Officials at the Texas Transportation Commission approved 10 projects around the state that will be funded by TxDOT’s Pass-Through Finance program, including the expansion of FM 1093/Westpark Tollway.
State Rep. John Zerwas, whose district includes much of the area into which the road will be expanded, called the work an important school in managing the explosive growth in the Fulshear area.
ZERWAS
“After working with local elected officials and state transportation planners, I am proud to say we have accomplished a milestone in preparing for our current and future needs,” Zerwas said. “This road expansion will help improve the quality of life for those in the surrounding area by reducing the amount of time spent on congested roads, allowing for more time with family and friends instead of sitting in a car.”
Pass-through financing allows local municipalities or private entities to pay for costs to build a transportation project and get reimbursed from the state as the project becomes operational. It also lets local officials reprioritize and accelerate projects important to the region.
The state legislature created pass-through financing as a tool to stretch limited transportation funds by allowing local communities to fund the initial costs for constructing a state highway project. Over time, the state reimburses a portion of the project costs to the community by paying a fee for each vehicle that utilizes the transportation facility.
The proposed expansion spans from State Highway 99 to west of Fulshear. It has an estimated reimbursable value of $36.7 million to Fort Bend County.
Pass-through finance agreements also allow local communities to get needed transportation projects financed and built earlier than traditional funding will allow.
TxDOT can consider pass-through finance agreements with a regional mobility authority, regional transportation authority, county, city, public or private entity.
The program is often referred to as the “pass-through toll finance program.” While the term “toll” in the program’s title denotes a fee associated with travel on a particular facility, transportation officials stressed it does not imply that a physical toll collection will take place on a roadway that becomes part of the program.
This type of finance generally applies to non-tolled roads, but TxDOT can also consider pass-through financing for tolled projects.
Haven’t you runaway yet?
Yet another conspiracy…it always has to be one with some people.
(This type of finance generally applies to non-tolled roads, but TxDOT can also consider pass-through financing for tolled projects.)
TxDOT must be watched like a hawk! Contrary to their opinion, they are NOT concerned with “allowing for more time with family and friends instead of sitting in a car.”
They are, however, deeply concerned with extorting as much money from people as possible so that developers and continuous sprawl can prosper.
As long as it is not a toll road. We need to stop all toll roads and force the state to fund our roads again. We send too much money to the state and we are not getting it back locally. Its time our residents stand up and be firm. Tolls are just a user fee that never goes away.