Billion Dollar Boondoggle

The Fort Worth Business Press reports on the status of the funding for the Trinity River Vision.

Since it's YOUR money, YOU can't afford to miss it...

Federal funds expected for the massive Trinity River Vision project are on hold for 2011 as lawmakers – stung by a voter rebellion at the polls – re-evaluate programs supported by federal earmarks.

Not to worry, says J.D. Granger, executive director of the Trinity River Vision Authority – at least not for now.

“We’re not getting anything in the way of appropriations for FY 2011,” he said. “Every bit of that went on a moratorium for this year as they redefine the process. Luckily we’re ahead of schedule on our appropriations so we can carry through this year and most of next year without it impacting the project, but within a couple of years we’ve got to have that process redefined to actually maintain our completion date.”

The Trinity River Vision project so far has received $43.6 million in federal funding, most of it in the form of earmarks by Rep. Kay Granger (R-Fort Worth)

But Sandy Newby, the chief financial officer for the Tarrant Regional Water District and the Trinity River Vision Authority, said the project has not given up on obtaining federal funding this year.

J.D. Granger said he is confident that when the appropriations process shakes out in Washington, funding for the project will be protected.

Kay Granger is a key member of the House Appropriations Committee and was focusing most recently on a massive catch-all spending bill funding the government through Sept. 30. But she has said that while the earmarks process in general needs to be reformed, there needs to be a clear path forward to provide federal funding for worthwhile projects such as Trinity River Vision. Kay Granger is J.D. Granger’s mother.
The project needs a lot more federal funding, most of it from the Army Corps of Engineers, over the next 10-12 years to be completed.
For instance, while the water district says it has received $20.6 million from the Corps of Engineers so far, most in the form of earmarks, it estimates that the project requires an additional $425.4 million in funding from that federal agency.
So while the project has gotten $43.6 million so far in federal funding, that still leaves it far from the total of $487.8 million in federal funding needed for completion, according to water district estimates.

More Arlington Flood Information

From THE PEOPLE in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.  Good questions.  Any politicians want to answer?  City Staff?  Anyone??

Arlington flooding

Having family that has been flooded out of their home three times, rebuilt twice and now faces the onerous permit issue created by the city of Arlington, they are in financial limbo. The federal flood insurance only pays to repair the home from flood damage. It doesn't pay unless you rebuild. Further, it doesn't pay to raise it two feet above the mean 100-year flood elevation.

A simple solution would be to pay insurance proceeds directly to homeowners with the proviso that the home be removed and the land deeded to the city. Insurance proceeds from contents and flood insurance policies would put money in people's pockets and allow them to move elsewhere.

The amount of money being doled out by the federally backed flood insurance program grows with every flood. It seems prudent to make one final payout and be done with it.

Here's my two cents' worth after living in Arlington since 1954:

There are about nine weather stations in south Arlington providing accurate reports of rainfall every hour. They reported about 1 inch rain Sept. 7. At 9:30 a.m. Sept. 8, the rain increased rapidly to 2.5 to 3 inches an hour and continued for several hours, all of it heading for Rush Creek.

A station off Sublett Road reported a total of 11.33 inches; the average was 8.76.

Why didn't the city emergency management folks have knowledge of this (I did) and sound our tornado/flood sirens?

Next, we are all paying a hefty stormwater fee. Why can't Director of Public Works Bob Lowry's crew use these funds now to clean up Rush Creek so it will drain decently, instead of waiting for approval by the Corps of Engineers? Rush Creek is badly overgrown with trees and brush in south Arlington and probably a lot of other places too.

-- Howard Livingston, Arlington

Jeers: To area news stations for their lack of coverage of the recent flooding. Two of my family members live in a condominium association that flooded so badly that it took ladders to save them from the rushing water. Apparently the unrealistic happenings of soap operas superseded actual human lives.

Cheers: To the Euless Fire Department, public works and city officials who were quick to respond to the victims of flooding in Trailwood, bringing pumps, helping hands and encouragement. Thank you also for taking the time to make safety checks in those homes. To live here really is FabEuless!

-- Audrey Morrison, Euless

EVERYONE IS INVITED

Come to the Riverside Park meeting Tuesday!!

Hear the "options" and be heard.

Additionally, providing flood storage in Riverside Park by excavating certain areas — a result of the Trinity River Vision project — is an option that is being considered. This option, if pursued, would have the benefit of unleashing federal resources for improving Riverside Park.

The meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. March 23 at Fort Worth Harvest Church, 620 N. Chandler Drive. A Spanish interpreter will be available.