University Line approved for preliminary engineering

METRO to develop FEIS

Steve Hawley, Dec 11, 09.

UPDATE (12/17/09 12:20 PM): The Federal Transit Authority has approved the University Line Light Rail Project to move into the next phase, Preliminary Engineering, according to the Houston Chronicle. METRO will now develop the Final Environmental Impact Statement, a more in depth and precise version of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement released in August 2007.

Upon approval of the FEIS, METRO will need to secure a Record of Decision before being eligible for a federal match, which is assumed to be 50%, according to the formulas in the current federal transportation bill, which has been extended past its five year lifetime. Representative John Culberson, who objected to the project based on financial concerns, responded to the news saying that he expects “a transparent process where the public can review how their tax dollars are being spent,” according to the Houston Chronicle.

UPDATE (12/14/09 4:30 PM): The Houston Chronicle posted an editorial titled Public disservice: Congressman’s misguided war against Metro’s University Line continues on Sat, Dec 12.

It questions Rep. Culberson’s most recent objection to the University light rail line and concludes “until the first trains start whizzing down the University Line, count on Culberson to be busily scheming to derail the project. In doing so, he will be working against the transit interests of his constituents and the wider Houston community.”

Full editorial

US Representative John Culberson, who represents parts of western Houston, has filed a complaint with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) seeking to stop the University light rail corridor from moving forward, according to the Houston Chronicle.

Last week, the FTA gave approval for METRO to begin preliminary engineering on the University line, but Culberson’s objection temporarily prevents that process from moving forward. However, the FTA has final say in the issue, and the University line does not require congressional approval.

In his letter to FTA Administrator Peter Rogoff, Culberson claims that METRO is in “precarious financial condition” and that it cannot afford to build the University line on top of the North and Southeast lines. Culberson claims that METRO is counting on new bond funding, which would have to be approved by voters, and the repeal of the General Mobility Fund diversion, which both mayoral candidates have opposed. Beginning in 2003, one-quarter of METRO’s sales tax revenues were diverted to the General Mobility Fund for road projects. METRO Chairman David Wolff has repeatedly called for an end to that diversion, saying that no other transit agency in the country faces such a diversion of funds. According to the 2003 agreement, voters must decide whether to renew the sales tax diversion no later than 2014.

METRO responded quickly to Culberson’s allegations, saying that his information was outdated and the agency was relying on new, more conservative revenue models. In addition, the agency says that its projections include the sales tax diversion. In fact, a Cash Flow Analysis attached to Culberson’s letter shows that METRO expects to pay almost $850 million to the General Mobility fund between 2010 and 2014, although it shows the diversion ending after 2014. Last week, according to the Chronicle, Moody’s Investors Service said that METRO has a “demonstrated history of strong fiscal controls.”

Wolff said that Culberson’s charges were politically motivated, a claim supported by Charles Kuffner at Off the Kuff. Kuffner says, “[W]hile I’m sure there are valid questions about the finances, [Culberson is] not doing this out of genuine concern for the agency. This has always been about killing the University line, nothing more and nothing less.” Culberson has previously expressed opposition to any light rail project along Richmond Avenue.

Culberson replied to METRO’s letter, saying, “If Metro has new, more conservative financial models, I look forward to their public release so they can be reviewed.” However, the Houston Press says that, while some of Culberson’s concerns should be addressed, his office has not contacted METRO to see any revised financial models.

Swamplot and the River Oaks Examiner also provide coverage of this story.

Rep. Culberson’s letter to the FTA
METRO’s response to Rep. Culberson
Rep. Culberson’s response to METRO