Fort Worth Business Press, June 2, 2014 Vol. 26, No. 21 | Page 14

14 FOCUS: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & REDEVELOPMENT “I think Texans believe the roadway network is what’s helping spur our economic development.” photos by scott nishimura – Alan Greer Alan Greer, vice president of the transportation and storm water practice at Freese and Nichols, managed Parker County’s bond program, found partnerships that leveraged what voters approved, and completed the program in five years. q&A: alan greer, Freese and Nichols vice president of the transportation and storm water practice Infrastructure key to continued economic development n Scott Nishimura [email protected] F ort Worth’s Freese and Nichols engineering firm is riding high these days, having managed an $80 million Parker County bond program to virtual completion over five years. The program included the construction of the Ric Williamson Memorial Highway through Weatherford, and the leveraging of the $80 million in voter-approved funds with another $37 million in funding from the North Central Texas Council of Governments, Texas Department of Transportation, Aledo city and schools, and Springtown. Freese and Nichols, as program manager, was responsible for the design of more than 20 projects, sending them out to bid and choosing contractors, and ensuring the projects were built within budget. “It was really a turnkey process,” Alan Greer, the transportation practice leader at Freese and Nichols, said. Freese and Nichols is helping Kaufman County put together a potential capital project today. Greer is also advocating for Texas voters’ passage in November of a ballot measure that would divert tax money from the state’s rainy day fund to pay for transportation projects. “We’re continuing to see the influx of people and the stress on our infrastructure,” Greer said. “Transportation is a key component of that. The challenge has become the funding to make that happen. [The Texas measure would be a] good first step in making that happen.” Greer, a 50-year Tarrant County resident and graduate of Arlington High School, sat down for a recent Q&A with the Business Press. How optimistic are you for the election outcome? I’m very optimistic. I think Texans believe the roadway network is what’s helping spur our economic development. I do think you’ll see strong support. The only derailment (that could happen) is certain groups tying all this together from (an anti) tollway See greer u NEXT PAGE