As Congress considers an economic stimulus bill that includes spending on infrastructure, two groups are touting the ability of infrastructure construction to create jobs faster than many may expect.


The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), said an analysis of the speed of spending transportation dollars as part of the economic recovery bill is based on "business as usual" and "clearly underestimates the ability of the states to deliver ready-to-go projects."

"State DOTs right now are moving to advance thousands of projects, so that contracts
can be let in 120 days, as the House bill has proposed," said John Horsley, AASHTO executive director. "Those projects will enable the transportation industry to keep people at work, and bring construction workers back on the job very quickly."

Horsley explained that the Congressional Budget Officeis basing its analysis on past practices for six-year bills, and then projecting more delay that it imagines will take place. "This is a new day, a new challenge, and states will deliver on the promise they have made to Congress and to President Obama."

A representative of the Associated General Contractors testified before Congress this week that new proposed infrastructure and public building investments will create or support almost 2 million jobs throughout the entire economy.

George Mason University economist Stephen Fuller noted that the current stimulus plan's proposed infrastructure investments would create or support more than 1.85 million new jobs between now and the end of 2010. He said that would include over 620,000 construction jobs, 300,000 jobs in supplying industries and 930,000 jobs throughout the broader economy.

"The sharp decline in construction employment and activity we have seen over the past two years mean that the sector has plenty of capacity to quickly take on new projects," Professor Fuller told the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. "Two years ago these kinds of investments might have trickled out the door, but in today's climate, they are going to flood out into the economy."