City of Houston Federal Update

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

RAISE Grant Press Conference Group PhotoCompetitive Grants - RAISE Grants

The first competitive grant program to roll out of the Department of Transportation under the IIJA was the existing the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) discretionary grant program. This is a popular program that helps communities around the country carry out transportation projects with significant local or regional impact.

The IIJA funded RAISE programs at $7.5 billion over 10 years for road, rail, transit, and other surface transportation of local and/or regional significance. Selection criteria include safety, sustainability, equity, economic competitiveness, mobility, and community connectivity. In the first round of funding, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) awarded $1.5 billion in grants for 2022.

On August 10th of 2022, Mayor Sylvester Turner joined Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia, Congressman Al Green, Houston City Councilmembers, along with business and community leaders to announce the City of Houston would receive a $20.96 million RAISE grant for the Telephone Road: Main Street Revitalization Project.

The Telephone Road project is located between two Tax Increment Reinvestment Zones (TIRZ), TIRZ 23 – Harrisburg Redevelopment Authority, and TIRZ 8 – Gulfgate Redevelopment Authority. The project begins at the intersection of Lawndale Drive and Telephone Road and extends 2.8 miles to Interstate 610.

The redesigned roadway will include new paving and striping, protected bike lanes, ADA compliant sidewalks, as well as reconstructed curbs and drainage outlets. Safety modifications to Telephone Road include:

  • Restriped crosswalks
  • New green “cross-bike” markings
  • Tighter corners to slow vehicle speed & improve visibility
  • CCTV cameras installed at three fully rebuilt intersections
  • Median refuge islands at nine locations
  • Upgraded METRO bus stops

Other Texas City Awards:

  • City of Harlingen – Commerce Street Corridor Redesign - $5,020,730
  • City of El Paso – Ysleta Port of Entry Improvements - $12,000,000

RAISE Grant Map

Related Links:

Supporting Links: