Los Angeles, the U.S. second largest metropolis, is trying to get millions of dollars for local infrastructure improvements from President-elect Barack Obama's 1-trillion-dollar stimulus package, city officials said on Monday.
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is currently in Washington D.C. to join other big city mayors in asking for federal grants, loans and other assistance, his office said.
At a news conference in the Capitol Building, Villaraigosa renewed his call "for a Main Street Economic Plan that invests in local infrastructure, creates jobs and boosts the green economy of Los Angeles," according to the mayor's office.
The funds would come from the proposed federal economic stimulus package advocated by Obama on Sunday, which could reach 1 trillion dollars.
It is hoped that such a large stimulus package would help the nation build its way out of the current recession.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe, who is also in the nation's capital, said the county's public works department currently has 485 million dollars in infrastructure improvement projects ready to roll if federal funding is forthcoming.
"A large-scale national investment in infrastructure improvements could have the serious positive impact our economy needs," Knabe said. "Our plan for Los Angeles County will benefit the public, and more importantly, create numerous jobs and businesses locally."
Among the planned projects are 28.1 million dollars in improvements to the county's five general aviation airports, 122.3 million in road improvements, 258 million in watershed and flood control projects, and 76 million in green technology and environmental improvements, according to city officials said.