Stimulus work project
I-15 CORE project as reported by ksl.com notes lots of jobs and local spending.
By Becky Bruce
UTAH COUNTY — The recession may not feel like it’s really over yet, but the Utah Department of Transportation’s I-15 CORE project is helping to the tune of more than a thousand jobs.
The I-15 CORE project has already created 1,000-plus jobs to date, and spokeswoman Heather Barnum says that number could double next summer.
Plus, Barnum says, it’s helping the economy in other ways.
“When you’re building a road you need aggregates, you need steel, you need trucks, even, on the project,” she said. “So we always try to look, where do we have things locally?”
As a result, 95 percent of the supplies used for the CORE project come from inside the state.
That doesn’t count boosts from other things, like workers stopping for lunch at a local café — all of which contribute to the local economy.
Yeah, but, why does local matter? Remember that USA Today “expose'” on ARRA infrastructure spending which found very limited hiring for infrastructure projects in the county in which they took place? The weakness of that approach is, of course, that the workers might come from the next county over. It is federal money, after all. Heck, even when it’s the county’s own money, it would be tricky to insist that every penny be spent in-county.
I’m happy about the jobs and all, but the notion that only people in my zip-code should benefit is kinda icky.
Well yes, but the article stated it was the whole state, not the county.
Dan,
Are you saying or implying that the I-15 CORE Project received Federal Stimulus funding?
http://www.i15core.utah.gov/faqs.php
In March 2009, the governor and state lawmakers approved a $1.725 billion bond to fund the most critical area of I-15 CORE. UDOT supports the governor and legislature in recognizing the importance of investing in transportation and its positive impact in supporting a recovering economy.
Why not wait a few years and complete the entire project when more funding is available?
I-15 CORE is needed to restore aging infrastructure, address long-term transportation needs and improve the mobility of goods and services throughout the state. It is in the best interest of the public and the state to address these issues now, for three major economic reasons: (1) Construction costs are currently low. Because of inflation and incremental benefit, waiting will result in significant increases to the cost of the project. (2) A segmented approach puts less strain on the industry and makes more firms eligible to participate. Additional competition between contracting companies keeps prices down. And (3) the project will maintain or create Utah jobs, which will immediately benefit the recovering economy.
To answer your other question, when I first noticed the project I thought it might be a good example of stimulus money at work, assuming it was shovel ready so to speak.
Assuming the reporter is reasonably accurate, it then became something a state could find a way to do and fund, again assuming it is needed, which indicates something fairly well done. Buit no, I did not research much on this one.