Highway spending updated

Just weeks after two U.S. congresswomen chided Gov. Jim Gibbons for failing to aggressively spend stimulus dollars designated for highway work, a new report released by a federal transportation committee shows the state has slipped another spot in spending rankings.

Nevada, which at 13.2 percent has one of the highest jobless rates in the country, dropped from 46th in the nation to 47th, according to the report. The rankings include all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

When the state ranked 46th, Democratic Reps. Shelley Berkley and Dina Titus wrote Gibbons saying, "This funding was meant to be spent quickly and efficiently to maximize its job-creating potential."

"This funding was meant to put men and women back to work improving Nevada's roads and highways, and I do not understand why the governor is not doing more to get this done," Berkley said. "These are jobs that should have already been given to out-of-work Nevadans who are struggling to pay the rent and feed their families. It is truly unfortunate that at a time when we face a 13 percent unemployment rate, the governor has not made this issue a top priority. He needs to get his foot off the brake and hit the gas pedal so we can speed this process along."

In response to the letter earlier this month, Gibbons' spokesman said the figures were out of whack because the Transportation Department opted to funnel some funding to local government agencies. He also suggested that the full spending reports had yet to make it to Washington D.C.

The state has put out to bid projects totaling 41.5 percent of the $201 million in stimulus funding allocated to Nevada, according to the latest report which tallied up spending through Aug. 31. That is up about 6 percent from figures in the report for July.

The number of projects underway amount to 25 percent of the funding, an increase of 2 percent from July to August. About 34 percent of the funding had been dedicated to projects under contract, up about 6 percent.

In a Sept. 18 letter from Gibbons to the congresswomen, the governor said the state chose to distribute the money throughout the state and spend it on several smaller road projects rather than one major piece of infrastructure.

He noted that the larger projects considered in Southern Nevada included the reconstruction of the Las Vegas Beltway-Airport Connector interchange, which would have cost $160 million; the Interstate 15 south project with a price tag of $265 million; and the widening of U.S. Highway 95 between Rainbow Boulevard and Ann Road.

"The decision was made by all agencies involved that this would not be the best use of (stimulus) funds in that only a limited number of consultants and contractors would be able to pursue and be awarded this work," Gibbons wrote. "This would not accomplish the goal of putting the most Nevadans to work and stimulating the overall economy."

While the latest report irked the congresswomen, the most telling report will be the tally of state spending through the end of September.

As of Sept. 17, Gibbons said, the state has put out to bid 50 percent of the total funds allocated to the state for highways. The Nevada Department of Transportation controls $136 million of the funding and has put out to bid 66 percent of it, said Gibbons, who serves as chairman of the Transportation Department.

The letter from Gibbons, who initially opposed the stimulus funds, gave the appearance he was warming up to the thought of the extra dollars.

"NDOT and our transportation partners in Nevada were excited to receive this significant investment in Nevada's transportation infrastructure," the letter states. "This investment is allowing many contractors and Nevadans across the state to retain current work forces and hire new employees, helping reduce the severe economic downturn occurring in Nevada."

Contact reporter Adrienne Packer at apacker@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2904.