TXDOT requests $1.9b for Texas T-bone HSR

$8b competitive stimulus funds

Jay Blazek Crossley, Jul 13, 09.

The Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) has requested $1.9 billion which appears to point toward the development of the Texas T-Bone High Speed Rail vision to connect the major urban centers of the Texas Triangle Megaregion. The request is a collection of smaller projects across the state that add up to preliminary work on the T-Bone concept, even though the federally designated high speed rail corridors plan continues not to connect Houston, the 6th largest metropolitan area in the country to Dallas-Fort Worth, the fourth largest, or the other metropolitan regions in the Texas Triangle (San Antonio is #28 and Austin-Round Rock is #36). The Texas Triangle Megaregion is competing with other states and megaregions for $8 billion in stimulus funding set aside for high speed rail projects nationally, although $5 additional billion is expected to be included in the next Federal Budget and some are advocating for $50 billion to be set aside for high speed rail in the next Federal Transportation Reauthorization Bill.

The Dallas Morning News continues to report that Texas is unlikely to receive “such a big amount” from this initial round of stimulus funds for high speed rail, based on the fact that other states and megaregions are far ahead in the planning process. According the DMN, ‘TxDOT spokeswoman Karen Amacker said today, “it never hurts to ask,” and noted that the guidelines for the grants released in June are themselves in draft form.’ They are also reporting that U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood has said, “We are going to consider proposals that are serious. Even those that are not as far along as other regions will be considered.” The Temple Daily Telegram (TDT) is reporting that Temple Mayor Bill Jones III and others from the Texas High Speed Rail and Transportation Corporation assisted TxDOT in preparing the request. TDT also quotes Jones saying, “Hooray for President Obama, and you won’t hear me say that very much. But, he got this right. We do need a greener, more efficient transit system in this country.”

TxDOT Press Release - 07/13/09 (pdf)

Comments

Ray C. Lawrence said:

I’m very surprised to hear that TxDOT has already submitted a request for $1.9 billion to help fund the Texas T-Bone HSR project. As I recall, FRA just issued guidelines for applications to participate in the $8 billion portion of the ARRA designated for high speed rail projects on June 19. And, I understand that the Center for Transportation Research at UT Austin is assisting TxDOT with background information to support the application. But I’m not aware that a definite timeline has been set for the actual application submission as yet. Is the $1.9 billion number just someone’s preliminary idea of the amount to be requested? If so, are there any specifics as to what is covered in that amount?

Posted on Jul 14, 09 at 7:52 am

Jay said:

Ray - What has been done at this point is really a pre-application. Please see the TXDOT Press Release for the specifics, but in general, yes, they have enumerated a series of specific projects. My impression is that there are further application procedures, but they have now declared for what they will be requesting the ARRA funds.

The TXDOT Press Release though has very specific projects. It appears that the strategy was to pursue a variety of projects that each would be useful in itself, but that all together would be a start on building the Texas T-Bone.

Posted on Jul 14, 09 at 9:37 am

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