Jackson Free Press

Two aspects of the federal economic stimulus will not be making much of a touchdown in Jackson. The Mississippi Department of Transportation revealed a nearly $200 million list of 44 projects around the state that will benefit from President Barack Obama's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, but Hinds County is only slated for a tiny fraction of that, with only $400,000 going to the installation of a traffic signal on Highway 80. Jackson's neighbor, the more economically affluent Rankin County—the seat of major expansion as Jackson residents flee to suburbs—will be getting $14 million of that for a new overlay.

Obama declared last month that the federal government would allocate $28 billion to the U.S. Department of Transportation for road and bridge construction to spur employment and new jobs.

Mississippi Department of Transportation Executive Director Larry Brown authorized the expenditures March 2, but could not be reached for comment this week. Brown signed a document claiming he would "accept responsibility that such investments are appropriate uses of taxpayer dollars," but Central District Transportation Commissioner Dick Hall said the decision was not up to MDOT.

"Money flowed to us through the Central Mississippi Planning and Development District. They allocate those funds," Hall said. "The commission didn't have anything to do with it."

CMPPD Planning Director Larry Smith denied the district's involvement in the plan, however.

"We don't get involved with that. The only funds we get involved with are some stimulus funds that come directly to the district. If (Hall) told you that, then he would know more about that than I would."

Smith told the Jackson Free Press that CMPPD did have a hand in the payment of $12.2 million in stimulus money coming directly to the metropolitan area out of the federal stimulus package, however. Unlike the list of 44 projects, the $12.2 million does not funnel through MDOT—but Jackson fared little better in that arrangement.

So far, the city of Jackson is only getting about $1.2 million for road work that the city must split with smaller areas like Byram, even though city officials claim the central city has more decrepit roads than all its subdivisions put together.

Smith said the allotment was not based on population, which is against federal law. "It's based upon our paving management system, which means we ranked streets in the metropolitan area and streets in the Jackson area based on condition and traffic volume," Smith said.

Ward 7 Councilwoman Margaret Barrett-Simon said she was deeply disappointed by the numbers, saying the dispersal represents a higher priority for suburban areas over established communities with aging infrastructure.

"It doesn't seem to matter how many miles of roadway you have that needs resurfacing, you're getting the same thing as the fellow next door who has minimal roads to work with," Barrett-Simon said. "There's something wrong with this picture. They're pitting the suburbs and the city against each other."

When pressed, Smith admitted to the JFP that the city's traffic volume is considerable and that the condition of its streets clearly without comparison among those of the newer suburbs. He added, however, that the CMPPD plan can be changed.

"There'll be an application process that all local governments are submitting. The application deadline is March 20, though the deadline itself is subject to change," Smith assured.

Jackson Public Works Director Thelman Boyd told the JFP that any additional money from the $12.2 million has to come from surrounding districts who fail to use their allotted portion of the money because their projects fell through.

"There's practically no chance that these communities won't use their money," Boyd said, and went on to explain that the city had lobbied CMPPD to extend the 10 percent cap on money municipalities could receive from the stimulus to 20 percent, but CMPPD rejected that argument two weeks ago.

Jackson isn't the only major metropolitan city with this complaint.

St. Louis, Mo., Mayor Francis Slay blogged at mayorslay.com that he was furious over the Missouri Department of Transportation's decision to steer $8.5 million to the repair of a bridge in Tuscumbia County, while St. Louis—with a population of 355,600—got only $2 million for repairs to its extensive network of roads.

Slay wrote that MoDOT leaders should follow the demands of the stimulus package and "give priority" to projects located in economically distressed areas.

"My issue is that most of the projects that MoDOT has announced for the St. Louis region do not meet this ARRA mandate," Slay wrote, explaining that his state chose to fund projects that were on their wish list before the stimulus bill was passed, and that many—like the construction in Rankin County—are not in distressed areas.

Like the Missouri Department of Transportation, Hall said the 44 projects on the $200 million MDOT list approved by Brown were considered "shovel-ready," meaning MDOT had granted consideration to projects based on their preparedness rather than ARRA's economic distress mandate.

Previous Commentsshow

This issue must be addressed and fast! The housing monies are also being distributed wrongly. It seems that the Metro Transportation Plan which is heavily weighed to the suburbs (due to suburban mayors serving on committee outnumbering Jackson) might be responsible for this travesty.

Razor

Mar 11 2009

Jackson is getting the shaft by the State by way of MDOT, as usual.

Jeff Lucas

Mar 11 2009

with only $400,000 going to the installation of a traffic signal on Highway 80. Jackson’s neighbor, the more economically affluent Rankin County—the seat of major expansion as Jackson residents flee to suburbs—will be getting $14 million of that for a new overlay. um, this is pathetic Jackson needs this way more than they do

Izzy

Mar 11 2009

In Conclusion: A city with 10 percent of the state's population garners 1.6 percent of transportation funds. I don't know what to say. I'm speechless.

bryan doyle

Mar 11 2009

I too am disappointed/horrified by this. If there is one thing in the world that everyone- city dwellers and suburbanites alike- can agree on, it would be that Jackson is in need of some serious road repair and replacement. The condition of many of the major streets is deplorable! I sincerely hope that Jackson gets more of this money- they need and deserve it...

Rico

Mar 11 2009

Thanks, Rico. It is wrong, pure and simple, no matter where you live.

DonnaLadd

Mar 11 2009

Maybe if we had the lobbyists Melton got rid of, we'd be getting more of this money.

golden eagle

Mar 11 2009

Maybe it has something to do with Melton saying the city has 27 million to do the streets and still has a surplus?

BubbaT

Mar 11 2009

Good point, Bubba. Melton also got rid of grant writers, golden.

DonnaLadd

Mar 11 2009

[quote]Maybe it has something to do with Melton saying the city has 27 million to do the streets and still has a surplus? [/quote] Even if that were the reason, Jackson has far more issues than just repaving to deal with, like bridges and traffic signals that will take more than $1.2 million to repair.

Jeff Lucas

Mar 12 2009

Believe me, Jackson does not have a surplus of 27 million. Pure smoke and mirrors. Pure campaign. All dedicated and allocated funds.

Razor

Mar 12 2009

I was thinking (and hoping) that a really big chunk of the stimulus package would be going to help our cities across the country. There are a lot of 'em that need help! After that, fix the Interstates (I don't even remember a time when they weren't doing road repairs somewhere- was there ever a time with no orange barrels?), and put in high speed rail lines with the rest. Boy, if I were president, everyone would be taxed to death, but the final results would sure be cool!

Rico

Mar 12 2009