Voices of the Recovery Act video series presents Trevor Eickhoff: "I'm walking proof"

Today I want to introduce you to Trevor Eickhoff, a 25-year-old project engineer with Archer Western Contractors. Thanks to the Recovery Act, he's working on the Woodall Rodgers Freeway Deck Park in Dallas, Texas.

Artist's rendering of completed Woodall Rodgers Freeway Deck Park

Last year, I went to Texas and toured three innovative transportation projects that promise to put Dallas squarely in the forefront of livability. One of those projects is the Woodall Rodgers Freeway Deck Park, a 5.2-acre multi-use green space that covers a main highway. The Park will also connect the city's Uptown, Downtown, and Arts Districts--parts of the city that are currently separated by the freeway--and promote bicycling and walking.

But what Trevor is most enthusiastic about is the construction employment The Park is generating thanks to the project's public-private financing and help from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act President Obama signed into law in 2009.

There it is. About the stimulus, Trevor says, "I'm walking proof of what it's doing. I'm 25 years old with a mortgage, and I'm still working."

And that's what it's all about.

Harwood Bridge comes down, October 2009

Now, Trevor's not the only skilled worker employed on this project. Work on the Woodall Rodgers Freeway Deck Park will continue through 2012, creating good, steady jobs for months to come. And there are other Dallas-area projects putting people back to work.

The Dallas-Fort Worth Connector alone--funded in part by stimulus money from the Federal Highway Administration--is expected to employ over 600 workers during construction.

That's just one project in one city. But this story is being repeated across the country. From Alaska to Florida, and Maine to California, the Recovery Act is still creating good jobs on good projects.

The Recovery Act--it's working for America. And Trevor Eickhoff is walking proof.

Comments

[A_Dallasite]

ACK! NO!

As a native Dallasite, you people in DC DO NOT understand the Dallas Metroplex! Dallas Texas does NOT have 'culture'. People don't go downtown if they do not have to. Us Dallasites are cheap. We drive our cars/pickups to grocery store if we want food, or go to McDonald's. There is not much fancy dining, or 'nightlife', hence Downtown Dallas recieves little attention. Businesses are built in the suburbs where land is cheap. The puny Downtown Dallas has had high occupancy rates for the last 30 years. Right now, it is over 30 percent, and the real estate bubble bypassed Dallas. Stuff like this gets through because it has the support of the city council, downtown business district, and the impoversed South Dallas.

This redevelopment will be just as big of a waste of money as the DART light rail from South Dallas to Plano. Those condos in Plano haven't been selling, and its been 10 years since the light rail openning. The light rail should have remained confined to the areas around the puny downtown, with its moderate population density. Furthermore, this 25 year old should not have a mortgage. Housing starts here around $90K. Housing is to big for us low end folk (such as a young construction worker). Zoning prevents there from being $25K, 400 square foot condos. Why can't we have some of that (local issue, I know).

While on topic, Mr. LaHood, nonmotorized transportation is not viable in Dallas. A few years ago, I tried to bicycle ~3 miles (I am out of shape of course) in a lightly hilly area, and got a whopping 7 miles per hour. Yes, SEVEN MILES PER HOUR. I could be told to get in shape, but a car can easily do 35 miles per hour. THAT IS FIVE TIMES FASTER. Unsurprisingly, bicycling for transportation is nonexistent in Dallas. 20 mph electric bicycles WOULD be a big improvement, but you said NONMOTORIZED transportation. I want 30 mph moped lanes for mopeds with airbag (thank you Honda) and airbag suits (for safety of course).

There is the talk of reducing distances traveled ala 'livable communities', where everybody lives close together... I HATE my neighbors. They support idiots like George W Bush, Americans Idol and intervention in Iraq. Big grocery stores offer low prices because of their large volume of customers and high throughput checkout lines. I wonder how local grocery stores will be able to offer low prices.

I would like to go further that Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson supported federal funding for stuff like the DART light rail. She ran a well funded campaign against Rick Perry for the Republican governor Texas primary, and was soundly defeated. Heck, a nobody came in and did reasonably well. We know what Mrs. Hutchinson supports. That should say something. Efforts for 'livable communities' in the Dallas Metroplex have failed. I think the DOT should look at the past and try something different, at least in the case of Dallas.

[(Mr.) Kim Gyr]

Panama Canal scaled projects:

Dear Sirs:

As a Michiganian, I have been researching the best ways to achieve 100% sustainability in the past 34 years, 31 of them spent in Europe. Please see my Panama Canal scaled proposals on my website at www.greenmillennium.eu. I have also been a professor at the Swiss campus of Pasadena's Art Center College of Design, renowned for its training of the world's best car designers, and I now no longer own a car, so that future generations will have some energy to play around with.

I returned to Michigan in 2007, determined to make headway in the production of innovative American technologies, to provide millions of jobs here, and to reignite the love for America that disappeared rapidly in nations around the world when President Bush was in office.

Please let me know how I can help!

Yours sincerely,

(Mr.) Kim Gyr

[web site design]

I think it's interesting that people are resisting all this recovery act money. So what is Dallas Metropolex isn't a cultural. heritage? Does that mean that they can't use the money? Our web design firm gdsolutions.us is located near the Dallas metropolex and i wished they put more money into it.I saw keep it up!