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The city of Chula Vista is gathering public input on how to spend the federal stimulus money it’s expecting. Two meetings are slated next Monday: A 2:30 p.m. meeting at police headquarters at 315 Fourth Avenue and a 6 p.m. workshop in council chambers at City Hall.
Last week, we examined the projects across the region that will likely get funding from the stimulus package. Rick Hopkins, Chula Vista’s public works director, told me then that the meetings were designed to gather public input about where projects, such as sidewalk rehabilitation, should focus.
Along those lines, the Wall Street Journal had an interesting story today focusing on the time delay between a shovel-ready project getting funding and actually starting. It focuses on Pennsylvania, but the lessons are applicable here. The story says:
States are quickly assembling their construction wish lists. But it takes time to advertise for contractors, collect bids, check the numbers, pick a winner and get work underway. A typical paving project — easy roadwork — takes close to three months from the time the money is approved to the arrival of work boots on the ground, according to the American Association of State Highway & Transportation Officials. “It is not an instant process,” says a spokesman.