January 31, 2003

Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century

United States Representative Nick Lampson and transportation consultant Barry Goodman met with representatives of the City of Galveston, Galveston County, the Galveston Park Board of Trustees, the Historic Downtown Strand Partnership, and the Sierra Club on Friday.

The meeting was to coordinate efforts in gaining local funding in the reauthorization bill for the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century.

"We need help," Lampson said, explaining that there are moves in Washington to give state governments authority to decide where TEA-21 funds should be allocated, rather than members of Congress.  

"That is a mistake if we do that," Lampson said.  "There is an opportunity for us to be vocal enough, and for you to use me - and I am nothing more than a tool of yours - as we work together, to speak out on something that you identify as most important for this region, which may be different than what the state may identify as  most important for this region." 

Goodman reviewed several projects under consideration for Galveston, including a commuter rail upgrade program to enable rail service between Galveston and Houston.

He said February 28 is the deadline to submit projects for TEA-21 funding.

City Manager Steve LeBlanc said the Bolivar crossing is at the top of his list, because matching funds can be provided by other state and federal programs. 

Galveston City Council Member Dianna Puccetti urged the group to support projects to enhance the operations of Scholes International Airport at Galveston.

Galveston County Judge Jim Yarbrough said the county government has been successful in gaining support from the state by providing more than the minimum local match for projects.  

"Transportation is a key component of what county government does, aside from justice and the law enforcement side," Yarbrough said.  "Transportation is critical, not only to the economics that Nick has been talking about, but the quality of life.  People are moving out of Houston because they don't want to have to sit in traffic and they don't want to have to fight the long lines at traffic lights."

Mark Muhich, representing the Sierra Club, encouraged the group to consider the impact of new transportation projects on the habitat for birds and other wildlife.

"The more we work together and decide the projects that overlap, the more success we have," Lampson said.

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