April 1, 2008

by Paul A. Romer - Associated Press

BELTON - Texas Department of Transportation officials say the funding situation in the agency is so dire that previously planned Interstate 35 expansion projects may be delayed or even scrapped.

The funding shortages would not affect projects already under way like the Temple Loop 363 project or the project south of Salado, said Ken Roberts, TxDOT spokesman.

But five other Bell County projects to increase the northbound and southbound lanes of I-35 from two to three lanes are in danger because of a lack of funding.

Those projects represent different sections of the interstate spanning from Troy to Salado.

“The funding situation is so serious that all work to expand I-35 through the Waco district may come to an end or at the very least be significantly delayed for years unless both the state and federal transportation funding forecast can be changed by state and federal legislative action to find significant new revenue sources for transportation in Texas,” said Richard Skopik, Waco District engineer, in an e-mail sent to city and county leaders in the region.

When County Judge Jon Burrows received Skopik’s e-mail, he sent an e-mail to state and federal representatives for this region pleading for help.

“Bell County needs immediate help at your level,” the e-mail stated. “I ask for your help. If there is anything more we need to be doing at the city or county level to keep the expansion of I-35 continuing, please let me know.”

In 1999 the Waco District of TxDOT began studying 94 miles of I-35 from Hillsboro to the Bell/ Williamson county line to find the best way to add a lane in each direction.

The study divided the corridor into 17 segments, six of which are under construction. Those six segments will be finished, Roberts said.

“The remaining right of way alone will likely near $150 million and the 11 remaining segments needing construction will exceed $1 billion,” wrote Skopik. “If funds became available, it is estimated that 8 to 10 years of construction remains.”

Roberts said funding allocations from the federal government that in years past have been reliable have been cut. Last year the Department of Transportation made $288 million in cuts in Texas alone.

Roberts said such cuts coupled with material, transportation and fuel costs have made the budget tight.

Facing uncertain funding for future projects had led the agency to spend money shoring up the infrastructure that is already in place, Roberts said.

The Waco District spends an average of $10 to $15 million a year maintaining its nearly 120-mile section of I-35, Skopik said.

The funding challenges TxDOT faces in expanding the I-35 corridor may not meet the challenges of the projected growth for Bell County.

“A total of 10 to 14 lanes through Central Texas are predicted to be needed in 2025 to properly address growing congestion,” Skopik wrote. “This is the very reason TxDOT feels strongly that a parallel corridor of some type is needed, long term, to truly address this matter.

“In so doing, TxDOT has an obligation to plan for the long-term needs of I-35 and is doing this through the development of Trans-Texas Corridor – 35. The question really becomes how Texas will pay for this long-term need.”

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