States spending one-third of transportation stimulus on new roads

Texas ranks among worst

Steve Hawley, Jun 30, 09.

The average state has committed almost one-third of its transportation stimulus allotment to building new roads so far, even though transit and maintenance projects tend to create more jobs, faster, according to a Smart Growth America (SGA) report released on Monday. June 29 marked the 120-day deadline by which states had to allocate 50 percent of their transportation funds.

The report lists 11 states (including the District of Columbia) that spent 100 percent of their road funds on maintenance, as well as seven states that spent at least 10 percent of their total transportation money on public transportation, walking, and biking. Three states—Delaware, the District of Columbia, and Iowa—fell into both categories. The report notes, “In general, public transportation and road and bridge repairs produce 31% and 16% more jobs respectively than construction of new roads and bridges.” It adds, “On average, repair and maintenance projects spend money and create jobs faster than projects that add new capacity.”

At the other end of the spectrum is Kentucky, which spent 88 percent of its money on new roads despite the fact that almost 40 percent of its existing roads are in “poor” condition and 573 of its bridges are “structurally deficient.”

Texas falls near the bottom of the list—45th out of 51—committing 53 percent of its road money so far to repairs and 47 percent to new roads. In addition, Texas has spent just one-half of one percent of its total transportation funds on non-motorized transportation, and the state has given no money so far to transit projects, although METRO will receive about $90 million and other urban and rural transit providers will also receive money. According to SGA, Texas currently ranks 35th in transit and non-motorized spending, below Alabama, Kansas, and Kentucky and tied with Mississippi.

According to SGA, Texas has committed $1.5 billion in stimulus funding to transportation projects so far. Overall, the state will receive $2.6 billion for transportation, most of which comes from the flexible Surface Transportation Program (STP). According to the Federal Highway Administration, STP money may be used for “any Federal-aid highway, including the [National Highway System], bridge projects on any public road, transit capital projects, and intracity and intercity bus terminals and facilities.” However, almost all of Texas’s STP funds have gone to roads.

In late February and early March, TxDOT’s governing commission voted to use $1.2 billion for new projects and $500 million for maintenance projects. TxDOT has already obligated just over half of its highway funds, successfully meeting the 120-day deadline. Many bids have been significantly lower than expected, meaning that a number of contingency projects will likely receive funding as well. However, a significant portion of the remaining road money is expected to go to new roads, such as the $181 million Grand Parkway Segment E in Harris County.

In April, Houston City Council Member Sue Lovell, a member of the H-GAC Transportation Policy Council (TPC), suggested setting aside some local stimulus money specifically for maintenance projects. TPC had already approved a complete list of primary and contingency projects two months earlier, so H-GAC staff members have created a process for adding maintenance projects to the contingency list. However, TPC Chairman James Patterson firmly stated that any new additions will be low-priority, telling his fellow TPC members, “I don’t want anyone to think we’re putting a maintenance project ahead of the approved contingency projects.”

The state also will receive $375 million for transit projects, including $105 million for the eight-county Houston region. The bulk of that money will provide new light rail cars for the Main Street corridor, as well as improvements to the High Occupancy Vehicle lanes.

According to American Association of Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) data cited by SGA, only 41 percent of the roads in Texas are in good condition, and the state has 421 structurally deficient interstate and state bridges. AASHTO says that poor road conditions cost the average Texas driver $336 per year.

Full report: The States and the Stimulus: Are they using it to create jobs and 21st century transportation?