Even after TxDOT just received a check from NTTA of $3.197 billion, the agency is withholding funds promised to help build DFW area road and bridge projects. CBS 11 is reporting that 3 major projects are not being funded at this time, due to a federal budget crisis effecting the cash strapped state agency.
2 of the projects are central to the Trinity River project in Dallas. $15 million was due to help build the 2nd Calatrava designed bridge over the river, which is now being withheld for one year. The bridge is slated to replace the aging current bridge I-30 uses to transverse the Trinity. It is also delaying another $50 million for connector roads to get to the 1st Calatrava designed bridge. As one can imagine, the Dallas City Council has been caught off guard. As one can imagine, we were told just one month ago that all funding would be in place if only we allowed that toll road to be built in the flood plain. Foiled again!
Additionally, George Bush Turnpike (an NTTA toll road) will have to do without its $181 million promise from TxDOT to build an interchange between it and I-30 on the eastern side of the metroplex.
We're doing some simple math here, and those projects total $246 million. Quite a bit smaller than the $3.197 billion they just had handed to them by our local toll agency. We think it's time we got some of that dough you owe us, or we might have to travel to Austin and perform an old school shakedown. Put out a call to your local politicians and tell them to grow a set and get the DOT-heads to give up the cash.
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