In the United States, the federal government is embarking on the next infrastructure stimulus bill through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to fight the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill will boost the construction pipeline and potentially support local agencies and planning panels fast-track high priority projects that can help reopen the economy, provide jobs and help communities thrive.
Navigating and accessing these funds will also depend on swift project implementation and delivery. Deciding the most suitable project(s) that can meet quick project delivery goals as envisioned by the stimulus package has its challenges.
It is critical to do the early work to maximize planning for delivery so that precious time is not lost when implementing projects that are funded by the stimulus bill.
Key learnings from the last stimulus package, American Recovery and Reinvestment (ARRA)
In many ways, the CARES and ARRA stimulus packages will probably be similar. The federal government likes to funnel money rapidly through established programs and agencies, such as the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and transportation improvement programs. However, going through FHWA means your eligible projects need to be shovel ready. Traditionally, infrastructure projects that are sitting on the shelf just waiting for funding are the prime targets. In some cases, these projects may have already undergone planning and design and are included in the local agency’s approved Capital Improvement Program.
What can local agencies do to maximize their readiness to receive such funding when they become available?
- Review your multi-year Capital Improvement Program (CIP) list of transportation projects, and target projects that are shovel ready or “near” shovel ready as being a high priority for implementation under the CARES Act.
- Work with your regional transportation agency. Most local agencies already work closely with their regional partners, and often, decisions on money allocation to member agencies are made at the regional level. Be at the table and be involved in that process to ensure your agency’s interest is represented and be ready with your CIP list.
- Review plans and permits to make sure assumptions and field conditions are still valid for today. Readying those plans and construction specifications now will save valuable time for process and coordination later.
- Identify barriers to project implementation. For example, can the barriers be readily handled through action by the resource or local agency, such as securing a grading and/or stormwater permit approval? Is there available local agency funding that needs to be secured to come up with a required local match? Can the project be modified to remove project barriers, such as reducing a scope item that requires a lengthy right of way process?
- Get your checklists and filing systems in place for handling federal requirements for project monitoring and audits. Doing this now will save time later when federal and state audits take place.
For stimulus spending to be effective, it must occur quickly and on projects that can be brought to construction rapidly. Equally important is to choose those projects where public opinion is generally favorable to minimize time-consuming outreach for responding to public controversy.
There will be a big push towards swift project implementation and delivery for the CARES program. Local agencies can use existing processes, on-call engineering support, and established relationships with their regional transportation agencies to ensure their fair share allocation and successful project delivery.
Working with a team of project managers, engineers and environmental planners who are well versed with infrastructure project delivery, especially FHWA projects, can help you expedite your shovel ready and “nearly” shovel ready projects during these extraordinary times.
Meet Toni
Ms. Bertolero has over 35 years of experience in municipal engineering. She has broad experience in the area of public works and utilities engineering and management. She recently returned to GHD after serving as the Town of Windsor’s Public Works Director and Town Engineer. She has also held the title of City Engineer with the cities of Benicia, Cotati, Rohnert Park, and Sonoma, and was Utilities Engineer-Manager for the City of Benicia Utilities Department. Her experience includes public outreach and consensus building, transportation engineering, infrastructure asset management, operations and maintenance, water supply and contract negotiations, agency coordination, permit acquisition, and regulatory agency negotiations.For more information, please contact Toni at Toni.Bertolero@ghd.com.
