The City and County of Honolulu has a list of nearly $1.5 billion in projects that can make use of anticipated federal stimulus money.

The list includes highway projects, sewer projects, Honolulu's planned commuter train and even TheBoat ferry service.

Many details about the plan, including how much money will be available for Honolulu and which projects will get funding, have not been disclosed. However, city and building industry officials yesterday discussed ways the city could streamline processes to quickly use federal money once it arrives.

Among the proposals: solicit more design/build contracts; speed up permitting processes; shorten the time it takes to award contracts; and raise city small-purchase limits from $50,000 to as much as $500,000.

The hope is that stimulus-funded construction projects will put more people back to work, which could spur the state's flagging economy.

C. Mike Kido, of the Pacific Resource Partnership, said about 3,000 of the group's carpenters are currently unemployed statewide.

"I believe that's reflective of all the major trades and the activity and the consequences of the private sector market stopping," he said.