Millions in stimulus funding headed to region

Infrastructure projects will get the lion's share

By Helen Gao
Union-Tribune Staff Writer
2:00 a.m. July 15, 2009

A storm a decade ago destroyed a portion of the Mission Bay south jetty, leaving rocks lurking just under the surface – a hazard that has damaged or sunk dozens of boats over the years.

The government never had the money to fix the problem. Now $10.5 million of federal economic stimulus money will pay for repairs and dredging of the bay channel.

The money is among hundreds of millions of dollars coming to San Diego County under the $787 billion package signed by President Barack Obama in February.

Much of the region's share of the funding is being poured into infrastructure, including $4 million to improve the Grossmont trolley station and $21 million to upgrade the Otay Mesa port of entry.

The San Diego Association of Governments, the regional planning group, has been awarded about $300 million for highway and transit projects.

Nontransportation projects receiving funds include kitchen equipment for 13 school districts and studies of treatment for fetal alcohol effects at San Diego State University.

Total county stimulus is unknown because no agency has compiled a comprehensive list.

SANDAG economist Marney Cox said his agency's share of the stimulus package will create 3,600 jobs.

“Just the money transportation is receiving will reduce the number of unemployed construction workers in the county by about 12 percent. We are down about 30,000 jobs since the peak in 2006,â€