Yesterday, The Texas Transportation Commission approved $76 million in  funding for 54 transportation-related projects that will improve the environment through visual enhancements around the state. This approval gives TxDOT the go-ahead to continue with funding for the Transportation Enhancement Program. 

In a separate action, the Commission unanimously approved about $250 million in highway project contracts funded by Proposition 12 proceeds. The approval marks the first letting of funds approved for the proposition.

Read more about the Commission's approvals in the TxDOT news releases here and here .

 

        

More Americans prefer tolls than increased taxes or other transportation funding options, according to a recent America THINKS survey from HNTB Corporation.  The survey found that most Americans support tolls to generate transportation revenue, especially when it will save them time on roads and bridges.

"There is no such thing as a free road.  Tolling is a proven source of alternative funding, already used in a variety of locations across the country," said Jack Finn, HNTB national director of toll services. "Its primary appeal – as a userfee – means those who use the road pay for the road," he said.

Toll roads are more important than ever in offering transportation infrastructure options that would otherwise not be available. Our state and nation are experiencing an increasing lack of adequate funding sources due to inflation; increasing vehicle efficiencies, budget shortfalls, and construction costs; and an insufficient gas tax.

Americans ranked tolling ahead of all other funding options when asked where they would be willing to spend more money to support long-term transportation improvements in their area. 

“Doing nothing is not an option,” said Finn. “Many state and local governments are seriously considering an expansion of tolling, with support across the political spectrum.”

Click here to read the news report from HNTB Corporation.
Click here to read a summary of the America THINKS survey.

        

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has spent the last six months developing a new Statewide Long-Range Transportation Plan to analyze the state’s growing transportation needs.  This new plan is the foundation for many efforts underway at TxDOT, and includes the efforts of local, regional and federal transportation partners.  TxDOT is now looking for public feedback to enhance the proposal.

Between August 2 and August 13, TxDOT will be holding a final round of open-house style public meetings throughout the state.  Meetings will allow the community a chance to interact with experts and find out about the plan, how it was developed and what TxDOT learned.  Texans will also be able provide input and comments. 

In a letter to the public, TxDOT announced that this new plan promises to provide a framework for developing and implementing a multi-modal transportation system through 2035. TxDOT has also considered funding sources to meet their new needs through 2035

Following this upcoming round of public meetings, TxDOT plans to analyze the feedback received, and finalize their proposal.  They anticipate submitting the plan for adoption to the Texas Transportation Commission in the fall.

Click here for more information on the Statewide Long-Range Transportation Plan.
Click here  to view the July TxDOT newsletter (which includes open-house details). 

        

Lt. Governor Dewhurst announced changes to the 81st Legislature Senate Committee Assignments on Wednesday, July 14 that will allow members to prepare for the upcoming 82nd Legislative Session. He announced eight new committee chairmanships including Senator John Carona as the Business & Commerce chair and Senator Tommy Williams as the Transportation & Homeland Security chair.

"With some changes in Senate membership, we saw an opportunity to re-align senators' individual expertise and priorities with the several committees," said Lt. Governor Dewhurst. " I appreciate the hard work and dedication of all the 31 fine members of the Texas Senate. Each is deeply committed to ensuring a bright future for the people they represent in their respective districts and all 25 million Texans."

TSRT would like to thank Senator Carona for his leadership and tireless advocacy to Texas transportation. Congratulations to Senator Williams on your new position as Transportation & Homeland Security chair. We look forward to working with you!

Click here to read the news release from Lt. Governor Dewhurst's office for the full list of Senate Committee assignments. 

        

        

The Texas Department of Transportation is working with cities and counties across the state to design ways to allow Texans to have a say in Interstate 35 construction projects. Right now, TxDOT is developing a survey that will allow Texas citizens to do just that.

"It's always better to go out to the citizens first, I think we've heard that lesson before, we ran through that issue once before. And they've told us they want to have a greater role, a greater voice," says TxDOT Representative Gaby Garcia.

The article discusses the opinions that two Texas citizens, Suzanne Teague and Cheryl Morgan, have about I-35 development plans. Some of these plans include expanding the highway to four lanes and using high-speed rail services. However, all of these projects will need to be funded and this is where issues often arise. 

"Money. No it's a money issue. And that's also a big part of the issue here. Where do you get the money to improve any of these things," says Bell County Commissioner Richard Cortese.

Citizens will also be able to indicate how these projects should be funded in the TxDOT survey. One idea is to raise gas taxes. Another idea is to pay more for vehicle registration and license plates. Teague and Morgan were able to voice their opinions on these ideas - as will many other Texas citizens.

TxDOT will be handing out these surveys at public meetings in September. Surveys will also be made available online.

Click here to read the full article.
For more information on the plans for I-35, visit www.my35.org.

        

In "Texas Sets a Record Road Deal: TTC Plans $1.5B Of Prop. 14 Debt ," Richard Williamson reports that the Texas Transportation Commission is preparing a $1.5 billion bond issue under Proposition 14, a voter-approved program that dedicates fuel taxes and vehicle fees toward highway construction.

Standard & Poor's analyst Horacio Aldrete-Sanchez in his last rating report said  “While the department’s long-term needs are far greater than this bond program will address, the program allows management to accelerate certain projects while maintaining very high debt-service coverage.”

However, TxDOT has faced increasing construction costs in addition to falling revenue from traditional sources. Also, Texas' gas tax has not been raised since 1993, and with the development of increased efficiency in new vehicles, there will be less revenue per gallon and more miles traveled.  

The revenue from the state motor fuel-tax put toward the fund has been less than the amount spent for maintance on the 193,000 lane-miles of highway since 2002. In fact, a committee appointed by the Texas Transportation Commission stated that Texas would need to invest $315 billion over the next two decades to keep up with the demand that growth in population and freight traffic are expected to incur through 2030.

With pending and current financial constraints, TxDOT has come up with other ways to fund major projects. For example, the Dallas-Fort Worth area implemented public-private projects such as the LBJ Express redevelopment with new forms of financing.

 

“With this public-private approach, the state is able to leverage limited tax dollars to create billions of dollars in congestion-relieving roadway benefits for local drivers, while also creating new jobs for Texans,” said Nicolas Rubio, president of Austin-based Cintra US, the lead partner in the consortium.

According to the LBJ Infrastructure Group, LBJ Express is the first privately funded road development project  of its kind in the country to attain financial close in 2010. Projects such as the LBJ Express ­are the future of highway development in Texas, according to the Texas Transportation Institute at Texas A&M University.

“The best solutions are going to be those in which actions by transportation agencies are complemented by businesses, manufacturers and commuters,” said TTI researcher Tim Lomax. “There’s a mindset that says that this is a city government’s job or a state DOT’s job, but the problem is far too big for transportation agencies alone to address it adequately.”

Click here  to read the full article in the Bond Buyer.

Click here  to watch TSRT's video "Dallas Ft. Worth and Texas Road Building Innovations" which features the LBJ Expressway and other public-private partnerships in the area that are underway. 

        

In his State of the County address, Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff confronted the always-increasing traffic congestion issue in San Antonio. He proposed several suggestions that would help ease traffic congestion including a local-option gas tax, an increased state gas tax and a local rail system. According to Wolff, San Antonio drivers waste a week's time each year sitting in stopped traffic. In addition, he pointed out that local governments have had to "use every means possible" to combat worsening traffic because of failures at the state level.

Wolff said that he expects jobs to increase in the second half of 2010, but the worsening traffic conditions are threatening the economy.  

“Our greatest threat to the continued economic expansion of our region is our transportation systems,” he said. “Our ability to move people and goods in an efficient and effective manner is slowly grinding to a halt.”

Wolff also suggested VIA Metropolitan Transit's proposed streetcar system, which would help slow urban sprawl in San Antonio.

“Streetcars help create economic development and encourage compact development,” he said.

Click here to read the full article by Josh Baugh at mySA.com.

        

The National Journal features an interactive discussion on the role of federal, state and local transportation departments in researching, developing and promoting electric vehicle technology.   The discussion addresses the role of the private sector versus the role of government in this important policy debate.  Is the government putting enough emphasis on important transportation issues facing our state and nation such as fuel efficiency and infrastructure needs?

Key contributors to the discussion include Nathaniel P. Ford Sr., Executive Director and CEO, San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), and, Treasurer, National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO); Tom Madigan, NationalJournal.com; John Horsley, Executive Director, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials; Dave McCurdy, President and CEO, Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers; Gabriel Roth, Research Fellow, The Independent Institute; and Colin F. Peppard, Transportation Policy Advocate,Natural Resources Defense Council.

Click here to read the full discussion from the National Journal.

        

On June 9, TxDOT launched my35.org, a website to keep Texans informed of efforts to improve the I-35 corridor. The new site includes a section on current construction efforts to improve I-35 and one that highlights planning efforts for future improvements to the corridor. 

"With up to ten active construction zones on I-35 at any given time over the next five years, it’s important that construction information be readily available to the traveling public," said Bill Meadows, member of the Texas Transportation Commission, in a TxDOT news release.

The website complements TxDOT's citizen-planning efforts including engaging the four I-35 Segment Committees and the I-35 Corridor Advisory Committee to help determine the best local solutions to congestion on I-35.  Based on the local and regional needs, segment committees will develop their blueprint for long-term corridor improvements that will serve to guide for future TxDOT planning.

The public is encouraged to participate inthe development of the I-35 corridor and provide input at the I-35 Corridor Advisory Committee and segment committees regular meetings.  In addition, the public will be invited to attend planning workshops that will be hosted by the segment committees.

"The launch of my35.org provides a one-stop-shop for all things I-35, which I hope our partners in the affected regions will find helpful," said Meadows.

Click here to read more about the my35.org website.