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Step 1
Determine and prioritize city construction projects. Dilapidated bridges and overpasses take precedent. Pot-holed roadways and dangerous highway cracks are usually next in line. Small, residential roads usually are the last to be funded since they are the least traveled. You can get involved and speak with your elected official to try to advocate for specific projects.
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Step 2
Assess budget limitations, surpluses and deficits. Local officials from both the state and the city level must agree to construction funds since most funds are received at a state and federal level. Coordinate with state officials to lobby for specific city projects.
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Step 3
Parse through projects and determine which require "match" funding. These projects need capital from two separate funds (city and state, for example) in order to proceed. It's necessary to fund these projects first, since as they begin to age in the budget plan, the money begins to evaporate quickly and financing from two separate sources can be more difficult to obtain.
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Step 4
Determine the financial outlook for the next fiscal year. Funds for road construction come from many sources: gas taxes, car registration, DMV fees, law enforcement tickets, and employee wages. In a down economy, you can expect that road construction will be reduced, unless loans are obtained from the federal coffers.
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Step 5
Allocate the available funds and channel them into both the private and public sector, employing the proper technicians and builders for specific projects.
