For months, the phrase “shovel ready” has surrounded the issue of federal stimulus money. Cities across the country have been preparing as many projects as they can to meet federal stipulations for infrastructure projects. Eugene announced Thursday that it will receive $5.4 million from federal stimulus money to fund three infrastructure projects and is expecting more money in the upcoming months.
“The federal money is certainly a very important source of funding for the City of Eugene and we are very grateful for it,” Public Works planning agent Eric Jones said. “Just to put it into perspective, the yearly gas tax that goes towards road improvement puts out $3 million a year so this donation doubles those funds.”
The City of Eugene and other regional partners worked hard even before the money was allocated to the state, rallying the needs of neighboring cities with their own to make a broader appeal for federal stimulus money. Their reward came last week after Eugene received $3 million for four pavement preservations projects in the city that will also benefit surrounding areas.
The construction on the roads will begin in 2010 and will provide 40 family-wage jobs. In addition, 14 major street repair projects, which will be funded by city bonds, are expected to create an additional 125 family-wage jobs.
Lane County Budget Manager David Garnick applauds the city’s efforts to get money necessary for road repair.
“I know the City of Eugene has a backlog of road work, so I am really happy to know they got the money they needed,” he said. “It will go to good use.”
Jones cautions Eugene residents to view federal stimulus money as a short-term solution to a long-term problem.
“This is not sustainable. It provides a good jolt to the economy, but once the money is gone the construction is finished and jobs dissolve,” he said. “Really, the main blessing is that many of these projects were going to have to be put off, but thanks to the federal stimulus money, we will actually save money because we will repair roads before they degrade any more than they already have.”
The Oregon Transportation Commission also allocated $2.25 million in grants to construct a 1,000-foot long pedestrian bike path over the Delta Highway, a project that has been an idea of the city’s since 1974 and has been designed for two years. After its completion, the project will connect the Valley River Area to the Cal Young Neighborhood in North Eugene and it is estimated that it will create 85 jobs.
Patrick Cox, the Delta Pond Bridge Project manager, said the timing for the money was perfect because the design and construction plan was finished and without the money, the project would have sat on the shelf even though it was ready to go.
“The money is so helpful,” he said. “I am in favor of capital improvement projects as a philosophy. The way I see it, we are not only investing in hospitals and bridges, but also in future generations.”
The final building project funding the OTC approved was $180,000 for a pedestrian bicycle compatibility project at the Eugene Train Depot on North Willamette Street. The Depot Building was renovated in 2004 and has been protected since 2007 as a Nationally Registered Historic Landmark. Because nearly 95 percent of the design was finished before Eugene received stimulus money, the extra money will go toward the creation of a more energy efficient train depot and is expected to create 17 jobs.
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