TRANSPORTATION
Updates on key transportation projects
2 0 2 2 A N N U A L C O M M U N I T Y G U I D E
OTHER PROJECTS TO FOLLOW IN 2022
TOP TRANSPORTATION STORY TO WATCH IN 2022
Houston-areamobility groups plan for federal funds from$1.2 trillion bill
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hurdles needed to be cleared before H GAC or other planning organiza- tions can begin discussing funding allocation. “It’s going to take a fair amount of time for [all of the funding announce- ments] to work their way through their processes before we start seeing that,” he said. Once the new appropriations bill makes its way through Congress in 2022, Raborn said H GAC plans to get public input into future transporta- tion planning in the spring. H GAC is updating the region’s four-year, 10-year and 25-year transportation plans, which will receive input from the public and local governments before informing the state of the prioritized projects to receive funds. Raborn said updates could be complete by the rst and second quarters of 2023. He said it is too early to tell how much of the funding the Greater Houston area will receive and which projects will be allotted funds. Susan Lent, an adviser to the city of Houston, said the city might be a candidate for a $1.4 billion grant for weather preparation projects, a $250 million congestion relief pro- gram and a $3 billion railroad grade crossing elimination program. Construction could begin soon
ROADMAP TO FUNDING Once Congress approves funding in 2022, local governments and planning groups coordinate to receive funds.
President Joe Biden signed the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act into law Nov. 6, provid- ing funds for projects nationwide. Texas is expected to get about $35 billion of that funding, while existing federal aid programs will receive an in ux of $265.4 billion over ve years, according to Chandra Bhat at The University of Texas. Craig Raborn, transportation director of metropolitan planning organization Houston-Galveston Area Council, said Houston-area entities will have 11 new grant programs to apply for. Raborn said the bill’s broad scope will increase funding to programs, such as the Surface Transportation Block Grant, which is seeing a 24% increase in funding. “It’s a big bill; there’s a lot in it,” Raborn said. “And so it’s going to take a lot of time for agencies like ours to nd and match the pieces to the needs they have.” Raborn also highlighted new programs that could target resiliency and ood control as areas of interest, such as the PROTECT Program, which provides up to $8.7 billion to help reinforce surface transportation routes and evacuation routes. However, Raborn cautioned that other federal funding and regulatory INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT IN HOUSTON The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will boost federal programs and open new ones Houston-area entities can apply for.
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Woodtrace extension continues Land has been cleared for the rst segment of the two-lane Woodtrace Boulevard extension, said Michael Rusk, transportation vice president with LJA Engineering, the rm selected for the project. The Westwood Magnolia Parkway Improvement District announced in April that Woodtrace will eventually connect Hwy. 249 to FM 2978. The segment underway spans from FM 2978 to Dobbin Hu smith Road. Rusk said a contract for earth work is slated to be sent for bids in January followed by contracts likely later this year to build a Dry Creek bridge and pave the road, which is anticipated to open in 2024. Timeline: TBD-2024 Cost: $8 million Funding source: WMPID
PROJECT SELECTION Metropolitan planning
organizations, or MPOs, such as the Houston-Galveston Area Council, add projects to plans. INPUT Local governments and the public provide input on projects to prioritize. PROJECT DESIGN The MPO sends its project recommendations to the state, which works out design details with the local government. CONTRACTS Local and state governments administer contracts for project construction.
SOURCE: HOUSTON GALVESTON AREA COUNCIL COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
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on a high-speed rail from Houston to Dallas by privately owned Texas Central. Lent said a $36 billion program for high-speed rail lines is for governmental entities, but private
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Median planned on FM 1488 The Texas Department of
entities can be subrecipients. Shawn Arrajj contributed to this report.
Transportation anticipates seeking construction bids in April to add a raised median and trac signals along FM 1488 between Mostyn Drive in Magnolia and I-45. TxDOT said construction would take 2 1/2 years. Timeline: June-TBD Cost: $11 million Funding sources: state, federal
Houston metro planning organizations will have 11 new grant programs to apply for.
Existing federal programs will see an increase of $265.4 billion over ve years.
Of the $1.2 trillion approved
in federal funding, Texas will receive $35 billion.
SOURCES: INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT; CHANDRA BHAT, UT AUSTIN; HOUSTON GALVESTON AREA COUNCIL COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
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