Johnson Requests Millions to Support Local Projects

WASHINGTON, DC — Congresswoman Julie Johnson (TX-32) is requesting funding for 15 local projects that will benefit North Texas families as Congress works to pass government spending bills. 

“These 15 community-based projects represent real solutions to the everyday challenges North Texans face—from improving flood control and upgrading outdated infrastructure to strengthening public safety and ensuring clean water for our neighborhoods,” said Johnson.“Each project was shaped by community input and reflects the priorities of those I represent in Congress. These aren’t just line items in a budget—they’re tools for growth and long-overdue investments in the future of North Texas. As Congress continues to determine spending for the next year, I’m proud to advocate for bringing tax dollars back home to support these critical investments.”

The Community Project Funding process allows Members of Congress to request funds for critical initiatives in the communities they represent. Johnson requested the following projects be included in FY2026 spending bills (projects are listed in alphabetical order): 

1. $793,600 for Children’s Health Systems of Texas - Expanding Access to Children’s Health’s Critical Child Abuse Services for Children Across North Texas

This funding would be used to hire medical providers specially trained and certified in Child Abuse Pediatrics who serve at-risk youth in North Texas. The funding will also be used for supplies, equipment, and other resources necessary to provide assistance to the children who have been victims of abuse, neglect, and other crimes. These child abuse pediatricians work alongside the Dallas Police Department, Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center, the District Attorney’s Office, and Child Protective Services (CPS) while utilizing the resources and medical subspecialties at Children’s Health, many of which can be found nowhere else in the region.

2. $3,000,000 for the City of Dallas - Dallas International District Park

This project is a key component of the City’s vision for revitalizing the Valley View/Galleria corridor along LBJ Freeway, transforming the area into a thriving, accessible, and sustainable urban space. Investing in International District Park is an economic development opportunity. This project will provide much-needed park space to an underserved community, improving quality of life, public health, and environmental resilience. Additionally, this park will serve as a catalyst for redevelopment in the Valley View/Galleria corridor, attracting businesses, residents, and visitors.  The requested funding will help accelerate the transformation of this area, making it a model for sustainable urban development and a hub for community engagement, recreation, and economic vitality.

3. $2,000,000 for the City of Dallas - Ferguson Road Corridor Safety Enhancements

The funding would be used for reconstruction of the existing medians along the entire corridor, design and construction of new LED streetlights, and installation of sidewalks, traffic signals, and pedestrian hybrid beacons at various locations to improve pedestrian accessibility and safety, and ADA compliance. The City of Dallas Vision Zero Action Plan identifies the 6.5-mile stretch of Ferguson Road from IH-30 to I-635 being on the High Injury Network for both pedestrians and vehicles. 

4. $2,184,000 for the City of Dallas - Hemlock Avenue Safe Streets Enhancements

This project aims to enhance pedestrian safety and accessibility in the Vickery Meadow neighborhood, one of the most densely populated areas of Dallas. The funding would be spent to upgrade pedestrian infrastructure, including improved crosswalks, traffic signals, and sidewalks, to ensure safer routes for schoolchildren, residents, and transit users.

5. $600,000 for the City of Dallas - Lakewood Park Pedestrian Bridge & Accessibility Improvements

This project will reconstruct a pedestrian bridge providing access across a creek from neighborhoods on either side and provide a critical link and connect to the larger City-wide trail system providing non-motorized transportation opportunities. This bridge connects multi-use pathways on either side of a creek and bridge would help provide non-motorized mobility options for residents that need or choose to travel by walking or biking.  

6. $2,500,000 for the City of Dallas - White Rock Lake Trail Relocation

The requested funding will be used to relocate a 1000-foot section of the White Rock Lake (WRL) Trail, as outlined in the White Rock Lake Master Plan. The portion of the trail that will be relocated runs directly next to a 6-lane, major thoroughfare with heavy vehicular traffic and high speeds. The new location will provide direct access to the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, one of Dallas’ most-visited attractions. 

7. $6,400,000 for the City of Farmers Branch - Cast-Iron Waterline Replacement Project

This project would fund the replacement of 14,600 linear feet of cast-iron waterlines with PVC pipes. Replacing the waterlines with more affordable PVC pipes would improve water quality, support corrosion resistance, and improve the longevity of the waterline.

8. $2,500,000 for the City of Richardson - Centennial at Buckingham Intersection Improvements

The Centennial at Buckingham Intersection Improvements project improves safety and access by reconfiguring the roadway intersection geometry and adding a new traffic signal. Centennial Blvd is a regional east-west roadway spanning four cities with access to US 75 and carries 40,000 vehicles per day in this area. The intersection of Centennial and Buckingham has had 14 intersection-related crashes in the last 5 years impacting the well-being of those involved and causing traffic delays to the other people and goods transported on this corridor. 

9. $3,000,000 for Dallas Area Rapid Transit - DART Cityplace/Uptown Station Inclinator Replacement and Modernization Project

The funding will be used to replace the entire inclinator system at the Cityplace/Uptown Station on the DART Light Rail System. DART's inclinators are critical to maintaining convenient and efficient station access. Replacing the entire inclinator system will increase the operability and maintainability of this lift equipment and decrease downtime and inconvenience to DART riders. This is especially important for mobility-impaired rail customers. Without the inclinator, those DART riders must disembark from the trains at the next closest station and take a bus bridge to the street level entrances to the first pair of elevators. Replacement also allows DART to modernize its inclinator system with technology and design features that increase cleanliness, safety, security, and reliability.

10. $1,500,000 for Dallas College - Dallas College Airframe and Powerplant

Dallas College is in the process of launching an Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) program housed at the Executive Airport and Workforce Center at Redbird to train a new wave of Aviation Maintenance Technicians (AMT’s) in response to industry demand. Funding is needed for renovations and retrofitting of the instructional hangar to meet the requirements of the Federal Aviation Administration Part-147 regulations. 

11. $1,200,000 for Texas A&M - Engineering Academy at Dallas College

This project is for a co-enrollment program between partner community colleges and Texas A&M University designed to facilitate a smooth transition for students pursuing an engineering degree.

12. $4,258,710 for Texas A&M Agrilife - Integrated Turfgrass Water Conservation Initiative 

Texas A&M AgriLife Research integrates advanced turfgrass breeding, precision water management, and community-driven education to reduce water consumption while maintaining functional green spaces. Key components include developing drought-resistant turfgrass using genomics and phenomics, implementing science-based irrigation strategies, and providing decision-support tools for urban planning. By improving turfgrass performance under water-limited conditions and enhancing ecosystem services—such as stormwater runoff mitigation, urban heat island reduction, and soil stabilization—this project contributes to the creation of resilient, water-efficient landscapes.

13. $2,000,000 for UT Dallas - Center for Critical Elements from Produced Waters

The University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) aims to develop a Center for Critical Elements from Produced Waters. Challenges related to wastewater treatment, disposal, and beneficial reuse of these waters are of increasing concern to state and federal agencies. Produced waters commonly have high concentrations of dissolved salts necessitating expensive and technical treatment before reuse (e.g., in the agricultural sector). There is a clear need to identify profitable reuse scenarios that justify the high cost of saline water treatment while also supporting sustainable wastewater management. This presents a unique opportunity to stimulate the state and regional economy while simultaneously helping policymakers and developers design better practices to manage hydrocarbon wastewater.

14. $1,250,000 for the UT Dallas - Comparative Effectiveness of North Texas Workforce Development Programs for Semiconductors

The University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) will conduct a comprehensive study characterizing the effectiveness of a range of current workforce development programs, spanning K-12, vocational, and community colleges, that support the semiconductor industry. The study will be conducted by experts in the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences (EPPS) who have expertise in relating educational/training programs to tangible results for industry partners. EPPS program leaders will leverage the North Texas Semiconductor Institute (NTSI), which has an array of academic and industry partners. By examining what works and what does not work, we will identify best practices that will be transferable throughout the educational/training ecosystem. The long-term economic impact that will result from this work will support the global leadership of North Texas in the semiconductor industry and ensure a robust technology-oriented economy.  

15. $3,000,000 for UT at Dallas - Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) Test and Evaluation Center

The University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) will develop and operate an O-RAN (open radio access network) test and evaluation center for telecommunications technology interoperability. This Center will provide unbiased, neutral evaluation of network components to ensure quality performance needed for mobile wireless network continuity. The effort will be spearheaded by UTD faculty, staff, and students with expertise in high-speed network architecture and performance characterization. 

 Congresswoman Julie Johnson represents Texas’ 32^nd Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives, serving on the Homeland Security Committee, Foreign Affairs Committee, and the House Administration Committee. Her district includes parts of Collin, Dallas, and Denton Counties.

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