May 2009 Changing Direction Federal transportation funding Christof Spieler http://ctchouston.org
Dec 14, 2015
May 2009 11
Step 2: Environmental clearance
Sept 2008: Record of Decision
Dec 2007: Segment E Final Environmental Impact Statement
1999, 2000, 2003, 2007: public meetings
1993-2007: Environmental process
May 2009 13
Step 3: Feds fund the project
Local20%
Federal80%
March 2009: TxDOT allocates $181 million to Grand Parkway
May 2009 14
Missing step: Assess cost effectiveness
The 15 miles of SH 99 from I-10 to US 290 will cost $1 billion to build and maintain over its lifetime, while only generating $162 million in gas taxes. – TxDOT, November 2006
May 2009 15
Missing step: Assess cost effectiveness
“The Grand Parkway… will be an opportunity to open up areas for development in the Greater Houston area” – John Barton, TxDOT
May 2009 18
Step 1: Alternatives analysis
Feb 2002, May 2002, Jan 2003, Mar 2003: public meetings
Dec 2001- Nov 2003: Alternatives Analysis study
May 2009 20
Step 2: Add project to regional plan
June 2004: public workshops
February 2004: TPC adds Southeast Line to RTP
May 2009 21
Step 3: Meet cost-effectiveness requirements
June 2005: METRO switches to BRT
April 2005: FTA gives medium-low rating
May 2009 22
Step 4: Environmental clearance
February 2007: Record of Decision
January 2007: Final Environmental Impact Statement
July 2006: Draft Environmental Impact Statement, public hearing
Feb/Mar 2006: Public workshops
May 2009 24
Step 6: Environmental clearance (again)
July 2008: Record of Decision
May 2008: Supplemental EIS, public hearing
October 2007: FTA asks for SEIS
May 2009 26
Step 8: Feds fund the project, maybe?
Local50%
Federal50%
May 2009: FTA indicates that FFGA may be issued FY2010
March 2009: $30 million from stimulus on second try
May 2009 29
Which project should be funded?
103,246 people+jobs (3 mi.) 163,000 people+jobs (1/2 mi.)
30
“This Administration believes that people should have options to get to work, school, the grocery or the doctor that
do not rely solely on driving. We want to transform our transportation system into a truly multimodal system with strong alternatives to driving in order to maximize highway capacity, combat traffic congestion, reduce our reliance on
oil and decrease greenhouse gas emissions.”
- Ray LaHood, Secretary of Transportation