Universities can build again

After a long dry spell, public universities in North Texas and across the state are expected to get money for new facilities.

Legislators sent a $3 billion bond package for the work to Gov. Greg Abbott for approval. Of that, $550 million is for universities in North Texas.

It’s the first bond package for state universities since 2006. As state Rep. Charlie Geren, R-Fort Worth, said, “it’s really needed.”

North Texas lawmakers who helped support the funding deserve praise for their work.

In Fort Worth, the University of North Texas Health Science Center is to get $80 million to help build an interdisciplinary research building.

The University of Texas at Arlington is expected to receive $70 million to pay part of the cost of a science and education innovation research building.

And construction of Tarleton State University’s planned new campus in southeast Fort Worth will be aided by a $39.6 million allocation.

Millions also were earmarked for UT Southwestern Medical Center, UT Dallas, the University of North Texas and Texas Woman’s University.

This story was originally published June 3, 2015 at 6:36 PM with the headline "Universities can build again."