In response to the economic downturn, the federal government is considering an infrastructure stimulus package that would boost employment and help fuel economic recovery. To quickly apply for any funds that may be made available in a stimulus package, SANDAG and its partner agencies, the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce and the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation, have taken proactive steps to be immediately ready. Working in cooperation with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), Metropolitan Transit System (MTS), North County Transit District (NCTD), the County of San Diego, and the cities and water authorities in the region, SANDAG has developed a comprehensive list of transportation and public works projects. Each program includes a list of projects that are ready for advertisement, could be advertised in six months, and could be advertised in 12 months.
This report, which provides an overview of the development of the proposal and a summary of the projects, is posted below in PDF format.
San Diego Region Economic Stimulus Proposal
On October 29, 2008, SANDAG Executive Director Gary Gallegos was one of 15 witnesses invited to testify before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in Washington, D.C., in a convened hearing titled “Investing in Infrastructure: The Road to Recovery.”
The purpose of the hearing was to explore the role that infrastructure investment plays in job creation and economic recovery. Throughout the hearing, multiple witnesses and lawmakers stressed that investing in infrastructure not only creates jobs and helps the economy, but also solves the deteriorating infrastructure problem that our nation is experiencing.
During his testimony, Gallegos stressed that with the softening economy, rising unemployment, and population growth, there is an urgent need to rebuild and grow our national transportation system.
Gallegos offered San Diego as a successful example of creating a world class and globally competitive system by partnering with federal and state governments to invest in and build projects such as the I-15 Managed Lanes, a new international border crossing, and SR 11.
He also stressed that the San Diego region and others have a number of ‘ready-to-go’ projects that Congress should consider as they contemplate future infrastructure investments.
‘We stand ready to partner with federal and state governments to rebuild America and put us on a path to economic recovery and prosperity,” Gallegos said.
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