As part of President Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that has recently been blasting its way through the nation, more than $489 million will be pouring into the Houston region for much needed infrastructure improvements and repairs.
Texas has already received $3 billion from federal highway funds, and will receive $2.25 billion more from the stimulus for transportation. The regular federal allotment comes with some restrictions, such as percentages of funding reserved for improving safety, relieving air pollution and repairing bridges, but the stimulus money doesn’t have as many restrictions to follow.
The population of the greater Houston-Baytown-Sugar Land area is growing strongly and steadily due to the metropolitan city’s effective resistance to the late economic downfall. The expected outcome therefore, is a long period of construction and structural improvements, such as in Crosby, whose Main Street will soon be raised over a busy railroad track, more lanes in the suburbs of Fort Bend and fresh curbs throughout Pasadena.
Funds will go towards both construction of new roads as well as maintenance repairs on existing roads. “Widening roads ultimately gives rise to congestion,” said David Crossley, founder of Houston Tomorrow, a nonprofit organization that explores urban growth. “They’re asking for more cars to drive on the roads.”
That’s why the regional Transportation Policy Council will be deciding how to spend most of the stimulus funds in the Houston area. The council represents the eight counties of the Houston metro region and its 24 voting members are drawn from local governments and agencies such as the Texas Department of Transportations and the Metropolitan Transit Authority. Priorities for the distribution of funding will be decided on which roads need the most work, especially in terms of alleviating traffic congestion and creating more efficient roadways.
TxDOT has allocated $54 million for road maintenance in the Houston region and $20 million for beautification enhancements such as landscaping and trails, and the TPC has set aside $4.5 million for studies on truck traffic and building a commuter rail along U.S. 290 and Texas Highway 3. “Some states focused almost exclusively on maintenance because it’s the quickest thing to do,” said Alan Clark, director of transportation for the Houston-Galveston Area Council. “But Texas tried to balance maintenance and mobility.”
Besides boosting transportation systems, the stimulus funds will also bring needed relief to other areas of the city, namely $98 million for the Port of Houston to dredge the Ship Channel and $105 million to the Federal Transit Authority for buses, light rail and Park & Ride lots.
Houston remains one of the top major US cities to have escaped the recession with relatively little injuries. Now the city is looking to the future and preparing itself for immediate and expected growth.
Source: Houston Chronicle