MPO approves adjusted 10‑year plan; Loop 88 funding strategy retained amid debate over Alcove project timing

The Lubbock MPO Transportation Policy Committee unanimously approved Resolution 2025‑07 on March 18, 2025, adopting an adjusted 10‑year plan (2025–2034) that makes administrative description changes, reintroduces a contractor‑defaulted project into the plan, and reallocates some CR‑10 (surface transportation/Congestion Relief category) money between projects in the near term.

LMPO staff described the color‑coded plan in the packet and said the key administrative edits were requested by federal reviewers to clarify project descriptions. The plan adds project 40501 back into the TIP after a contractor default required rebidding, splits one large project into two entries at FHWA’s request for analysis, and moves certain CR‑10 funds out of a loop lighting project and into a city bus project to respond to current uncertainty about future CR‑10 funding beyond federal fiscal year 2026. Staff said they were advised not to expect new CR‑10 allocations past 2026 and that some 23/24 allocations already in place could still be subject to federal action.

The meeting included an extended discussion of the Alcove (ALCO) project — a roadway project located in the City of Wolfforth and Lubbock County that several speakers urged should be accelerated. Mr. Randy Criswell, chair of the TAC, told the committee the TAC discussed whether to prioritize Alcove over two Loop 88 projects currently scheduled earlier in the plan. Criswell and Wolfforth’s city manager argued Alcove benefits multiple jurisdictions (Wolfforth, Lubbock, Lubbock County and area school districts) and would spur economic development, but TxDOT staff (Kyle Francis) advised the project is not yet federally functionally classified and has not been designed to federal standards, which would be required to “federalize” it and make it eligible for certain federal funding categories.

Speakers described the steps and time needed to federalize a local project: environmental studies, functional classification, right‑of‑way and utility work, and submission for state/federal review. The TAC chair said Wolfforth’s engineers estimated federalization could make Alcove eligible in the later part of 2028 if work starts immediately; Lubbock County staff offered existing design plans and said some plans are available to incorporate if the city pursues federal funding. Several committee members urged exploring options — including higher local match, partial local funding or accelerated local construction — but warned against mid‑stream reallocation of funds from projects already under long planning and design efforts (Loop 88 interchange work includes years of right‑of‑way and utility work and fiscal‑constraint considerations).

Policy committee members acknowledged the tradeoffs: Loop 88 projects are expensive, have long lead times and benefit large corridors, while Alcove is presented as an urgent, locally impactful project that might be built locally if federal funding does not materialize. LMPO staff and TxDOT said they remain available to assist Wolfforth with federalization steps, but cautioned that even if Alcove is ready by 2028, federal fiscal constraint and category limits (CAT 7, etc.) could limit available federal funds.

Despite the discussion, the policy committee moved to adopt the TAC‑recommended adjustments to the 10‑year plan. A motion by Council Member Martinez Garcia, seconded by Dr. Wilson, carried by unanimous voice vote. Several members requested staff and project sponsors pursue additional analyses on Alcove’s federalization timetable and funding options; LMPO staff said the committee may revisit funding priorities at future meetings if new information warrants change.

Committee members and TxDOT also invited Wolfforth and Lubbock County to coordinate on designs and environmental work to keep Alcove eligible for federal funding if sponsors choose to pursue it.