Fast-Tracking Public Works Urged as Economic Stimulus.

IN an effort to kick-start the stalling regional economy in the wake of last month's terrorist attacks, the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp. wants to speed up completion of several public works projects, including the $700 million Los Angeles to Pasadena Blue Line.

"The aim is to pump money into the local economy at a time when the economy seems to be faltering," said Lee Harrington, president and chief executive of the L.A. EDC.

But those who track local infrastructure projects say that fast-tracking could prove difficult and in some cases, may not be worth the effort.

The EDC is in the midst of canvassing local public agencies to identify projects that can be easily fast-tracked, Harrington said. The projects must either be under construction, or have funding already in place or secure sources of funding that won't disappear in any budget crunch.

The list of projects will be presented at a countywide economic summit that is set to take place within the next 60 days, Harrington said.

Prioritize projects

The fast-tracking idea has been greeted favorably by the organizer of that summit, L.A. County Supervisor Mike Antonovich.

"There is this pervasive sense right now that people want to do something to help at all levels of government," said Antonovich spokesman Chris Dickerson. "One thing this summit can do is prioritize some of the projects that come forward for fast-tracking."

Besides the Blue Line construction, projects that might be eligible for fast-tracking include: the Alameda Corridor East project in the San Gabriel Valley, bridges and related work on the Alameda Corridor project, various freeway soundwalls and the planned busway across the San Fernando Valley.

Some non-transit projects also could land on the list, including sewer construction on Pacific Coast Highway, park renovation in the City of Los Angeles and, possibly, construction of new schools.

Another key area for fast-tracking, especially in the wake of the attacks, is airport-related projects. Reconfiguring access routes, including the Metro Rail Green Line -- which comes within a mile of the airport -- may now move to the top of the priority list.

Harrington and other EDC officials are using as a model for this fast-tracking the state's response to the 1994 Northridge earthquake. Within days of the quake, then Gov. Pete Wilson announced plans to fast-track the rebuilding of collapsed overpasses.

Instead of the year or two such work might have taken under non-emergency conditions, Myers wrapped up the work in less than 10 weeks.

Some big obstacles

Fast-tracking is likely to prove easiest on relatively small projects like resurfacing of short stretches of road or building soundwalls.

"The smaller the project, the easier it is to coordinate everyone involved to speed it up," said Jonathan Lonner, editor of Metro Investment Report, a local publication that tracks infrastructure investment. "However, the economic stimulus gain you get from these projects is rather minimal compared to a major rail project. In those cases, the greater gain may be a symbolic one, showing residents and businesses that even in this time of uncertainty, things can move ahead."

One local political consultant said the task will be easier with some of the smaller cities in the region, not with massive bureaucracies like the Metropolitan Transportation Authority or the city of Los Angeles.

"You can get a city like Beverly Hills to move more quickly on projects," said lobbyist Richard Lichtenstein. "It's far more complicated to move projects forward faster in the city of L.A., especially given the challenges the city faces on the LAX and public safety fronts."

Besides fast-tracking projects already in the works, EDC officials say they want to get the region's myriad local government agencies to agree on a list of projects to take to Washington. The idea is to present a unified front and boost the region's chances of getting some of the billions of dollars expected to be spent as part of an economic stimulus package.

Fast-Tracking Candidates
Projects that local economic development officials say could be
speeded up
Los Angeles-to-Pasadena   Began construction last year; slated to
Blue Line                 finish in July 2003.
Alameda Corridor East     Design work for grade separations under
                          way: completion of first phase set for
                          2004
Sewer construction along  Work began last year; slated to finish
Pacific Coast Highway     by next summer.
through Santa Monica
Busway across the San     Approved by the MTA this past summer;
Fernando Valley           engineering and design work under way;
                          construction begins in 2003 with target
                          completion date of 2005.
Freeway soundwalls        Various stages: some segments under
                          construction; other segments have
                          funding and are awaiting construction.