Transcripts

"Reviving the Economy: Government Responds"-How Marco Island is Using Its Stimulus Funds

JEFF YASTINE: Federal stimulus dollars are now flowing to thousands of counties and municipal governments across the nation and they're ready for the cash. As we continue our series, "Reviving the Economy: Government Responds," we look at how one Florida town is using stimulus money to span a long-running public works controversy. The city of Marco Island. On the tip of southwest Florida's Gulf coast, it has more than a hundred miles of canal-front properties, palm- fringed streets and beaches. The main route to the island is the Jolley bridge, named after a former judge. And thanks to $28 million in Federal stimulus money, there could soon be a second Jolley bridge right next to the first. The blueprints for the new span have been drawn up. The project is considered shovel-ready. The existing 40-year-old structure already handles more traffic than it was designed for and city Councilman Bill Trotter says that single span was not built to handle a major category five hurricane.

BILL TROTTER, CITY COUNCILMAN, MARCO ISLAND, FL: With the increase in population here and the number of visitors and business community that's been developed, there's more congestion, particularly in the rush hours and high season. But the main reason was the health and safety concern of the only category three bridge versus a category five that the new bridge would be.

YASTINE: Now people here have talked about a new bridge for years but the question was always, who will pay for that new structure? A toll bridge was proposed and just as quickly, shot down. No one, it seems, was interested in building that new bridge if the money was to come directly out of the pockets of local residents. The concern among many here is that they already pay more in taxes than they receive back in services. So why should they have to pay a toll on top of that? Now, with Uncle Sam footing the bill, residents like Mike Minozzi say the time is right to build it.

MIKE MINOZZI, MARCO ISLAND RESIDENT: My own personal feelings on the overall stimulus package on a national level, I was not in favor of it, for many reasons. But the fact is that it's there. It's part of what we're doing. It's part of what we're going to be paying anyway. So if there's a way that we can get something out of it, by all means, let's do it.

YASTINE: So, after 15 years of talk and studies, the stimulus plan will pay for a second bridge. Construction of the new span could start as soon as this fall.