EL PASO, TEXAS (KFOX14\/CBS4) \u2014 El Paso officials are taking early steps toward potentially seeking federal funding for infrastructure improvements in Futureland, a Northeast El Paso neighborhood where residents have spent years pushing for paved roads, streetlights and public sewer service.<\/p>\n
City staff and aides from U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar\u2019s office met with Futureland residents Wednesday and looked at the neighborhood\u2019s roads, lighting and other infrastructure needs.<\/p>\n
Omar Martinez, assistant director of the city\u2019s Strategic and Legislative Affairs Department, said the visit is part of the early process of putting together a potential Community Project Funding application.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur visit to Futureland to observe, take pictures of some of the needs in this community is how the application process starts,\u201d Martinez said.<\/p>\n
Martinez said the city would still need City Council approval before an application could be submitted to Escobar\u2019s office. He said the city would also need to identify funding to help support the project.<\/p>\n
City officials say a rough estimate puts the city\u2019s portion of the work, including streets and sidewalks, at about $50 million. Because of the cost, officials say improvements would likely have to be funded and completed in phases.<\/p>\n
Martinez said the city has experience pursuing Community Project Funding for other projects and has submitted applications through Escobar\u2019s office since 2022. He said, to his knowledge, the city has not previously applied for federal funding specifically for Futureland.<\/p>\n
For residents, the possibility of federal funding offers another potential path forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe federal legislative aides are here because they deal with a lot of funding, and that\u2019s what we need,\u201d Futureland Neighborhood Association Chair Leslie Canada said. \u201cThe city is telling us they don\u2019t have the funding.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jordan Salas reports on City explores federal funding for Futureland improvements (Credit: KFOX14)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Sewer service remains a major concern<\/p>\n
Public sewer service remains one of the neighborhood\u2019s biggest infrastructure concerns.<\/p>\n
El Paso Water previously said its wastewater project for Futureland is currently scheduled for construction in 2030.<\/p>\n
During a recent town hall, EPWater said it would take residents\u2019 concerns to the Public Service Board to see whether the Futureland project could move higher on the utility\u2019s priority list.<\/p>\n
Canada said sewer lines are already present in portions of the neighborhood, but residents remain unconnected.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t have sewage lines. We have them run down our streets, but they don\u2019t connect,\u201d Canada said.<\/p>\n
The latest funding effort comes after KFOX14\/CBS4 previously reported on a 2021 EPWater letter telling some Futureland residents that a project to convert their properties from septic systems to public wastewater service would soon begin.<\/p>\n
EPWater later told KFOX14\/CBS4 that the project was pushed back because of funding constraints and rising construction costs.<\/p>\n
Residents question why federal help is needed<\/p>\n
While residents said they welcome federal assistance, some questioned why they have to look outside the city for help with infrastructure in a neighborhood that has been inside El Paso city limits for decades.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve been in city limits for decades now,\u201d Futureland resident Dorothy Proffitt said. \u201cIf we get help from further higher up, that\u2019s fine. But what about the lower level? What about El Paso? Where\u2019s our money going in El Paso?\u201d<\/p>\n
KFOX14\/CBS4 also asked City Rep. Cynthia Boyar Trejo, who represents Futureland, about residents\u2019 concerns over why outside funding is needed at all.<\/p>\n
\u201cFunding is an issue, right? We\u2019re talking millions of dollars here to get this done,\u201d Trejo said. \u201cEven the streets alone is millions and millions of dollars.\u201d<\/p>\n
Trejo said her approach is to pursue multiple funding sources and complete improvements in phases rather than wait for one source to cover the entire project.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy thought is let\u2019s work at it a little bit at a time,\u201d Trejo said. \u201cMaybe we can get funding from different sources. Then we can start working this in phases.\u201d<\/p>\n
Canada said residents ultimately want the same basic infrastructure available in other parts of El Paso.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re just asking for the amenities that everyone else in El Paso has,\u201d Canada said. \u201cWe just need to be brought up to the status quo of other El Paso citizens.\u201d<\/p>\n
Escobar\u2019s office responds<\/p>\n
KFOX14\/CBS4 also asked Escobar whether Futureland could qualify for Community Project Funding and whether her office plans to work with the city on an application.<\/p>\n
Those specific questions were not answered.<\/p>\n
A spokesperson for Escobar\u2019s office said:<\/p>\n
Our office is always eager to learn about more opportunities in the community to support El Pasoans and work to secure federal funding. We encourage all interested entities to reach out to our office and stay up to date on the general grants and Community Project Funding processes. More information about funding opportunities and eligibility can be found at escobar.house.gov.<\/p>\n
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