TSRT hosted its fifth Business Leaders’ Roundtable in San Angelo Texas on Wednesday, April 14.  TxDOT Executive Director Amadeo Saenz and Texas Transportation Commissioner William Meadows addressed the area’s top business leaders on the transportation funding challenges facing our state. Attendees participated in an active dialogue with TxDOT on the infrastructure and funding issues and discussed the options available to meet these challenges.

Roger Albert, president of Reese Albert, Inc. insisted on a need for action in the next legislative session.  “Texas is facing a funding crisis that needs to be resolved,” said Albert.

Commissioner Meadows addressed the increasing funding challenges our state is facing. He stated that the population of Texas has increased 50 percent in the last 25 years. The number of motor vehicles registered in our state has increased by 100 percent, while road capacity has increased by less than 10 percent. The Commissioner continued that the traditional sources of revenue are not meeting our state’s funding needs, and that we must examine all options to come up with a combination of innovative sources to address these challenges.

“The number one foundation of a strong economy is the transportation infrastructure system,” said Meadows. “The challenge facing our state is real, but I believe we can be successful in meeting this challenge.”

Rep. Drew Darby (District 72) and Amadeo Saenz expressed the need for the business community to define and quantify the funding needs and communicate these needs to the Legislature. Specifically, the business community must communicate the impact of transportation investment (or lack of investment) on their companies and livelihood.

“There is a cost of doing nothing,” said Darby. “We cannot afford as a state to do nothing.”

TSRT would like to thank Reece Albert, Inc. for sponsoring the event and providing lunch.