My Stimulus Hopes

Obama has vowed to spend money on many shovel ready projects to help stimulate the economy. This along with the tax cuts he plans put in place will I think be just what we need. Even if this doesn't help in the short term it will help in the long run! We are still using many of the projects that the CCC built well over 70 years ago. I imagine the same will be true this time. Unlike the CCC I think this time we will see many more transit based projects and a stronger focus on education. Sure some ideas have already been thrown around but I suspect Obama to surprise us with a HUGE amount of new projects being supported.

Here is my list of projects I hope get funding....

Florida High Speed Rail

Tampa Bay Area Regional Transit (My vote is the Regional Emphasis plan)

New USF Polytechnic campus

California High Speed Rail (Sure I don't live there and probably will never use this but I know how much it is needed and California isn't in the place to even give it a little funding)

Dr Philips Performance Art Center (This can easily become the downtown Orlando landmark but only if it gets all the funding it needs!)

Duluth to Minneapolis High Speed Rail

Lake County Florida Commuter Rail link

Adding solar panels Orange County Florida Convention Center

The Innovation Way/Beachline Expressway Interchange

Help build Encore in Tampa

Add two new taxiways at Tampa International Airport

Major renovations at Hillsborough County Schools and Miami-Dade schools

Complete rebuild of I-275 through Tampa


I was sad to see that the water taxi project between Tampa and St. Pete has all but died. I was hoping that would make the list but dead projects probably wont. I would also like to see some major conversation efforts approved. There has already been a huge push to improve our National parks and money for purchasing of endangered lands. I hope both of these pass along with many other plans to build public parks, improve parks, and conserve land. I also would like to see more projects to help those who are differently abled get approved. I know that the Polk County Florida County Courthouse is on the list for these improvements. I don't care as much about these because they are for a smaller group of people but I would still like to the see them approved.

I see these things as the projects that will be looked back upon in the years to come as wise choices. These projects help the communities at large and help improve the way of life, along with providing needed jobs, houses, and education. We will be finding out all of what Obama plans to do in the coming weeks (though I don't expect an entire plan to be laid out for some time. I expect multiple projects getting the green light in waves, the first wave will be mid-February but many other projects will be skipped this time and get approved in the coming months.)

I will be watching, waiting, to see if these projects get approved. I pray they each do and I hope they will be done the right way, the fastest way, and the cheapest way. Any projects you hoping are approved? Any ideas what can also be added to these list.