By Associated Press - Sunday, June 14, 2009
DALLAS -- Some North Texas lawmakers are lining up huge transportation money requests as a congressional committee readies a highway bill.
The Dallas Morning News reported Saturday that U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, the highest-ranking Texan on the House Transportation Committee, was asking for nearly $2.5 billion for 25 projects. Eighty percent of the Dallas Democrat's request would be for a dozen transit and rail projects. The remainder is for road and highway improvements.
Of some $660 million sought by Waco Democrat Chet Edwards, nearly two-thirds is for transportation or rail projects. One of Edwards' requests is money for a portion of a high-speed rail line, known as the Texas T-Bone, to connect Waco with Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.
Arlington Republican Joe Barton is an exception. Of his nearly $116 million in project requests, only $3 million is for public transportation. Barton's request includes $42 million for improvements to Interstate 35E.
Johnson's largest request -- $593 million -- is for engineering and construction of the Cotton Belt Corridor commuter line, an east-west rail project involving Dallas Area Rapid Transit and the Fort Worth Transportation Authority. Another DART project, costing $483 million, would extend rail to D/FW airport.
The transportation bill undergoes committee scrutiny this month.
Monday, June 15, 2009
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