“We are proud to support so many outstanding infrastructure projects in communities large and small, modernizing America’s transportation systems to make them safer, more affordable, more accessible, and more sustainable,” Buttigieg said. “Using funds from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this year we are supporting more projects than ever before.”
In Texas, the following projects will benefit from RAISE awards:
Multimodal Laydown, Transportation Infrastructure Fostering Community Based Job Creation
The Port of Port Arthur Navigation District will receive $13.6 million to convert an abandoned railyard into a modern cargo storage and staging area. The project includes an approximate 25.5 acres of site stabilization and related lighting, fencing, fiber optic, stormwater management, relocation of utilities underground, and reconditioning of a two-story structure to mitigate flood risks. The project will decrease accidents by creating more space for the efficient and timely movement of goods and people. The project will reduce truck idling and emissions, improve freight mobility and multimodal transfer capabilities, improve access to jobs and local economic development, while addressing racial equity and improving transportation resiliency. Telephone Road: Main Street Revitalization Project
The City of Houston will receive $20.9 million to deliver approximately 2.8 miles of multimodal improvements and connect two planned community-led projects at the north and south ends, creating one continuous corridor. The project will address hazards such as faded street markings, crumbling or non-existent sidewalks, and bike lanes within the roadway that have led to numerous crashes. The project will improve safety and ADA accessibility by upgrading pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure and creating additional transportation options. Texas Active Transportation Network
The Texas Department of Transportation will receive $25 million to complete two trails totaling approximately 50 miles, including approximately eight bridges, landscaping, and trail amenities on the Northeast Texas Trail (NETT) and the Paso del Norte Trail (PDN) in the El Paso area. Upgrading eight bridges and dozens of miles of trail will provide underserved communities access to schools, jobs, recreation centers, grocery stores, and other essential services. The project will upgrade the condition of the bridges that will improve safety and promote active transportation to residents. Commerce Street Corridor Redesign Project
The City of Harlingen will receive $5 million for a planning project for the redesign and preliminary engineering of the Commerce Street Corridor. The project will evaluate corridor transportation needs, establish a community-supported vision for the corridor, and develop a preferred design concept and associated preliminary engineering. The project will reduce crashes and protect non-motorized travelers along the corridor. It will also incorporate stormwater management to improve resiliency against flooding. The project will increase affordable and accessible transportation options by improving non-motorized facilities.Improved Bicycle/Pedestrian Routes to Rail & Transit Technology Upgrades
The North Central Texas Council of Governments will receive $25 million to construct over 30 miles of sidewalk in the half-mile radius of DART’s 8th & Corinth, Morrell, Illinois, and Kiest Stations. It will also extend the Cedar Crest Trail approximately 1.5 miles, and improve transit accommodations with upgrades and safety features at nearby bus stops on DART route 217 and Blue Line light rail stations including Kiest, VA Medical Center, and Morrell Stations. The project enhancements will address safety concerns caused by inadequate or missing sidewalks, and improve the safety of pedestrians and transit riders. The project will improve transit access in a community where 17 percent of the population lacks access to a personal vehicle. It includes innovative technologies such as Next Generation SMART Shelters at the stations.Ysleta Port of Entry Pedestrian and Site Improvements
The City of El Paso will receive $12 million for design and construction of pedestrian and related site improvements on City of El Paso-owned property, the Ysleta Port of Entry. The project will improve safety by constructing separate facilities for drop-offs and pick-ups, as well as pedestrian improvements such as designated raised crosswalks, warning signage, guardrails, canopies, and wayfinding signage. The project will reduce air pollution and emissions by supporting pedestrian infrastructure and transit bus stops. The project will help ease barriers to crossing the bridge on foot, bike, or reaching the border crossing by transit. The port of entry is the second busiest crossing in the U.S, with many people crossing between Juarez and El Paso to commute to jobs, school, shopping, and family.
