Changing Direction
description
Transcript of Changing Direction
May 2009
Changing Direction
Federal transportation funding
Christof Spieler
http://ctchouston.org
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FHWA FTA
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In the road business since 1893
FHWA
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Federal roadway funding
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Federal roadway funding
Photo: Kir Murray
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Federal roadway funding
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The Grand Parkway
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Step 1: Add project to Regional Plan
1966: add to Major Thoroughfare and Freeway Plan
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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
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Step 2: Environmental clearance
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Step 3: Feds fund the project
Local20%
Federal80%
March 2009: TxDOT allocates $181 million to Grand Parkway
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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
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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
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In the transit business since 1961
FTA
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The Southeast Line
METRO’s Southeast rail line
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Step 1: Alternatives analysis
Feb 2002, May 2002, Jan 2003, Mar 2003: public meetings
Dec 2001- Nov 2003: Alternatives Analysis study
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Bonus step: Referendum
November 2003: Voters approve METRO Solutions
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Step 2: Add project to regional plan
June 2004: public workshops
February 2004: TPC adds Southeast Line to RTP
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Step 3: Meet cost-effectiveness requirements
June 2005: METRO switches to BRT
April 2005: FTA gives medium-low rating
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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
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Step 5: Try again
Oct 2007: METRO goes back to LRT
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Step 6: Environmental clearance (again)
July 2008: Record of Decision
May 2008: Supplemental EIS, public hearing
October 2007: FTA asks for SEIS
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Step 7: Risk analysis
2008-present: risk assessment
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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
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15.2 miles 6.2 miles
Which project should be funded?
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Which project should be funded?
$622 million $680 million
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Which project should be funded?
103,246 people+jobs (3 mi.) 163,000 people+jobs (1/2 mi.)
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“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
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FHWA FTA
Do we need to kick the buckets?
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Questions?
http://ctchouston.org