projects.” ACTC has avoided economic impacts that have hurt Prospect Motors and other companies. Field said “somehow, we’re not hurt too bad and maybe we’ll be able to bring some more money into the county.” But flux in Washington, D.C., means what California and Amador County get from the federal stimulus package “is changing every day.” He said President Obama will be in office next week and plans to “hit the ground running,” so the county will see how he handles it. In a report to the ACTC board prepared for today’s meeting, Field said there is expected to be $30 billion in the federal stimulus packet, with $3 billion for California. Of that, half should be for “shovel ready” projects, which generally means a “project has got its federal environmental clearance, community acceptance, right of way and design work accomplished (and ready to bid).” For highway work at the state level, he said that means the project must also be in the Regional Transportation Plan. Field said federal projects are different than state projects and have “more federal strings attached, so 90 days is not a lot of time.” Last week, guidelines changed from 90 days to 120 days on “shovel ready” projects. He said ACTC is working with the cities in a staff meeting Thursday to gather a list of road and transit projects that can be prepared for the anticipated stimulus spending. ACTC has also invited 1 or 2 members each from the Upcountry Community Council and the Pine Grove Community Council to attend the staff meeting. Story by Jim Reece (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).
Wednesday, 21 January 2009 02:08
Amador OK Despite State Highway Funding Freeze
Amador County – Amador County is OK in light of the state highway funding freeze, Amador County Transportation Commission Executive Director Charles Field said Tuesday. ACTC is working this week with local municipalities to identify projects for expected federal funding. “Fortunately, the Highway 49 Bypass is done, fortunately the Defender Grade intersection is done,” Field said. On the periphery lies expected federal infrastructure spending. “We’re not greatly affected by the state crisis on streets and roads because we’re between projects.” ACTC has avoided economic impacts that have hurt Prospect Motors and other companies. Field said “somehow, we’re not hurt too bad and maybe we’ll be able to bring some more money into the county.” But flux in Washington, D.C., means what California and Amador County get from the federal stimulus package “is changing every day.” He said President Obama will be in office next week and plans to “hit the ground running,” so the county will see how he handles it. In a report to the ACTC board prepared for today’s meeting, Field said there is expected to be $30 billion in the federal stimulus packet, with $3 billion for California. Of that, half should be for “shovel ready” projects, which generally means a “project has got its federal environmental clearance, community acceptance, right of way and design work accomplished (and ready to bid).” For highway work at the state level, he said that means the project must also be in the Regional Transportation Plan. Field said federal projects are different than state projects and have “more federal strings attached, so 90 days is not a lot of time.” Last week, guidelines changed from 90 days to 120 days on “shovel ready” projects. He said ACTC is working with the cities in a staff meeting Thursday to gather a list of road and transit projects that can be prepared for the anticipated stimulus spending. ACTC has also invited 1 or 2 members each from the Upcountry Community Council and the Pine Grove Community Council to attend the staff meeting. Story by Jim Reece (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).
