Guess what? Metro's proposed rail lines have been approved
Remember the Chronicle's outrage that Rep. Culberson and Rep. DeLay messed up Metro's funding:
The voters have spoken. Houston needs mobility improvements that include an expanded rail transit component as well as one of the nation's better bus systems. The next time Metro and the majority of voters in its service area say "Jump," their representatives in Congress should ask, "How high?"
A funny little thing popped up in Houston's Daily Information Source today:
A U.S. agency notified Congress on Thursday that it will approve the next two segments of Houston's MetroRail system and recommend their eligibility for federal funding.
Just as Rep. Culberson tried to explain to the Chronicle, Metro's funding would be approved as soon as its faulty application was fixed, resubmitted and reviewed. He inserted language in the appropriation bill specifically assuring that would happen.
Here's Lucas Wall's context paragraph, in today's story:
Metro submitted its two projects for federal review in August, hoping to obtain a recommendation by February, when the FTA makes its annual report to Congress. The MetroRail lines were not rated in that report last month, however, and the federal agency said at the time it was still reviewing the application.
He writes very nonchalantly and dispassionately this time, as opposed to his fit of pique a few weeks back:
Language that would have sped up Metro 's light rail expansion got stripped out of a massive appropriations bill in the last Congress, prompting a debate about whether two Houston congressmen are still blocking the city's rail plan.
[snip]
"It's an affront to the citizens of Houston," said Ed Wulfe, chairman of the Main Street Coalition, who has promoted development along the 7 1/2-mile light rail line that opened last year. "Somebody is putting their personal agenda ahead of what the people want."
What's an affront to the citizens of Houston is that we have a newspaper and a transit agency that are so woefully inept and out-of-touch. Metro is supposed to serve the citizens of Houston, but appears much more interested in sacrificing all at the altar of light rail. And the Chronicle -- please. It has done more to cover up Metro's shortcomings than any other media outlet in town. It's disgraceful.
There is some funding information in this story that is interesting. Metro needs $60 million for preliminary engineering costs, and it wants the feds to cover the whole amount. Here we go again!
Congress typically offers only minimal funding assistance for preliminary engineering. Metro estimates that work will cost $60 million and is asking Congress this year to fund all of that.
Houston will be competing with at least 25 other cities that also have projects in preliminary engineering this year. The FTA has recommended Congress appropriate $122 million for all of these projects in the next fiscal year. If Metro only gets an average allocation, it can expect $5 million from Uncle Sam next year.
Wilson said Metro will make its case for the $60 million request, but could sell some bonds to pay for preliminary engineering if needed.
And here are the quotes of the day:
"This puts us on the map," said Metro President & CEO Frank Wilson. "This is an extremely important leap forward for us but it's not the end of the process by any means."
[snip]
Metro Chairman David Wolff said he's pleased the proposed rail segments have passed a rigorous review, showing they meet federal standards.
"It's a great positive step in the direction we want to go," he said. "It's an affirmation of our program and it's good to get that from an impartial federal source."
That's some serious chutzpah. So, let's review: Metro screwed up its original application; Rep. Culberson came to Metro's aid, in at least two very big ways; Metro responded by stabbing Rep. Culberson in the back, with the Chronicle's help; and now that the work Rep. Culberson did to help Metro has paid off, Metro takes credit for getting federal approval.
I think that pretty much sums it up.
RELATED: Laurence Simon is waiting for the Chronicle to apologize to Rep. Culberson. Hahahahaha! That's a good one. I would only add that Metro officials should also apologize to Rep. Culberson, but that's not going to happen either.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 03/25/05 11:30 AM | Print |
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