'Shovel-ready' projects top list to send Obama

ATLANTA --- Transportation improvements in Augusta are included in the $3 billion list of "shovel-ready" projects that the state has compiled in hopes of getting some of the estimated $1 trillion stimulus package President-elect Obama has promised.

Many local governments have submitted their own wish lists to national associations, but some observers think the new administration will rely on the states to sort the priorities and distribute the funds. Mr. Obama hasn't made public his plans for deciding what qualifies or how the money will be distributed.

Georgia's list ranges from $124,000 for a curve-warning system in Athens to $99 million for extension of the Truman Parkway in Savannah.

The Georgia Department of Transportation compiled the list by combing the roughly 9,000 projects that were considered ongoing. Engineers were already in the process of evaluating those projects to decide which should be postponed indefinitely and find a more manageable number that should go to the front of the line.

Although the prioritization review isn't complete, dozens of projects that had already made the cut and were set to commence last July 1 are on hold for a different reason. The department needed to use the funds appropriated for them to repay a $456 million shortfall in the last fiscal year.

The department's financial problems could also prevent use of Mr. Obama's stimulus package if the state must contribute 20 percent to the cost of projects.

Athens Mayor Heidi Davison expressed frustration when she learned of how few projects her city could get.

"That's kind of a crazy list given that we have a long-range transportation plan," she said.

The transit list focuses on maintenance and safety projects, said Georgia's Transportation Commissioner Gena Evans.

"We took a thorough look at safety, bridges, intersections, new capacity and maintenance," she said, focusing on which could begin within six months of funding. "The biggest driving force in identifying the projects for our list was the 180-day criteria."

Democrats in the Senate have expressed their desire to have the funding bill to Mr. Obama by Jan. 20. But things may not go that smoothly, said Georgia's senior senator, Johnny Isakson.

"There needs to be significant due diligence and considerable congressional oversight," said Mr. Isakson, a Republican. "Whether or not that is on the president's desk when he is sworn in remains to be seen."