By Paul Minnis, The Republic
pminnis@therepublic.com
Local officials, thirsty for a share of President-elect Barack Obama's economic stimulus package, have turned in requests for millions of dollars for road and bridge construction projects.
The fast-gathered wish lists come at the request of Indiana Department of Transportation, which is collecting a list from governments across the state.
Obama has urged lawmakers to act quickly on a massive stimulus measure, which, in part, would allocate $40 billion nationwide to transportation projects.
The city and Bartholomew County in 2009 are operating under tight budgets that underscore losses in property tax revenue due to state legislation.
"Given the economic crisis and tight city budget, we'd be happy to get a little money to move some things along," said Columbus City Engineer Steve Ruble.
On behalf of the city, Ruble asked for $7.9 million to widen 17th Street from Central Avenue to U.S. 31, and Road 200S from Indiana 11 to Road 150W.
He also asked for money to cover a storm sewer project on Indiana Avenue, but he did not know how much it would cost.
The 17th Street work, which Ruble said will happen in 2009 regardless of federal funding, will include sidewalks and bicycle lanes that link to the People Trail under 17th Street Bridge.
Federal funds could bump up the Indiana Avenue project, which is set for 2010, but would not affect the Road 200S time frame, also set for 2010.
Ruble and County Engineer Danny Hollander said there is no way to know yet how much financial assistance Obama's stimulus package will bring. They said they also do not know if requested amounts will be granted in full, or what stipulations may be added for the specific use of the money.
"I just wanted to get our requests in there for as much as we could," Hollander said. "We'd definitely love to have the money."
The county requested $8 million to replace bridges over White Creek and a legal drain, both on 1100S; Little Haw Creek on Road 900E; and Tough Creek on Road 600N.
Hollander said the county might get to all four bridges this year if the federal assistance funds them in full. Without federal help, the county plans to replace the Road 600N bridge and, depending on that project's cost, possibly one other.
The federal funds require that the projects can be bid out almost immediately and that construction can start in three months.
"Everyone is preparing for something," Ruble said. "We just don't know what."