Today, Congressman Michael C. Burgess, the only Texas Republican Congressman on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, considered the six-year surface transportation reauthorization bill, H.R. 3550, on the House floor. The bill passed by a vote of 357 –65. H.R. 3550 was about $100 billion to $275 billion during committee deliberations moving it closer in-line with the transportation reauthorization proposals of the Senate ($318 billion) and the White House ($259 billion).

Congressman Michael Burgess continued his lobbying efforts to ensure that North Texas receives much-needed transportation dollars. Several key concepts Burgess stressed during committee negotiations were included in H.R. 3550. Burgess’ design-build concept, commonly referred to as the RAPID Act, allows highways to be constructed in commonsense increments as they are needed, was included. Also included in H.R. 3550 was Reps. Burgess and fellow North Texas Eddie Bernice Johnson’s “Borders-Corridors” idea which provides allocations to states and metropolitan planning organizations for constructing corridors of national significance, economic growth, and international or interregional trade. Currently, Majority Leader Tom DeLay’s SHARE legislation, which works to bring a higher rate of return on transportation dollars for donor states like Texas, is still being debated amongst House and Committee Leadership and will be further addressed during conference committee deliberations. Congressman Burgess is working with both House and Committee Leadership to ensure Texas receives its fair share by imposing a 95% rate of return.

“The United States has benefited greatly from having a strong transportation network, but we are approaching a crossroads,” stated Congressman Michael Burgess. “I hope that our work on transportation reauthorization is one step closer to finding solutions to this impending problem. I believe H.R. 3550 is bringing us closer to our policy goals in North Texas to achieve our region’s goal of efficient, seamless transportation corridors and combat congestion.”



Congressman Burgess was successful in securing three New Starts transit designations for North Texas under Title III, Section 3037. The designations include Denton County Transportation Authority, Fixed Guideway Project; Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), Beltline to DFW Airport; and Fort Worth Trinity Railway Express Commuter Rail Extensions.

Rep. Michael Burgess has several key District priority projects included in the committee’s bill which total over $45 million for North Texas. The bill will now be negotiated with the Senate version during a conference committee where a final bill will be finalized. All projects and bill language are subject to change.



Project Descriptions

Dollars

Widen from 4 to 6 lanes I-35E from Lake Lewisville to Loop 288
$14 million

Widen US 380 West from 2 to 4 lanes from the Denton, Texas city limits to western Denton County line
$5 million

Relocation of FM 156 at Alliance Airport
$5 million

Add shoulders to FM 156 from Ponder, Texas to Krum, Texas
$4 million

Widening FM 423
$8 million

SH 114/SH 170 in South Denton County
$2.5 million

SH 114/SH 121 “Funnel Project” – Preliminary Engineering Study
$4 million

Tower 55 CMAQ Congestion and Preliminary Engineering Study
(in coordination with Congresswoman Kay Granger)
$2.5 million

FM 2499, Section 4
$1 million

Improvements to I-35E/I-635 Interchange
$1 million