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Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009

Stimulus dollars helping Merced, Mariposa construction projects

Road work and Mariposa parking facility get a boost.

Federal stimulus money continues to trickle from Washington, D.C., to the coffers of local government, with some projects winding up and others breaking ground.

The federal government, through www.recovery.gov, shows $26.9 million awarded to Merced County agencies. Plus, Caltrans will spend $46.7 million to replace the Highway 99 bridges between Merced and Atwater.

Merced has been promised $17 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, though no money has yet made it into city accounts.

"We're not sure when those dollars will come," City Manager John Bramble said Wednesday.

Waiting for the money poses problems from a cash-flow perspective, he said. The city will have to time its projects to make sure there's enough cash on hand.

On Monday, Merced's City Council approved spending $1.5 million to repave 16th Street from G to V streets.

Bramble said the city is anticipating a $1.6 million award that will let it fix up 18th Street and part of M Street.

Other grants include $2 million to pay down the city's $34 million loan to upgrade the sewer treatment plant and a lower interest rate that saves taxpayers $6.8 million on the 20-year loan, Bramble explained.

The treatment plant project is under way, with crews busy rebuilding it. "We're seeing people put to work, and we'll see more with these other grants," Bramble said.

Merced's waiting to hear about its $5 million application for more foreclosure aid and $4.3 million to build another fire station.

Just as some projects finish, others are being announced.

Merced County has nearly completed a $1 million upgrade to the runway at Castle Airport in hopes of luring a commercial passenger airline service. County leaders are looking for more chances to spend stimulus money to rejuvenate the former Air Force base.

Late last week, Yosemite Area Regional Transit System officials said they received $1.2 million to build a park-and-ride facility in Mariposa and buy a 45-foot diesel bus.

The stimulus package set aside $34 million for rural transit programs, system manager Dick Whittington said.

The facility will be built on Joe Howard Street in Mariposa next to the Rite Aid. Teichert Construction in June won the bid for the project, estimated to cost $1.3 million. YARTS will spend $582,000 on the facility. The rest, $717,000, will come from the stimulus package.

The complex will feature security cameras, restrooms and 84 parking spots, including ones for handicapped drivers and RVs. It will free up more parking for people shopping in Mariposa.

"It'll be good for the community," Whittington said. "Hopefully, it will encourage more people to use transit."

The construction schedule depends on the weather remaining dry.

The bus will be built by Motor Coach Industries for $535,000. Construction will take about 240 days.

Diesel engine technology has improved, making the buses burn fuel much cleaner, Whittington said.

A hybrid bus has just come on the market, though it costs $775,000. Whittington said he didn't want to buy one until they've been on the market for some time and have proven to be reliable.

The long-term goal is for YARTS to own -- not lease -- a fleet of nine buses, which would shave 15 percent off its contract. This will be the first bus it owns.

Reporter Scott Jason can be reached at (209) 385-2453 or sjason@mercedsun-star.com.