Houston may have stopped building light rail lines, but the fight over them rages on — right to Washington, where U.S. Rep. John Culberson again has inserted language keeping tracks off Richmond and Post Oak.

For the fifth consecutive year, the Houston Republican added language to the draft of the House appropriations bill for transportation, housing and urban development, specific to the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County. Section 163 of the THUD bill, as it’s known, would bar federal officials from spending money to “advance in any way a new light or heavy rail project … if the proposed capital project is constructed on or planned to be constructed on Richmond Avenue west of South Shepherd Drive or on Post Oak Boulevard north of Richmond Avenue.”

The area in question is within Culberson’s district, and he has vigorously opposed any light rail projects along Richmond, citing resident opposition and his belief that Metro deceived voters when it narrowly won approval in 2003 for a “Westpark” rail line.

Though Metro referred to the line as Westpark, the ballot language did not specify the exact route, and Metro later determined some of the line was best suited to run along Richmond.

Since the vote, the light rail line has been the most contentious transit battle in Houston, as three of six planned light rail lines were built with the $640 million Metro was allowed to borrow. Culberson and transit officials brokered a truce, but that has not translated in more federal funding for buses and trains or an easing of most hostilities between rail supporters and opponents.

The debate over rail on Richmond has divided conservative members of Congress from the Houston area. Rep. Ted Poe, R-Humble, who represents the area east of Shepherd along Richmond, has opposed Culberson’s language in the past, citing the desire for rail in his district. He has called it shortsighted to limit Metro, when the result is the awarding of federal money elsewhere, even as Poe notes his own skepticism with the rail plans.

RAIL ROW: Houston congressmen again battle over Richmond rail funding

Poe’s and Culberson’s offices did not immediately respond to requests for comment Tuesday.

In the meantime, federal officials pulled funding authority from the project last year, citing a lack of progress. To regain federal status, Metro would have to re-study much of the line and reapply for recognition from federal officials.

In the draft bill released Monday, the language would let Metro regain federal funding if it wins voter approval for language that specifically identifies a route along Richmond and Post Oak as part of a comprehensive regional transit plan:

“The ballot language shall include reasonable cost estimates, sources of revenue to be used and the total amount of bonded indebtedness to be incurred as well as a description of each route and the beginning and end point of each proposed transit project.”

Meanwhile, Metro is working on a regional transit plan, holding the first of 24 community meetings on Monday night in Cypress. That leaves Metro a long way from any work along Richmond, Metro CEO Tom Lambert said.

“I think, quite frankly, we’re at a point in time right now where we need to see what we should be doing,” Lambert said.

The plan, which will take another year to finalize, could make suggestions for upcoming rail investments. Metro Chairwoman Carrin Patman has said finishing the 2003 projects is among likely priorities.

Lambert, however, said he could not say how soon Metro could restart any rail discussions, particularly in relation to Richmond.

Though the scuffle between Metro and Culberson largely is symbolic, it lays the groundwork for future years. Transit officials have no money for another light rail line and likely will not until they gain voter approval and emerge from current lean sales-tax collections.

By that time, a dedicated bus line along Post Oak likely will be up and running. Funded by the Uptown Management District, construction is ongoing to add bus-only lanes in the center of Post Oak, linking a Bellaire-area transit center and Metro’s Northwest Transit Center.

The $192.5 million project, also hotly contested by opponents, is on pace to open in 2019, with Metro buying and operating the buses.