Colorado's Stimulus Share at $2.9B
Tuesday January 27, 2009
According to the latest estimates, Colorado could receive at least $2.9 billion over the next two years from the $825 billion stimulus package proposed by President Barack Obama. The amount includes $226 million to build new schools, and $412 million for new highways. The state would also use $990 million to offset a budget shortfall.
I'm no expert on infrastructure, but how about throwing a bone to mass transit in the Denver area? The stimulus includes $94.9 million for transit across the state. My wish list would be for a light rail to the airport in the near future, and a ski train up to the mountains to avoid the traffic jams on I-70. How do you think the state should spend the stimulus funds? Share your comments below.
$226 million to build new schools and they want to limit the cost of living salary increase for teachers? Real effective stimulus, are we settling for shady teachers willing to make less around here? We keep upping the population with kids and pay the teachers less, smart business there.
Well, one of your wishes is coming true. RTD’s FasTracks will be building a lightrail line to DIA to be opened in 2015. There will also be a line to Boulder, which is great for all those dealing with that traffic.
I don’t know if the FasTracks program is using stimulus money, I haven’t looked into that. Anyone know?
Regardless, the expanded lightrail service looks like it will be fantastic.
Details over here: http://www.rtd-fastracks.com/
Give the stimulus money to everybody with a job. They will either spend it or save it. If they spend it, it will create jobs, need people to make the things people with money buy. If they save it, it will allow banks to loan money to those with jobs to buy houses. Giving the stimulus money to banks and auto makers isn’t gonna do anything for the economy. You gotta create jobs, then people will make money and spend money. Right now, anybody with any money is hording it cause they don’t see a future.
Cheers,
otrpe