WASHINGTON » President-elect Barack Obama on Thursday warned of a dire economic future if Congress doesn't act quickly on a vast stimulus plan -- a point underscored by Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker, who has his own wish list of projects to spur a recovery in Utah's capital.

Becker joined Obama at George Mason University near Washington to help pitch the incoming president's plan, which could cost as much as $1 trillion, and huddled with Obama advisers to ask for help with Salt Lake City's needs.

"When you look back six months, eight months ago, when the bottom started to fall out with real estate and credit markets, there have been numerous efforts and attempts to address the economic situation and to try and have government turn it around," Becker said after Obama's speech. "Despite those efforts, we continue to see a worsening economic situation that's spreading every day."

The nation needs the swift and bold action in Obama's plan, the mayor added, to help stem the slide into an economic morass.

Obama, in his speech, called for a sweeping effort to bolster the U.S. economy, including doubling the production of alternative energies, modernizing federal buildings and schools and universities, investing in science and technology as well as bolstering Internet access nationwide.

"It is time to set a new course for this economy, and that change must begin now," Obama said. "For every day we wait or point fingers or drag our feet, more Americans will lose their jobs. More families will lose their savings. More dreams will be deferred and denied. And our nation will sink deeper into a crisis that, at some point, we may not be able to reverse."

Obama didn't put a price tag on his plan -- and similar measures already have drawn fire after being stuffed with pork projects. Stiff opposition to such a large recovery plan grew this week as the Congressional Budget Office warned that this year's federal spending may balloon the deficit to $1.2 trillion.

Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. has rolled out $14 billion in road, rail, water and building projects that could be part of a stimulus package. The state's list includes an Interstate 15 overhaul in Utah County, Mountain View Corridor construction in western Salt Lake County and U.S. Highway 6 upgrades in east-central Utah.

The U.S. Conference of Mayors recently announced its "MainStreet Stimulus" plan, which includes funding requests for more than 100 projects in Salt Lake City, Provo, Holladay, Brigham City and other Utah cities.

Becker has said the infrastructure ventures -- particularly new buildings, schools and roads -- could create jobs and be environmentally friendly. Salt Lake City's wish list costs range from $5 million each for new public housing and glass recycling to $100 million for a downtown streetcar line.

Obama had hoped that Congress could pass the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan this month and have it waiting on his desk as soon as he takes office Jan. 20. But congressional leaders have said passing such a plan will take longer.

tburr@sltrib.com

Derek P. Jensen contributed to this story.