Texas Transit Association

More restrictions on light rail in Houston… this time from local congressman John Culberson.

Bill ties light rail funding to vote
By LUCAS WALL, Houston Chronicle, July 14, 2003

Metro would be ineligible for federal rail funds unless voters approve expanding the system under a provision Rep. John Culberson inserted into this year’s transportation appropriations bill.

It’s the second time the Metropolitan Transit Authority has faced congressional restrictions on obtaining federal funds for rail. Three years ago, Rep. Tom DeLay, R-Sugar Land, inserted wording into the bill preventing Metro from spending federal money for its Main Street light rail line because it wasn’t submitted for a public vote. That $324 million line, built entirely with local funds, is scheduled to open Jan. 1.

Metro is formulating a 2025 mass-transit expansion plan that includes 55 miles of light rail extensions plus an eight-mile commuter rail to Missouri City. The transit authority’s board is expected to approve the $4.4 billion plan — or a scaled-down version — July 31 and put it on the November ballot.

Culberson, R-Houston, said he wants to ensure the ballot contains the specific proposed rail segments. Culberson said state law gives Metro broad leeway in setting ballot language, and he wants to avoid a repeat of a 1988 referendum where voters approved a package including a $1 billion light rail system, but the word “rail” didn’t appear on the ballot. Metro’s board later killed that plan.

“This will be the single largest capital investment in Metro’s history, and it is imperative that taxpayers be given a totally honest and complete contract on the ballot,” said Culberson, who added the restriction Friday. “This language will help guarantee an accurate ballot when Metro presents its rail plan in November.”

Culberson had initially insisted on a separate vote on Metro’s proposal to eliminate money it allocates for road building, but didn’t include that demand in the provision because it doesn’t involve federal funds. He said he still would like Metro to hold two votes.

The paragraph Culberson added reads: “None of the funds in this Act shall be made available for the design, construction, or maintenance or any light rail segment in Houston that has not been specifically approved by a majority of the voters in the Houston Metropolitan Transit Authority service area in a referendum.”

The full House Appropriations Committee is scheduled to hear the transportation bill Monday. It covers federal funding for the fiscal year that starts Oct. 1.

Metro Chairman Arthur Schechter said he doesn’t appreciate having a restriction written into federal law that applies to no other city’s transit system. But, he added, Metro already intends on submitting the entire system expansion plan on the ballot, so Culberson’s provision is moot.

“I would prefer that there be no restrictive language that applies to Houston that doesn’t apply to other cities with whom we’re in competition to get the federal funding,” Schechter said. “Metro’s intention is that the issue be presented in a way that is extremely transparent.”