Transportation News, Volume 34, Number 2, March/April 2009 Page: 5 of 20
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Stimulating Plans for
Transportation Projects
Federal Stimulus Dollars Offer New Life for TxDOT ConstructionA billion here, a billion there, and pretty soon you're
talking real money." That phrase from more than 40
years ago about government spending has become
a classic. But two generations later, a billion dollars is still
a lot of money. And when the federal government began
talking about investing billions of dollars in infrastructure
across the country, TxDOT leaders put an impressive array
of resources together to ensure Texas was primed to go
when its $2.2 billion share became available.
When the national discussion began back in November
about a push to rebuild infrastructure, the focus was on
projects that were "shovel-ready" and could be implemented
quickly, thus creating jobs and economic stimulus.
TxDOT's commission and transportation partners, like
the Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO) and the
state's elected leadership, had a broader outlook for project
development. They said the state should also look at projects
that reduce congestion, improve economic development or
enhance commuting through light rail or other modes of
rapid transit. Those types of transportation improvements
will help generate favorable economic conditions for
current and future generations.
"TxDOT agreed with them. We see this program as one that
will not only help rebuild America's infrastructure, but also
provide some long-term economic benefit," said John Barton,
PE., TxDOT's Assistant Executive Director for Engineering
Operations. "We're not just looking at patching potholes or
repairing roads and bridges, but building projects that will
have lasting positive impacts on the community."All of the local feedback did help diversify TxDOT's plans
for finalizing its transportation project list. But there was
still a requirement for projects to be in a position to start
construction as soon as possible.
"We had to ensure that at least half of the dollars we receive
from this federal stimulus package could be obligated in
the first 120 days of the president signing a bill," Barton
explained. "That meant the projects had to be essentially
designed, environmentally cleared and have permits in place
so we could bid and contract the work quickly. We burned
lots of midnight oil to get together a list of projects that met
the federal criteria as well as local community needs. We're
hoping that those extra efforts will pay big dividends for the
future of our state."
Due to TxDOT's continual planning efforts to improve
transportation flow throughout the state, there were a
number of projects that were in ready mode but just lacked
funding for construction. Those projects quickly rose to the
top of the list for the federal program. The upside for Texas
communities is that some projects that were going to be
delayed until 2011-2012 timeframe or beyond could now
get the dollars needed for construction by summer 2009.
"There are many beneficial projects around the state that
people have been planning for quite some time, and now
we have an opportunity to take advantage of some federal
funding to help us take care of those," Barton said. "This will
also help put people to work in a way that helps build a
better Texas over the long term."
0 TN / March - April 2009
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Texas. Department of Transportation. Transportation News, Volume 34, Number 2, March/April 2009, periodical, April 2009; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth307500/m1/5/: accessed April 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.