Infrastructure for the sake of jobs?

[Metro Jacksonville]

Infrastructure for the sake of jobs?



Are we building highways for the wrong reason?  Billions can be found for questionable projects such as the First Coast Outer Beltway and SR 9B, while streets like Southside Boulevard and Baymeadows Road remain heavily congested with no relief in sight. This article by Nathaniel Hood of StrongTowns.org suggest that many cities rely on road construction for the wrong reason and to their own economic detriment.

Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2013-apr-infrastructure-for-the-sake-of-jobs

[JFman00]

Illinois Gov. Quinn unveils plan for $12 billion in road, bridge improvements over 6 years

The plan ensures that 140,000 construction or related jobs will be retained or created, she said.

Democratic Sen. Patricia Van Pelt, who represents Chicago's West Side, said the plan calls for $500 million in work for her district, which has a 52 percent unemployment rate for black men. She said she expects the state to do a better job of hiring minorities to do the work.

"If I do not see the progress the community expects, we will demonstrate our dissatisfaction," Van Pelt said in a written statement. "Construction projects are good, but we need jobs in our community."

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn speaks to reporters in his office at the Illinois State Capitol Wednesday, April 17, 2013, in Springfield Ill. Quinn rolled out a $12.6 billion, six-year update to its plans for improving roads, bridges, rail and air travel in Illinois, including the start of construction on the congestion-riddled Circle Interchange near Chicago's Loop, a new Mississippi River bridge in Moline, and major resurfacing and replacement of bridges and pavement on interstate highways throughout the Prairie State.

IDOT spokeswoman Jae Miller said Quinn is dedicated to ensuring firms owned by minorities and women "have fair access to contract opportunities and that more minority workers can train and qualify for jobs in the transportation industry."

However well-intentioned, the job creation aspect of government projects/contracting is such a joke. I interned (at minimum wage) with a Filipino accounting firm that did mostly City of Chicago/State of Illinois business, while also being the subcontractor doing the bulk of the work for skeleton-staffed Black, Hispanic or women-owned firms. We probably would've gotten the other contracts as well but it would have messed with the diversity requirements. Last I heard, the primary contract the ~100 employee firm had (auditing Medicaid claims for fraud) was cancelled and shifted to a 2-person State department because of budget constraints. I doubt people would support those stupid diversity requirements if they knew how little they benefit they provide.

As for the budget proposal itself, it's sad but the ~15% for mass transit and ~9% for rail is probably one of the higher funding levels in the nation.

[vicupstate]

The article's author doesn't even factor in the expense of 'incentives' and of course, moratoriums on fees, etc.  It is a zero sum game it seems (at best).

[mbwright]

or the cost per job, based upon the millions being spent.

[FSBA]

I thought you were building a road. If it’s jobs you want to create, then take away their shovels and give them spoons

[Overstreet]

IDOT spokeswoman Jae Miller said Quinn is dedicated to ensuring firms owned by minorities and women "have fair access to contract opportunities and that more minority workers can train and qualify for jobs in the transportation industry."


If it were Fair they'd stand on their own merit not race, sex or minority status.