For the first time since the Carter administration, Washington is in the position of paying for seemingly everything. But how will the federal government's spending affect growth in California? Not in the way you might think, says Bill Fulton.
"The $800 billion federal stimulus contains $7 billion for transit capital improvements, money for energy efficiency projects and planning, and increased community development block grant funding. But the biggest chunk of interest to the planning and development community is $30 billion devoted to highways.
Given the fact that the Obama administration wants that money spent within 120 days, there is little reason to believe any sort of "smart growth" criteria will be used. In fact, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger reduced or eliminated environmental review of a number of highway widening projects to make them eligible for federal funding.
'It is much more plausible to see the inside-the-Beltway smart growth crowd winning some successes on the coming transportation and climate change bills, which are much more policy-driven,' Fulton writes."
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