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Action at the March 2 CAMPO Transportation Policy Board meeting

CAMPO Chair Senator Watson responded to concerns about changes to the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) during the Public Hearing portion of the meeting.

  • TXDOT requested removal of the SH71/IH-35 interchange direct connects (a $47+M project) as an individually listed project from the TIP because it is now being as as  safety-related project by TXDOT.    This type of improvement is not considered “added capacity” as it does not create a new traffic movement that doesn’t currently exist  (i.e., a driver can currently go eastbound on Ben White and make a southbound movement on IH-35 - though via the frontage roads).  Thus the project is considered a project under the group list of “Preventive Maintenance and Rehabilitation” that permits among the normal maintenance activities (adding ramps).
  • SH 45 SW has had the construction funding pulled and was approved for design and right-of-way only.  The explanation by Watson was that due to reduced funding, the previously approved TIP was underfunded and, therefore, not “fiscally restrained” as required by Federal regulations. To rectify this required removal of many small projects or one large one.  45 SW was selected as it would not be able to begin construction within the 2008-2011 TIP anyway so the $70M construction costs could be deferred to the next TIP.  Supposedly this will not affect its eventual completion.
  • $50K was moved from Air Quality programs “to fund a new program to implement transit model improvements.”
  • Howard Lane from Cameron Rd to SH 130 ($22M) was approved.
  • FM 3177 from US 290 to Lindell Ln ($7.5M) connecting Harris Branch Parkway with Decker Lane was approved.

The other big item was discussion of how to leverage stimulus money.  The CAMPO region is expected to receive almost $29M of highway funds as a direct sub-allocation through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009.

  • Tactic 1 - Urge the Texas Transportation Commission to take the $115M of discretionary funds going to direct connects at US 290E and US 183 (TxDOT’s first priority and CTRMA’s 1st, 2nd and 3rd priority) and further leverage it.  However, it was reported that the $115M was “over estimated” and should really be $90M . Then take $10M and complete FM 1460 from Settlers Blvd to north of University Blvd. (Williamson County’s first priority and TxDOT’s second priority).  Then take $7M and leverage Buda’s $8M to complete the Main Street project (TxDOT’s #3 priority) necessary to attract the new US Foods project (266-530 new jobs). This decision will be made at the March 5th Transportation Commission meeting.
  • Tactic 2 – An extended timeframe for committing funds (a year vs. 90 days), there will be a second call for funding for the $29M local stimulus funding within the next 45 days.
  • Lastly, since Capital Metro and CARTS get their own direct stimulus funds. CAMPO will continue the tradition of not being involved in their prioritization and will let them do their own thing. Capital Metro gets a direct stimulus of $27M, which is almost equal to what CAMPO is struggling over.

Other approvals: