The Highway Emergency Response Operator (HERO) program received $1.4 million in funding from the ARRA allotment.  HERO was the very last of the fourteen projects funded and then only on an 11-9 vote.  HERO received the remaining balance of funds available, short of the already reduced request of $2M.  It would not have been approved at all except for the determined support of Travis County Judge Sam Biscoe.

Other ARRA projects approved:

Project Amount Sponsor
FM 1431 $7,058,000 City of Cedar Park + WilCo
Transit Facility $2,000,000 City of Round Rock
20 Signals $2,400,000 City of Austin
Asphalt Overlay $1,500,000 City of Austin
Overlays $687,047 Travis County
290/71 Sidewalks $170,000 City of Sunset Valley
SH 71 Safety Project $3,200,000 TxDOT
Sidewalks $128,748 City of Manor
SH 71/Serene Hills $1,500,000 City of Lakeway
Walk a Day Trail $105,000 Hill Country Conservancy
Cement Plant Road $7,250,000 City of Buda + Hays Co
RR 12 Center Turn Lane $1,700,000 Hays County
Spring Branch Striping $60,000 City of Kyle

Other CAMPO news:

  • Executive Director Joe Cantalupo framed the CAMPO $1.9M budget of which $1.3M is a direct Federal allocation with the balance coming from STPMM or local discretionary Federal funds.
  • Bastrop and Caldwell Counties have accepted invitations to eventually join CAMPO.
  • Senator Kirk Watson summarized the dismal results of the Legislative session. The major positive results were the Capital Metro legislation and the possible funding of the Rail Relocation Fund. Major failures were TxDOT Sunset Bill, local option and lack of funding. He noted that transportation funding was in a drought and getting worse. Cuts at the State level and rescissions at Federal level were more than offsetting gains from stimulus funding.
  • A report was made on the status of the SH 45SW Committee by its Chairman Sam Biscoe. The committee is focusing on two options. Both have four tolled lanes. One would have stand alone financing; the other “toll system” financing. The latter would require a change in CAMPO policy to allow the toll road to use revenues from other toll roads to be considered as security for its bonded debt. SOS and Sierra Club presented a minority report with the conclusion that vehicle trips were declining and we didn’t need new roads (very insightful and creative alternative).
  • Approved a $100K contract with Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) for forecasting bicycle and pedestrian usage.
  • Approved a $30K contract with TTI for air quality emission analysis in case CAMPO must meet air quality conformance.
  • Approved a $39K sole source contract with Eastern Research Group to refine greenhouse gas analysis of CAMPO transport model.
  • Authorized Executive Director to sell air quality campaign material to San Antonio.