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$1.8 billion aimed at economy
The state will get busy on construction jobs that Gov. Lingle says will stoke employment
STORY SUMMARY | READ THE FULL STORYThe state is planning 1,521 capital improvement projects worth an estimated $1.8 billion across Hawaii to jump-start the economy.
Gov. Linda Lingle, along with mayors, legislators and construction industry and labor leaders, unveiled the "infrastructure improvement plan" yesterday as well as a Web site, www. hawaii.gov/cip, to track the projects.
These projects, which range from finishing up the East-West Road in Kapolei to expanding the airport parking lot in Kona, would start as early as January. The main goal, said those involved, is to create jobs.
The state's public school system, which has suffered for years from a backlog of construction projects, is a big winner in the plan. The Education Department will receive work valued at more than $317 million.
— Nina Wu and Alexandre Da Silva / Star-Bulletin
FULL STORY >>
POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Dec 16, 2008
Ready, set, build.
Gov. Linda Lingle, along with mayors, legislators and construction industry leaders, unveiled a plan yesterday to implement $1.8 billion in public capital improvement projects across the state.
PUMPING UP ECONOMYCapital improvement projects eyed by the administration span all six major islands.
Source: Governor's Office; see more on the Web site www.hawaii.gov/cip
|
These projects have already been budgeted and approved by the state Legislature and are ready to start within 12 to 18 months.
Calling it an unprecedented initiative, the governor said the main goal was to create jobs.
"It's about real families," said Lingle. "When I talk to our team, I don't talk about it in terms of CIP or projects; I talk about it in terms of your neighbors, your friends, your family being able to have a decent life, being able to make their mortgage payments. That's what the effort is all about."
Lingle said the criteria for selecting the projects was simple: those ready to be put out to bid, with a contract to be awarded by June 2010.
There was no specific target for each island, she said.
Oahu has the greatest number of projects listed, with 803 worth an estimated $1 billion, followed by the Big Island, with 327 projects worth an estimated $406.7 million.
Maui has 217 projects worth about $260 million, followed by Kauai, with 111 projects worth about $144 million.
All the projects are listed at www.hawaii.gov/cip and can be viewed by island, department, estimated start date and projected construction costs.
![[Preview]](http://media.starbulletin.com/images/video_front.gif)
Governor Unveils $1.86 Billion Stimulus Projects Plan ![[Preview]](http://media.starbulletin.com/images/20081216_kitv_economy.jpg)
It's part of comprehensive effort to stimulate the economy and preserve jobs during this economic downtown
[ Watch ]
"We just need to have a common clearinghouse to account for where we are with any one project," said Barry Fukunaga, the governor's chief of staff. "If there is an issue of delay or reason we're not accomplishing according to the schedule, we need to know what it is so we can collectively work towards a solution."
The CIP initiative was endorsed Friday by the Hawaii Economic Stabilization Initiative, a group of more than 50 top business, government, nonprofit and labor leaders that met to brainstorm ways to boost the economy.
Maui Mayor Charmaine Tavares said she was thrilled.
"The projects listed for my county are diverse," she said. "There's airports, harbors, highways, schools -- so this is a real balanced look at providing opportunities for all sorts of people."
Maui's list includes improvements to the Maalaea Small Boat Harbor ferry system, estimated at $16.8 million, with a construction start date of January.
On the Big Island, Kona Airport's parking lot expansion Phase III -- estimated at $7.1 million -- could start in January. The construction of an interisland cargo terminal facility at Hilo Harbor -- estimated at $20 million -- could start in March.
Many of the projects build on the progress of the state's $2.3 billion Airports Modernization Plan and the $618 million Harbors Modernization Plan.
But there also are highway improvements and repairs to public schools as well as libraries, public housing and affordable housing; small-boat harbor upgrades; hospital improvements; hurricane shelter retrofits; and state park improvements.
The initiative comes at a time when private building permits and residential housing permits in the state have both dropped.
The number of union carpenters out of work is rising -- at 28 percent on Oahu, about 35 percent on Maui and Kauai, and a whopping 65 percent in Kona, according to Kyle Chock, executive director of the Pacific Resource Partnership.
In this global recession, carpenters do not have elsewhere to go as they did in the early-'90s recession, he said, when many went to Las Vegas.
Karen Nakamura, chief executive of the Building Industry Association of Hawaii, said many projects are now winding down -- with no backlog, which is alarming given that projects take at least a year to complete.
The industry has taken a 180-degree turn from the construction boom from 2004 to 2007.
Nakamura, along with other building leaders, were on hand to support the initiative.
Lingle estimates the projects are about an 80 percent increase over what the state originally planned.
"My bottom line is it can't be business as usual," said Lingle. "That won't work in these times. ... Nobody is coming here to rescue us. It's up to us."
Ready, set, build.
Gov. Linda Lingle, along with mayors, legislators and construction industry leaders, unveiled a plan yesterday to implement $1.8 billion in public capital improvement projects across the state.
PUMPING UP ECONOMYCapital improvement projects eyed by the administration span all six major islands.
Source: Governor's Office; see more on the Web site www.hawaii.gov/cip |
These projects have already been budgeted and approved by the state Legislature and are ready to start within 12 to 18 months.
Calling it an unprecedented initiative, the governor said the main goal was to create jobs.
"It's about real families," said Lingle. "When I talk to our team, I don't talk about it in terms of CIP or projects; I talk about it in terms of your neighbors, your friends, your family being able to have a decent life, being able to make their mortgage payments. That's what the effort is all about."
Lingle said the criteria for selecting the projects was simple: those ready to be put out to bid, with a contract to be awarded by June 2010.
There was no specific target for each island, she said.
Oahu has the greatest number of projects listed, with 803 worth an estimated $1 billion, followed by the Big Island, with 327 projects worth an estimated $406.7 million.
Maui has 217 projects worth about $260 million, followed by Kauai, with 111 projects worth about $144 million.
All the projects are listed at www.hawaii.gov/cip and can be viewed by island, department, estimated start date and projected construction costs.
Governor Unveils $1.86 Billion Stimulus Projects Plan It's part of comprehensive effort to stimulate the economy and preserve jobs during this economic downtown
[ Watch ]
"We just need to have a common clearinghouse to account for where we are with any one project," said Barry Fukunaga, the governor's chief of staff. "If there is an issue of delay or reason we're not accomplishing according to the schedule, we need to know what it is so we can collectively work towards a solution."
The CIP initiative was endorsed Friday by the Hawaii Economic Stabilization Initiative, a group of more than 50 top business, government, nonprofit and labor leaders that met to brainstorm ways to boost the economy.
Maui Mayor Charmaine Tavares said she was thrilled.
"The projects listed for my county are diverse," she said. "There's airports, harbors, highways, schools -- so this is a real balanced look at providing opportunities for all sorts of people."
Maui's list includes improvements to the Maalaea Small Boat Harbor ferry system, estimated at $16.8 million, with a construction start date of January.
On the Big Island, Kona Airport's parking lot expansion Phase III -- estimated at $7.1 million -- could start in January. The construction of an interisland cargo terminal facility at Hilo Harbor -- estimated at $20 million -- could start in March.
Many of the projects build on the progress of the state's $2.3 billion Airports Modernization Plan and the $618 million Harbors Modernization Plan.
But there also are highway improvements and repairs to public schools as well as libraries, public housing and affordable housing; small-boat harbor upgrades; hospital improvements; hurricane shelter retrofits; and state park improvements.
The initiative comes at a time when private building permits and residential housing permits in the state have both dropped.
The number of union carpenters out of work is rising -- at 28 percent on Oahu, about 35 percent on Maui and Kauai, and a whopping 65 percent in Kona, according to Kyle Chock, executive director of the Pacific Resource Partnership.
In this global recession, carpenters do not have elsewhere to go as they did in the early-'90s recession, he said, when many went to Las Vegas.
Karen Nakamura, chief executive of the Building Industry Association of Hawaii, said many projects are now winding down -- with no backlog, which is alarming given that projects take at least a year to complete.
The industry has taken a 180-degree turn from the construction boom from 2004 to 2007.
Nakamura, along with other building leaders, were on hand to support the initiative.
Lingle estimates the projects are about an 80 percent increase over what the state originally planned.
"My bottom line is it can't be business as usual," said Lingle. "That won't work in these times. ... Nobody is coming here to rescue us. It's up to us."
Today’s Edition
- Troubled bridges over island waters
- Man shot in police encounter
- 70 U.S. Army reservists receive warrior citizen awards
- Family raises $66,000 for son's liver surgery
- Ocean Watch: A love of fish catches new friends, families
- Island Images
- Newswatch
- Police and Fire
- Trader with a taste for risk fishes for tuna from a kayak
- Deal will turn a hospital private, with goal of efficiency
- Readers asked to share holiday horrors
- Easing holiday stress
- It's About Time: An annual reality check can help you reorganize
- Da Kine
- Pet Ohana
- Got nutrients?
- Wahine dominate All-WAC honors
- Hawaii starts defense of its WAC tourney title tomorrow
- Crucial homestand for chance at bowl
- Five big plays from Hawaii's 17-10 victory
- Further Review: Streak means nothing with 8-3 Navy heading in
- Garcia advances at Reef Hawaiian Pro
- Hawaii Beat
- Scoreboard
- Television & Radio
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