Published: 01-19-09
Pushing for Lone Star Highway Projects under Stimulus Plans
(WASHINGTON DC) – U.S. Rep. John Carter (R-TX31) is working with the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) to push Congress for up to $6 billion in “shovel ready” highway projects for Texas as part of a national economic stimulus package.
Carter met with TXDOT officials this week in Washington to discuss the importance that Texas gets its fair share of any highway infrastructure economic stimulus funds. Carter is the only Texas Republican serving on any transportation committee in the House as a member of the Transportation Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee.
Texas has the highest number of requested highway projects in the nation to be potentially funded under a national economic stimulus plan and the third highest dollar request of any state. TXDOT officials have submitted 853 projects at a cost of $6.0184 billion dollars according to data from the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. All projects submitted for stimulus-funding consideration must be capable of being contracted within 120 days.
“It is critical that Texas submitted these highway requests in time for consideration” says Carter “and equally critical for our state to continue pushing to make sure we get our fair share. Texas has been a ‘donor’ state every year since the current federal highway funding system was created historically receiving less than what we pay into the system. We can’t allow ourselves to be shortchanged in any economic stimulus plan.”
