Sacramento leaders hand Congress $11 billion construction wish list. Here's what's on it

Jun. 23--Glimpsing a silver lining in the coronavirus cloud, Sacramento leaders on Monday handed their Congressional representatives an $11 billion list of ready-to-build infrastructure projects for potential federal funding that would help modernize the region and add thousands of jobs for residents hit by the coronavirus pandemic.

The Trump administration and Congress have indicated they may be willing to make good on long-stalled promises to inject trillions of dollars nationally into building roads, rails, water treatment, flood control, improved emergency preparedness, affordable housing and high-speed internet, among other infrastructure.

Congress and the Trump administration already have approved trillions of dollars in emergency relief this spring under the CARES Act, with much of it going to individuals, businesses and local governments to shore their finances during the ongoing economic troubles of the COVID-19 crisis.

The new hope is that Congress will come through in the next few weeks with another investment package, this one focused on helping fund construction of civic projects.

Some 50 public and private sector entities contributed proposed projects to the $11 billion local list, which was organized by the Sacramento Area Council of Governments. The goal, they said, is to give Doris Matsui of Sacramento, Ami Bera of Elk Grove and Folsom, and other local Congress representatives "ammunition" to advocate for the six-county region as a place that has ready projects that fit the current moment, such as expanding broadband to improve students' online learning abilities and adding to hospitals' ability to meet emergencies like COVID-19.

"We stand ready for an investment from the Trump administration in the region," SACOG board chair Lucas Frerichs said. "Sacramento is ready to move forward on 'smart infrastructure.' "

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In a SACOG-produced report, called "Ready For Recovery," officials listed several hundred projects. The report is scheduled to be published on the SACOG website Tuesday morning.

Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District is looking for final funding to turn household waste water into safe irrigation water for 16,000 acres of farmland south of Elk Grove, allowing the region to reduce its independence on the groundwater supply, preserving those supplies. That water currently is treated at a secondary level and sent into the Sacramento River.

Project manager Mike Crooks said federal funds would push the already largely funded $375 million South County Ag Program project over the finish line for potential construction and water delivery as early as the end of 2023.

Sacramento Regional Transit is looking for final funding it needs on a handful of projects and purchases, including 23 new low-floor light rail vehicles -- wheelchair users can roll directly into the car from the sidewalk -- and to extend 15-minute service into downtown Folsom.

Frerichs, a member of the Davis City Council, said the region is looking for funding as well to increase access to high-speed internet, both for people who now may be working at home and for students as the educational world evolves to more online learning.

"One thing we have seen out of the pandemic is changing patterns for work and school," he said. With more people at home, "we are seeing major gaps in the region in high-speed communications."

The region also listed funds needed to build "managed lanes" on some key freeways, including added lanes on the Yolo Causeway. Managed lanes could be used for buses, as well as for commuters willing to pay for a faster lane, or also for autonomous cars if at some point that technology becomes widely used.

Also on the list:

-- Kaiser Roseville and Sutter Health emergency preparedness

-- A combined police and fire facility in Placerville

-- Levee work in Natomas

-- Road upgrades in Sutter and Yuba counties

-- Electric buses and charging stations in West Sacramento

-- Upgrades to the Capitol Corridor train system

-- Expanded security at Sacramento International Airport

-- Mercy Housing affordable housing funding flexibility

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