METRO to Receive Millions in Obama Budget

When President Obama unveiled on Monday his new budget plan , Houston METRO came out a winner.  

Two light-rail lines we're building - the North Corridor and the Southeast Corridor - were chosen to receive matching federal dollars - $75 million for each rail line.

To be two of only four transit projects  nationwide recommended for funding, pending Full Funding Grant Agreements, was quite a coup for METRO. A Full Funding Grant Agreement signals the federal government's commitment to fund a project.

"The fact that two of the four recommended projects are from Houston speaks volumes about the value and benefits that these projects will bring to our community," said Kim Slaughter, METRO's associate vice president of planning, infrastructure & service development.

"Every person who has ever participated in a meeting or provided comments on these projects should be very proud of the fruits of their labor," Slaughter continued.

This is the second time METRO has been been included in the administration's budget. In the 2010 budget, $150 million were allocated for the North and Southeast Corridor.

Now in 2011, another $150 million have been allocated for these two light-rail lines.

The North Corridor is a 5.3-mile, eight-station double-track, light-rail line that will extend from the existing UH-Downtown station in the Central Business District to the Northline Commons. This project involves purchasing 22 light-rail trains. It would act as an extension to our current Red Line.

The Southeast Corridor will be a 6.5-mile light-rail line from the Central Business District to the Palm Center in the vicinity of Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd/Griggs Road. This project includes buying 29 light-rail vehicles and building 10 stations, plus a storage and inspection facility.

So how soon would METRO actually get the federal dollars?

The two Full Funding Grant Agreements must be finalized by the Federal Transit Administration's staff. Then it goes to the Office of Secretary of Transportation and the U.S. Office of Management and Budget for review and approval.

Once both these approvals are received, the FTA sends a 60-day notice to Congress, announcing its intention to fund these two projects. After that 60-day period, METRO and the FTA will sign funding contracts - the Full Funding Grant Agreements - to release the federal dollars.

"Once the federal funds are available, this will secure the FTA's commitment to be long-term partners in the North and Southeast light-rail projects," explained Slaughter.

"METRO looks forward to continuing to work with the community to deliver great projects. We are dedicated to provide more choices to move more people to more places," said Slaughter.