Opportunity Knocks

Every once in a while Opportunity knocks in local government. It has happened to Troy before with Environmental Bond Act money, Transportation Bond Act funds, Build Now New York initiatives, unexpected Distressed City aid, and now, with the federal economic stimulus package. In each case the City of Troy has been presented an opportunity to identify projects or programs which meet the funding objectives of the program while addressing city priorities and needs.

After reviewing the list of projects submitted by the City of Troy for stimulus funding, I recognized many of the projects as the same ones included in the Capital Program and Budget prepared during the Pattison Administration. This is not criticism of those projects but a realization of the difficulty that exists in trying to solve many of these very important and extremely expensive projects. It also points out the necessity of local governments to conduct comprehensive planning, budgeting and to always have “shovel ready” projects in place for the times these funding opportunities arise.

Most of Troy’s water and sewer projects however were first identified by John Buckley and Dick Casey when they were Commissioner’s of Public Utilities. These projects are not designed, not bid and certainly not shovel ready. For example: It took years to plan, design, bid and install the 102nd St. sewer project. That project was peanuts compared to some of the projects on the Troy list.

Most of Troy’s projects are wishes which are not “shovel ready” and will not be considered eligible for stimulus package.

I suggest that the City scrap its fictional wish list of projects for a series of projects which are closer to really being accomplished such as:

The South Troy Road
South Troy Industrial site preparation (already included in the city’s list)
The Beacon Center for Rivers and Estuaries
The CBD -South Troy Biketrail
The Poestenkill Trail project
The CBD Traffic Control Upgrade
The Ingalls Ave Fishing Pier
The Redevelopment of Congress Street all the way to Pawling Ave. including the Congress, Pawling, Brunswick Rd. round-about. (Although not on the first Troy list, this project was added by the state to theirs’ and presented to the City Council on Thursday evening. It should be supported and expanded to include the eastern part of Congress St. as well – plans exist for this).
The Lansingburgh Village Project
The 111th Street Park and Boat Launch Building a parking structure at Hutton and River Streets to support the private sector development planned by First Columbia in the Hedley District.

I also suggest that the City will never be granted $17 million dollars to build a new City Hall at the same site where they propose to demolish their existing City Hall. It is a “pipe dream” project which isn’t ready for design much less construction. Rather, the City should use money planned for redeveloping the Verizon Building to replace the roof at City Hall and then apply for energy efficiency money from the stimulus package to upgrade the windows, heating and other energy inefficiencies of the present building. That project could be ready to go in short order and could be eligible for stimulus funds.

Yesterday President Obama told mayors from all over the country that they should take care to apply for projects that can be implemented immediately. The City of Troy should use this rare opportunity to complete projects which have been on hold for years.

Troy has an overwhelming need for sewer, water, road, bridge, building repair and redevelopment . The stimulus package can be a great help to addressing some of our need. But as President Obama said “we need this plan to work” and cities which don’t cooperate will be called to account. With a little more thought and planning many of the projects I listed could be constructed.