Friday, July 31, 2009

Magical Matching Funds

It looks like Senator Murry pulled a Pelosi in setting the terms of her own matching funds which again shows how the New Starts system is broken. People will continue to write in these rule changes for specific projects if the system continues to not work for them.
Murray's provision requires the FTA to count money from tolls and state gas taxes as part of the expected 40 to 50 percent of the light rail line paid for from "nonfederal" sources.
The historical precedent for this was set by Nancy Pelosi when she decided that the Third Street line could be the match for the Central Subway and wrote it into law. Supposedly Houston has a similar deal writing in the Main Street Line as a match for the future network as well, but it hasn't really been mentioned much.
Included language allowing Houston METRO to get credit for state and local funds already spent on the design and construction of the existing Main Street light rail. This means METRO will be credited an additional $324 million for future FTA-approved transit projects.
The point is that if lawmakers are going to continue to toss these things in, it probably means they are ready for a cleaner transportation bill that allows regions to spend money on what they need, instead of what there is money for specifically.

5 comments:

Steven said...

Well, to be fair, my understanding is that this provision applies to ANY multi-modal project in the US, not just the CRC. Which I think is a good thing.

Pantograph Trolleypole said...

I think it's good as well. The only problem I find is that the New Starts program has a limited amount of money and everyone wants a part of it. Allowing this funding source will mean more people will look to use it and there will be much more stress on the program until more money is funneled in or the program is blown up and regions are allowed to flex their money. We'll have to wait 18 months to see I guess.

Morgan Wick said...

I think people like Murray and Pelosi are probably already pushing for reform, and this doesn't really tell us much. What would tell us something would be if Republicans and Blue Dogs were doing the same thing...

Pantograph Trolleypole said...

You mean like Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson did in the Houston example above?

Steve said...

I wonder whether Murray intended that provision to be used for I-90 in Seattle, too, which is going to get light rail soon and may also get tolls...