Speeding up construction of public works projects such as Mayor John Hickenlooper has proposed puts money into the local economy more quickly than traditional scheduling, but not without risks.

Regardless, with the success of the T-REX project as a guide, putting jobs out faster not only gets more people to work but can shave some costs from the bottom line, say those involved.

Denver has $550 million in projects approved last year by voters, plus its normal $20 million annual capital improvement projects, $30 million in wastewater division jobs and another $20 million in annual maintenance to contract out, Public Works Manager Bill Vidal said.

Combined with $454 million in Denver Public Schools construction approved by voters last month, there's more than $1 billion in work headed down the pipeline. Getting it out sooner means paychecks for workers and families - and more spending potential for the local economy.

"We're not just slapping projects together and tossing them out the door," Vidal said. "We will take the appropriate amount of time."

"Anything that will get more shovels in the streets right now in this economy is a good thing," said Tony Milo, executive director of the Colorado Contractors Association. "Contractors right now are laying people off in a big way. Many of our members have about half of the work force they had a year ago simply because of a lack of work."

Speeding up projects can save on the cost of materials measured against inflation, and on labor. But lately, with wild swings in commodity prices worldwide, it's not a sure bet that costs will be higher next year, or even next month.

"You have to make sure you have a good handle on all the risks," said Larry Warner, who was project manager of the joint CDOT-RTD highway and light-rail expansion on Interstates 25 and 225. "Right now, we're in a pretty volatile market for materials costs."

The T-REX project stands as a model for acceleration - but it came during a more stable economic environment.

"We were anticipating a seven or eight-year project initially," said Warner. By using an accelerated "design-build" process, the project was done within budget in a little more than five years.

Denver won't face one of the biggest limits on speeding up projects. Often, the ability to contract for more work is reined in by how much money comes in each year to pay debt on bonds. This is one of the factors hampering RTD in the FasTracks program, with sales taxes coming in lower than expected and limiting how much money RTD can raise on the bond market.

But the city and school district are using the property tax, which is more stable, and can set the mill levy at the level required to pay whatever debt is issued. The underlying limit on the city, said Ed Scholz, Denver's budget and management director, is how much work it can reasonably send out the door in a given year.

Federal financing rules prohibit the city from issuing more in bonds than it can actually spend in a given time.

Approved projects

In November 2007 Denver voters OK'd several bond issues:

* $70.1 million to improve buildings.

* $48.6 million for projects such as $3.5 million to expand the Westwood Child Development Center.

* $93.4 million for projects such as completing the restoration of the Greek Amphitheatre in Civic Center.

* $65.2 million for projects such as a new police crime lab and a fire station in the Lowry neighborhood.

* $51.9 million to build three libraries and to maintain and upgrade other buildings.

* $70 million to renovate Boettcher Concert Hall and the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.

Meetings on the economy

Three events next week kick off efforts to develop an economic stimulus program:

* Monday, 7:30-9 a.m., Denver Athletic Club ballroom, 1325 Glenarm Place: Program sponsored by Downtown Denver Partnership, "Leading to Survive and Thrive During the Economic Downturn."

* Monday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Capitol, Senate Committee Room 356: Committee of Job Creation and Economic Growth "Jobs by June" meeting with government leaders, contractors, home builders and others. Open to the public.

* Tuesday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Colorado Convention Center: Joint open house by Denver city and public schools representatives for design and construction firms to outline plans for more than $1 billion in construction projects.

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