According to TxDOT, the money the state will receive is geared more towards economic development than significantly improving transportation.

Raquelle Lewis, TxDOT Public Information Supervisor of the Houston District, addressed the Tomball Rotary Club last week and outlined the plan for the money the district will receive through the stimulus package.

Of the $27 billion allocated for transportation projects throughout the nation, Texas will receive $2.25 billion. Of that money, $1.2 billion can be used at the discretion of the Texas Transportation Commission (TTC).

However, Lewis explained the money would not necessarily go to the projects that are “strategically best for transportation,” but rather ones that will spur economic development.

“These are not transportation dollars, but economy dollars,” Lewis said. “It’s a way to get people working.”

As part of the stimulus program for transportation, the state created a list of projects that were ready to be contracted out between December 2008 and December 2009. TxDOT submitted a total of $13 billion worth of projects that could be implemented in 12 months, Lewis said.

With a pricey and daunting list facing them, TxDOT pared the number of projects down to a $7 billion price tag.

What remained was a small portion of the $10 billion worth of projects the department is behind on.

“This is not going to solve the transportation problems we have in front of us,” Lewis said.

Part of the process to allocate funds for construction and maintenance projects, Lewis said, was for all of the projects to be approved through each TxDOT district Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). The MPO for the eastern district is the Houston-Galveston Area Council (HGAC).

Of the $1.2 billion Texas will receive, $500 million will go to HGAC for local initiatives. That money must be utilized for “shovel ready” projects, or those that have already gone through the engineering and environmental impact studies.

Lewis said that 50 percent of the money has to be “on the streets” within 120 days.

For that reason, TxDOT is being forced to work much faster than it typically does on many of the projects.

“We don’t have a whole lot of time to spend this money,” Lewis said. “But if anybody can do it, we can do it here in Texas.”

Last week, the TTC delayed a meeting during which it would approve the final list of maintenance and construction projects.

“We want to give the public, the legislators and the press ample opportunity to review the list before we take action,” Commission Chair Deidre Delisi said. The commission will meet March 5 to vote on the stimulus spending.

Meanwhile, Lewis explained that the economic stimulus plan would have a trickle-down effect on job creation. She said that the increased number of construction and maintenance projects would create construction jobs. Those projects will also need additional suppliers, engineers, accountants and manufacturers, she said.

“We will be putting people to work quickly,” Lewis said.

Of the $2.25 billion the state will receive, $500 million is mandated for highway and bridge maintenance and preservation

Those would include street resurfacing, adding turn lanes and “not truly added capacity projects.”

“It gives us an opportunity to address projects that typically get put on hold,” Lewis said.

In addition, 3 percent of the $2.25 billion must be allocated to enhancement projects such as hike and bike trails and beautifying and landscaping initiatives.

Last week, TxDOT released a list of projects that could be developed using the $1.2 billion in TTC funds.

Projects proposed for the East Region include a new toll road on SH 99 between Franz Road and US 290, the construction of freeway ramps on Beltway 8 at US 59 North, the reconstruction of a the roadway at I-10 between White Oak Bayou and US 59, and a roadway reconstruction on Loop 610 east of Ella to I-45.

The total construction cost for East Region projects is projected to be more than $470 million.

Included in the initial list of East Region maintenance projects is a plan to resurface about a mile of FM 2978 near Huffsmith Kuykendahl. That project comes with a $638,000 price tag and could be ready to begin in early April.

At least $500,000 is earmarked for various roadway repairs throughout Montgomery County.

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