Transportation Secretary Mary Peters signs off on environmental clearance waiver for TTC-35
Trans-Texas Corridor Project Benefits From Federal Waiver
3/18/04
Texas Government Insider
Stratgic Partnerships Inc.
Copyright 2004
Prospects for a speedy beginning to the Trans-Texas Corridor improved this week, due to a decision by the Federal Highway Administration (FHA) to make regulatory exceptions for the large-scale project. Mary Peters, an administrator for the federal agency, announced that the FHA would allow Texas to hire a contractor and begin the design and construction of certain portions of highway before receiving the environmental clearance usually required for such undertakings.
Late last year, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) requested that an exception be made for the I-35 High Priority Trans-Texas Corridor, a proposed 600 mile stretch of highway that would begin in Denison, near the Oklahoma border, and extend down to San Antonio, where it would fork and head to both Brownsville and Laredo. Working through the mandated environmental studies for such a huge project would severely slow the project's development. With the waiver granted by the FHA, the construction planning process and the environmental approval process will progress in concert and the contractor will assist the state in preparation of those documents. Furthermore, the arrangement will allow the state to access formidable amounts of federal funding before the environmental analysis in complete.
Promoted by Gov. Rick Perry, the Trans-Texas Corridor, currently in its conceptual stages, is a plan to create a 4,000 mile transportation network in Texas, including high-speed passenger, commuter and freight rail, more highways, and dedicated utility zones for commercial purposes. The price tag for the project is estimated at $180 billion. The state hopes to hire a contractor by early 2005.
© 2004 Strategic Partnerships: www.spartnerships.com
To search TTC News Archives clickHERE
To view the Trans-Texas Corridor Blog clickHERE
3/18/04
Texas Government Insider
Stratgic Partnerships Inc.
Copyright 2004
Prospects for a speedy beginning to the Trans-Texas Corridor improved this week, due to a decision by the Federal Highway Administration (FHA) to make regulatory exceptions for the large-scale project. Mary Peters, an administrator for the federal agency, announced that the FHA would allow Texas to hire a contractor and begin the design and construction of certain portions of highway before receiving the environmental clearance usually required for such undertakings.
Late last year, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) requested that an exception be made for the I-35 High Priority Trans-Texas Corridor, a proposed 600 mile stretch of highway that would begin in Denison, near the Oklahoma border, and extend down to San Antonio, where it would fork and head to both Brownsville and Laredo. Working through the mandated environmental studies for such a huge project would severely slow the project's development. With the waiver granted by the FHA, the construction planning process and the environmental approval process will progress in concert and the contractor will assist the state in preparation of those documents. Furthermore, the arrangement will allow the state to access formidable amounts of federal funding before the environmental analysis in complete.
Promoted by Gov. Rick Perry, the Trans-Texas Corridor, currently in its conceptual stages, is a plan to create a 4,000 mile transportation network in Texas, including high-speed passenger, commuter and freight rail, more highways, and dedicated utility zones for commercial purposes. The price tag for the project is estimated at $180 billion. The state hopes to hire a contractor by early 2005.
© 2004 Strategic Partnerships: www.spartnerships.com
To search TTC News Archives click
To view the Trans-Texas Corridor Blog click
posted by Porkus Maximus Tex: at Thursday, March 18, 2004
<< Home