Job well done TxBiker. Your original letter and response were well-iterated and direct.
In what part of the Houston area do you live? I noticed the response mentioned something about "as rural areas develop." I grew up on the outskirts of Houston (Montgomery County), and it has always amazed me, with the high volume of weekend cyclists, that there remains little to no bike lanes. These cyclists bring a lot of money to the areas which they frequent. Some stores along popular routes are filled to the brim with people purchasing every manner of items during the weekend.
Obviously this doesn't directly affect you as a commuter, but the cost vs. benefit argument (as a layman) would seem null based on the benefits it could bring to the area.