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Follow TURFLocal taxpayers pick-up the slack for lawmakers' refusal to fund roads
It appears this is the plan by federal and state lawmakers -- by their lack of fiscal discipline to properly fund roads, they're forcing local tax hikes to pick-up the slack. State law now allows local property and sales tax to fund toll roads. No matter who's shirking their duty to fund this core function of government and spending our road taxes on non-road purposes, the taxpayers are the ones paying dearly for this smoke and mirrors shell game and habitual raid of road dollars. We MUST insist on getting ALL road taxes allocated to roads before we're all taxed off our roads altogether!
Local groups plan for transportation funding gap
by Shawn Arrajj
July 5, 2013
Community Impact News
The end of the 2013 regular legislative session in Texas left the Texas Department of Transportation well short of the additional $4 billion it said it needed to maintain current traffic congestion levels across the state. As legislators continue to discuss transportation funding in the second special session, which began July 1, TxDOT is waiting to see if it will receive an increase in funding beyond the additional $400 million set aside for the 2014–15 biennium so far.
Government offices that handle road maintenance and construction in Harris and Montgomery counties have partnered with TxDOT on funding transportation projects in the past, but many have become more self-sufficient over time.
“Everyone knows what TxDOT is facing and plans accordingly,” said Mark Seegers, communications director with Harris County Precinct 4. “Based on the last several sessions, we expect the worst and hope for the best.”
Seegers said the precinct’s planned road projects will be able to move forward regardless of whether TxDOT gets funding, but some officials point out that a lack of TxDOT funding could result in challenges long-term.
“While we don’t necessarily rely on TxDOT for funding, the work they do on major state roads in our area does help manage congestion,” said Craig Doyal, Montgomery County Precinct 2 commissioner. “The longer the funding shortage goes unaddressed, the greater the burden on local forces to try to keep traffic flowing.”
Funding local projects
TxDOT, county precinct commissioner’s offices, cities and toll road authorities are among the entities that take on local road projects in Harris and Montgomery counties. It is not uncommon for organizations to collaborate on projects.
In Harris County Precinct 4—which includes the Tomball area—roughly $58.8 million will be used to fund the capital improvement projects under construction or out to bid in 2013. TxDOT is contributing to the development of a Changeable Lane Assignment Signal System at several intersections, which would allow the use of certain lanes to be adapted to maximize traffic flow.
TxDOT is also helping with corridor improvements on T.C. Jester Boulevard and is collaborating on a project connecting West Greens Road to Cutten Road with a four-lane boulevard.
TxDOT projects in Montgomery County include widening portions of FM 2978 and FM 1774 to relieve traffic congestion. Doyal said these are the sorts of projects that may become less frequent with limited funds.
“We do our best at the county level to keep up with what needs to be done and work with TxDOT on the preliminary parts of their projects, like purchasing right-of-way, when we can,” Doyal said.
Doyal also pointed out that new roads will almost exclusively have to be toll roads. With the first toll roads in Montgomery County under construction—two flyovers at Texas 242 and I-45—the Montgomery County Toll Road Authority will play a crucial role moving forward.
“There are projects that are going to have to happen, and toll roads are our best method of funding them,” Doyal said.
In Harris County, the toll road authority already helps with road maintenance and county projects. Toll revenues have helped speed up project approvals for the county’s Public Infrastructure Department as well.
Cost of inaction
Transportation Advocacy Group officials in the Houston region estimate the average driver in Houston spends $343 annually in additional repair costs, increased fuel consumption and tire wear because of poorly maintained roads. The average driver in the Houston metro area spends about 37 hours every year not moving in traffic, which is projected to double to 74 hours by 2028 if funding issues are not addressed.
“I think we’re going to see a rise in the level of congestion and continued deterioration of our pavement systems,” said Bill Cook, chairman of TAG Houston. “I don’t think some of our representatives in Austin recognize how significant this problem is.”
TxDOT is funded through legislative appropriations, which can be raised through a variety of methods, including raising the vehicle registration tax and gas tax. TxDOT is also funded through bond issuances and occasionally from the federal government, officials said.
The main proposal being considered in the state Legislature is Senate Joint Resolution 2, authored by Sen. Robert Nichols, R-Jacksonville, and Sen. Tommy Williams, R-The Woodlands.
The resolution would allow residents to vote on a constitutional amendment transferring a portion of the severance taxes levied on oil and gas production from the rainy day fund to the state highway fund. The amendment would result in TxDOT seeing close to $1 billion in additional funding each year.
The additional funding is a start, but it is still not enough to address long-term funding issues at TxDOT, which will have a hard time working on new projects while simultaneously paying off debt and maintaining existing infrastructure.
“We need to find a sustainable, predictable source of income, for TxDOT moving forward.” Cook said. “I do not think these proposals fully address the problem.”