Congressman Al Green Gets Approval for Five Earmarks Related to Transportation and Urban Development in Houston

Today, the House of Representatives passed the Transportation and Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill by a vote of 251-167. The bill incorporates five earmarks requested by Congressman Al Green (TX-09).

Overall, the bill is $500 million below the 2010 level and $1.3 billion below the President’s budget.  Investments in the bill will create more than 160,000 new jobs.  For example, the bill’s additional investment of more than $4 billion above 2010 for the Federal Highway Administration will create more than 142,000 new jobs in highway construction.  Similarly, the bill’s additional investment of $500 million above 2010 for public transit will create an estimated 20,000 new jobs.

“Rebuilding and modernizing our roads, public transit and railways is overdue and absolutely necessary to maintain our safety and security, while allowing us to remain at the forefront of clean energy technology,”Congressman Al Green said. “It’s also a key tenet of our long-term economic plan to create good-paying jobs that stay in the United States now and in the future.” 

The five earmarks requested by Congressman Al Green are the following:

$1 million for Houston Commuter Rail Service in Harris and Fort Bend County (US 90A). This project would create a light rail extension from the current Texas Medical Center station to Missouri City of more than 8 miles and 4 stations. 

$1 million for METRO Solutions Bus Program. This project replaces buses that have exceeded their useful life and expand existing bus service. 

$450,000 for Westchase District Intermodal Transit & Pedestrian Access Improvements. This project will improve bus user and pedestrian access to transit services, facilities, employment opportunities, health services, and retail services.  It makes necessary improvements to pedestrian infrastructure to meet the American Association of State Highways & Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and American with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards.  

$75 million for the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO) Solutions Light Rail Program (North Corridor).  This project is part of the Advanced Transit Program/METRO Solutions System Plan and would build a 5.2-mile, eight station, double-track light rail transit (LRT) line from the existing University of Houston-Downtown station in the Houston central business district to the Northline Mall Transit Center.

$75 million for the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO) Solutions Light Rail Program (Southeast Corridor). The Southeast project is a 6.2-mile, light rail transit line from the Houston central business district to the Palm Center in the vicinity of Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard/Griggs Road.

“These are important projects for Houston because they will continue developing the light rail network, which is already one of the most notable endeavors the city has undertaken in the past few years,” Congressman Al Green said. “I am particularly pleased that the Appropriations Committee approved funding for the US 90A Rail Line. This project will provide up to 12,000 commuters a one seat ride from areas within my district to Downtown Houston in less than 30 minutes each day. It will connect important employment areas such as the Texas Medical Center and Downtown Houston (with 130,000 and 74,000 jobs respectively) with large residential communities such as Missouri City and Stafford (100,000 residents). Ultimately, it will increase mobility, improve air quality, promote economic development, and create an estimated 3,000 jobs in the fourth largest city in the United States."