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| Sunday, May 17, 01:16:23am | [ Login ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, [6], 7, 8, 9, 10 ] |
| Subject: House bill includes funds for area transit projects September 2003 | |
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Author: $89.3 billion transportation funding bill passed by the House on Tuesday. |
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Date Posted: Thursday, September 11, 03:35:16pm http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/nation/6745147.htm House bill includes funds for area transit projects By Maria Recio Star-Telegram Washington Bureau WASHINGTON - Tarrant County is poised to get a boost in highway and transit spending in the $89.3 billion transportation funding bill passed by the House on Tuesday. "This bill funds important community projects in a fiscally responsible way. ... They are the projects that can really make a difference in the lives of every taxpayer," said Rep. Kay Granger, R-Fort Worth. Granger is a member of the House Appropriations Committee, which wrote the 2004 fiscal year funding bill known as the Transportation, Treasury and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act. The Senate is expected to vote on its version next week, and then a conference committee will reconcile the bills in time for the new fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1. Among the projects Granger is pushing for are $500,000 for new bike and pedestrian trails around the Trinity River, $4 million for new buses for the Fort Worth Transportation System and $1.2 million for redevelopment and enhancement of seven corridors in Fort Worth -- East Lancaster Avenue, East Rosedale Street, Hemphill Street, Berry Street, West Seventh Street, Camp Bowie Boulevard and North Main Street. Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Highland Village, also championed several projects in the bill, including $250,000 for the widening of Interstate 35E between Farm Road 2181 and Lake Lewisville, $325,000 for the purchasing of additional buses for Grapevine and funding for airport improvements at Denton Municipal Airport. "These transportation projects are priorities for me because they will provide important aviation and economic development benefits to my district," Burgess said. The House bill poses a threat to Amtrak, the national rail passenger line, by reducing its subsidy to $900 million, an amount that Amtrak spokesman Bill Schulz said is a "shutdown scenario." The Texas Eagle service connecting Chicago and San Antonio, which serves Fort Worth, likely would be eliminated under that subsidy. However, the Senate bill approved last week by the Senate Appropriations Committee allocates $1.346 billion to Amtrak. Rail supporters will try to keep the higher level of funding as they negotiate a final bill. [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] |