"The draft of the [TDOT-financed] study being done by Cambridge Systematics [of Lamar Corridor] ... will identify possible alternative solutions for improving the movement of freight, relieving congestion, levels of service, etc. Some of the categories of solutions are expected to be directed at capacity enhancements, diversion routes, operational solutions, and improvements to other roadways in the study area. Exactly what the report will recommend will not be known until it is finalized."
HUD, in conjunction with Dept. of Transportation, has awarded a grant of $1.26 million to Memphis:
http://cohen.house.gov/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=1320Wednesday, 20 October 2010
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded Memphis a Community Challenge Grant worth $1,260,905 for development of an Aerotropolis/Lamar Corridor Master Plan. HUD worked with the U.S. Department of Transportation in awarding these new federal funds, which will focus on spurring economic development, rehabilitating blighted and vacant properties, and improving transportation infrastructure.
"The Memphis Aerotropolis is more than a transportation network – it is an economic development engine for the Mid-South,” said Congressman Cohen, who met recently with Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood to discuss this grant. “These new federal funds will help Memphis maximize the economic impact of the Aerotropolis and enable us to compete more effectively in a 21st Century global economy...”
Here is text of a related bill that Congressman Cohen introduced in May that could potentially generate more federal funds for Lamar Corridor:
H.R.5236 -- Aerotropolis Act of 2010 (Introduced in House - IH)
HR 5236 IH
111th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5236
To amend SAFETEA-LU to ensure that projects that assist the establishment of aerotropolis transportation systems are eligible for certain grants, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 6, 2010
Mr. COHEN (for himself, Mr. DINGELL, Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin, Mr. TANNER, Mr. CHILDERS, Mr. BERRY, Mr. CONYERS, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Ms. GRANGER, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas, Mr. PERLMUTTER, Mr. PAYNE, Mr. PASCRELL, and Mr. YARMUTH) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
BILL
To amend SAFETEA-LU to ensure that projects that assist the establishment of aerotropolis transportation systems are eligible for certain grants, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Aerotropolis Act of 2010'.
SEC. 2. PROJECTS OF NATIONAL AND REGIONAL SIGNIFICANCE.
(a) Eligible Project Defined- Section 1301(c)(2) of SAFETEA-LU (23 U.S.C. 101 note) is amended to read as follows:
`(2) ELIGIBLE PROJECT-
`(A) IN GENERAL- The term `eligible project' means any surface transportation project eligible for Federal assistance under title 23, United States Code, including freight railroad projects and activities eligible under such title.
`(B) INCLUSION OF AEROTROPOLIS TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM PROJECTS- The term `eligible project' includes a combination of projects described in subparagraph (A) that, as a group--
`(i) assist the establishment of an aerotropolis transportation system; and
`(ii) satisfy the requirement under subsection (d).'.
(b) Aerotropolis Transportation System Defined- Section 1301(c) of SAFETEA-LU (23 U.S.C. 101 note) is amended by adding at the end the following:
`(4) AEROTROPOLIS TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM- The term `aerotropolis transportation system' means a planned and coordinated multimodal freight and passenger transportation network that, as determined by the Secretary, provides efficient, sustainable, and intermodal connectivity to a defined region of economic significance centered around a major airport.'
It will be interesting to see how, if at all, current Cambridge Systematics study on Lamar Corridor being conducted for TDOT and Memphis MPO will be integrated into this study.
My guess is that officials would like to see an I-22 on east side of airport, know that it would be incredibly expensive, and are proactively looking for justifications and money to do it.