US DOT awards funds for Houston ped bridge

$6.7 million statewide

David Crossley, Aug 17, 11.

Included in $6.7 million of recently announced grants for Texas from the US Department of Transportation is a pedestrian bridge “at Bringhurst Street in Houston to separate pedestrian and railroad traffic from Amtrak’s Sunset Limited,” according to Guidry News. Also included in the awards is a peak-pricing conversion of 183A in Austin and studies on the influence on driving patterns.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced more than $6.7 million in grants for Texas to fund an array of highway-related efforts, including the development of the San Antonio Trade Corridor and the introduction of peak-period pricing on the 183A Turnpike in Austin.

“Transportation investments like these will create jobs and improve the quality of life for Texas residents as well as strengthen the state’s economy,” said Secretary LaHood. “The demand from the states for these funds shows just how critical the need is for infrastructure investment.”

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) invited states to apply in June for federal funding from 14 grant programs. Requests poured in from every state, Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C. - more than 1,800 applications, totaling nearly $13 billion, which is more than 30 times the funds available.

“At a time when states are facing serious budgetary constraints, these grants will help fill a critical need,” said Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez. “Investments like these are immediate and long-lasting and will help create jobs.”

Congress created the discretionary grant programs to give FHWA the latitude to support projects that maintain the nation’s roads and bridges, improve roadway safety and make communities more livable. In previous years, Congress designated some of this grant money for specific projects and FHWA awarded the remainder through a competitive process. Because the FY11 budget passed by Congress last April directed that all such funds be discretionary, FHWA awarded these funds through a competitive process.

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A complete state-by-state list of this year’s grant recipients is available online at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pressroom/fhwa1137/.