Burnt Orange Report

Congress Ups State's Share of Transportation Funds

By Vince Leibowitz

In an interesting move, Congress today passed a six-year surface transportation bill which will reportedly give the state back at least 92 percent of the money it [we] pay in gasoline taxes. Right now, Texas gets back 88 cents on the dollar.

According to the Denton Record Chronicle, $40 million is earmarked in the bill to build new I-30 and I-35 bridges over the Trinity River in Downtown Dallas, with more than 12.8 million set aside for West Texas projects including the LaEntrada Al Pacifico trade route from Mexico's western coast through Persidio and to Lubbock, Amarillo, Wichita Falls and D/FW.

The measure passed the House handily, and approval is expected in the Senate and by President Bush. The bill covers expenditures from 2004-2009.

For more on background, read the Record Chronicle story.