All we got around here from these stimuli is rebuilding the corners of streets, to make walkways more “wheelchair friendly”. It costs at least $100,000 for a corner, they rebuild hundreds, maybe thousands, of them. The old corners were wheelchair accessible as far a I could see. I really do not know why they needed fixing. Anyway, I have not seen anybody on wheelchair navigating them, ever.
As far as government spending is concerned, it is a perfects job, does not need too many permits and approvals, just shovel ready job.
Total waste of money, as far as I am concerned.
Yes. Dressing up intersections seems to be a national craze. No real benefit but highly visible.