Houston METRO thanks congressional delegation for federal funds

The Board and staff of the NEW METRO in Houston expressed their appreciation to U.S. Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn for their strong support and significant efforts to secure another $150 million for the North and Southeast Corridor light- rail lines, as the Senate Appropriations Committee approved the FY2011 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bill July 22.

METRO also wanted to
highlight the hard work and strong support from U.S. Representatives Gene
Green, Sheila Jackson Lee and Al Green in helping to secure $152 million in the
House version of the FY2011 Appropriations bill approved earlier this week. The
full House of Representatives will vote to approve this bill the week of July
26.

In addition to the $150
million included in the House bill for the North and Southeast Corridor Lines,
the House bill also included $1 million for the 90A rail initiative and $1
million for the METRO bus program.

The funds provided in both
the House and Senate versions of the Appropriations bills are in addition to
the $150 million secured in 2010, bringing the total amount of federal funds
allocated for these two LRT projects to $300 million. Both the House and Senate
will have to reconcile other differences in their respective bills before final
enactment. Completion of work on these bills is expected later this year.