(Houston, TX) – Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), a member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, led a call for Congressional leadership to include Houston-area transportation priorities in any upcoming infrastructure legislation.  She was joined by Representatives Al Green (TX-09), Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18), and Sylvia Garcia (TX-29) in this effort. 

In a letter sent last Friday, the members highlight the unique transportation challenges in Houston and Harris County, and urge leadership to keep these priorities in mind as they craft infrastructure legislation this spring.

“The region’s population is expected to grow from 7 million people to more than 10 million over the next 20 years.  Yet the development of public transportation, from rail lines to bus routes, continues to lag behind other metropolitan regions in Texas, which have received significantly more federal investment for many years,” the members wrote. 

They continue: “It is our request that, as you consider a new infrastructure package, you will keep in mind and similarly support the growing, unique, and critically important needs in Houston and Harris County.” 

Harris County is the most populous and fastest-growing county in Texas.  It is also the third fastest-growing county in the country. The members note that despite these trends, improvements to transportation infrastructure have not kept pace with the area’s rapid growth, which is only expected to continue.  Investing in improving region’s transportation infrastructure would help reduce congestion, connect different areas in the region, and fund critical safety projects for the mobility of the region.

You can read the full text of the letter here.