WASHINGTON — Mayor Mufi Hannemann hopes that President-elect Barack Obama's proposal for approval of a large economic stimulus plan early next year includes at least some of the $456 million in housing, transit and sewer projects the city has on its planning list.

Hannemann said if all 28 projects on his list were approved, it would mean almost 2,900 jobs.

The local projects were submitted to the U.S. Conference of Mayors earlier this month to show Congress how many public infrastructure projects are ready to go and would stimulate the faltering economy if it provides the money.

Tom Cochran, executive director of the mayors' conference, said 153 cities, including Honolulu, have identified almost 4,600 projects costing $24.4 billion that would create more than 250,000 jobs.

"We want everyone to recognize that this is not a bailout," he said. "This is an infrastructure and jobs investment program."

Obama wants to spend hundreds of billions in a push to stimulate the economy, including millions on local projects to generate 2.5 million jobs by the end of 2010. The president-elect has not put a price tag on the yet-to-be-written plan but congressional leaders estimate the cost between $500 billion and $700 billion.

"We are going to have to make sure that we are investing in roads, bridges, other infrastructure investments that lay the groundwork for long-term economic growth," Obama said Tuesday.

Obama said governors and mayors should be involved in developing the stimulus package.

"This economic recovery plan will require their input," he said. "Part of our job is to make sure that we are listening to what is happening on the ground, where the rubber hits the road and not simply designing something out of Washington."

DELEGATION SUPPORTIVE

Hannemann said he was "very happy" with Obama's push for a stimulus plan.

"I'm lobbying very hard," the mayor said. "I've already spoken to our (congressional) delegation. They have been very supportive of all the things we've been doing — the fixing of infrastructure especially."

Hannemann also said he is in the process of refining his project list and may add to it since the incoming Obama administration has said it wants projects that will take more than a year to complete.

The mayor said he believes Honolulu has a good case for having some projects included in an economic recovery package since the city was already working on many of them.

"We've put our own money up front. I think that is a plus," Hannemann said.

He also said the city has made infrastructure a priority during his administration, such as reducing sewage spills.

He said the city also now has a well-positioned congressional delegation, especially Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, D-Hawai'i, who is slated to become chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee in the next Congress.

Obama, who was born and raised in Hawai'i, also has commented on Honolulu's traffic problem, Hannemann said. That makes for a "unique sensitivity" for Honolulu and Hawai'i that has not existed before, he said.

"We got people in key places," Hannemann said.

HOUSING AND TRANSIT

The mayor's proposed projects center on building new affordable rental housing and strengthening O'ahu's transportation system.

Hannemann wants $96.9 million for the planned affordable housing complex in 'Ewa that the nonprofit St. Francis Development Corp. would build to provide 292 rental units including 149 for the elderly.

The mayor also is requesting $60 million to buy 80 hybrid buses and 25 paratransit vehicles, $40 million to buy land for the West O'ahu public transportation facility and $30 million to upgrade the islandwide bus communication system to digital.

Those projects would generate most of the jobs from the mayor's wish list — 2,300.

Other projects include $15 million for O'ahu sewer rehabilitation projects, providing 15 jobs; $750,000 for curb, gutter and sidewalk improvements in low- to moderate-income neighborhoods, providing 20 jobs; and $150,000 to buy and install five ultraviolet disinfecting systems at the Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa, providing three jobs.

Hannemann said he was not ranking the projects in terms of priority.

"In my mind, they are all sort of equal," he said. "I just want to be able to get some of this. If other cities are going to get it, I want to get my fair share."