Conn. stimulus spending pokes along

According to union leaders in Connecticut, stimulus money has only led to stagnant activity in the transportation sector.

Don Shubert, president of the Connecticut Construction Construction Industries Association, told the Republican American that the state has gotten off to a slow start with stimulus spending, and with the summer winding down, this year’s construction season is already lost.

“You won’t see the impact that everyone anticipated with this [federal stimulus] bill until next year,” he said.

Connecticut’s numbers do appear to be sluggish. According to the Republican American, of the 33 jobs marked to receiving stimulus support, only 12 have been awarded creating approximately 100 positions. Some of the projects are still in the early stages of site preparation. Connecticut has a total of $302 million in recovery aid reserved for the road and bridge industry.

Matthew Fritz, a special assistant to the governor who is overseeing the more than $1.22 billion in federal stimulus that Connecticut is expected to receive, echoed the complications many DOTs are running into in the effort to get stimulus projects moving. He said the complex federal approval process has taken some air out of the expected momentum, and added that the Connecticut DOT also has been helping regional planning organizations who are not familiar with those federal rules seek funding for local transportation projects.

“We are on the cusp of a great deal of activity,” he told the Republican American. “I think the word stimulus has created this misconception in people’s heads that this was going to be instantaneous.”

Responding to the perceived delay, members of the state’s transportation committee have scheduled a hearing on Aug. 19 to get an update on the transportation stimulus money and how it is being spent.