TSRT Blog

The Texas Transportation Commission approves funding in a July 29th meeting

Emily — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 15:32:00 GMT

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 .

Americans prefer tolls over taxes for transportation improvements

Emily — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 18:08:00 GMT

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.

TxDOT to Host Public Meetings on the Statewide Long-Range Transportation Plan

Emily — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 18:47:00 GMT

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 David Dewhurst Announces a few Changes to Senate Committee Assignments

Emily — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 22:41:00 GMT

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.

Amadeo Saenz named president of WASHTO

Emily — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 21:42:00 GMT

TSRT would like to congratulate TxDOT Executive Director Amadeo Saenz, who was elected president of the Western Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (WASHTO) earlier this week at WASHTO's annual meeting in Bismarck, North Dakota. Saenz previously served as vice president of the organization.

"This is a pivotal time in transportation history, and I look forward to working with western state members on important federal transportation issues like SAFETEA-LU reauthorization," Saenz said.

Click here to read the full article in My Harlingen News.

TxDOT is working to get Texas citizens involved in I-35 projects

Emily — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 20:58:00 GMT

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.

TTC preparing for $1.5B bond issue for roads, but funds must also come from elsewhere

Emily — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 16:38:00 GMT

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.

Bexar County Judge Confronts the Issue of Traffic Congestion in San Antonio

Emily — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 17:55:00 GMT

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.

What is the government's role in electric vehicle technology funding?

Emily — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 19:14:00 GMT

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.

TxDOT launches my35.org to keep Texans informed of efforts improve I-35 corridor

Emily — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 19:28:00 GMT

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.

UT and TxDOT Need Your Input: Freight Planning Stakeholder Focus Groups

Emily — Fri, 07 May 2010 20:15:00 GMT

The University of Texas (UT) at Austin and TxDOT are conducting a study to better understand how freight is moved in Texas; the decision process that underlies choices about modes and routes; and how Texas's transportation system serves businesses in the state. The study aims to determine whether the Texas transportation system is adequately serving the business community's needs, and to identify the improvements needed to better serve the community.

As part of this study, CTR is hosting six Freight Stakeholder Focus Groups. The objectives of these focus groups are to share information collected regarding freight trends observed; discuss any needs, issues, and bottlenecks pertaining to the freight transportation system; identify any needed infrastructure improvements; and explore policies, strategies, and performance measures that TxDOT can consider for implementation.

The focus groups provide a unique opportunity for freight stakeholders to provide insight and share their concerns regarding the freight transportation system in Texas. Stakeholder input is invaluable in enabling TxDOT planners to make informed decisions about freight transportation policy and investments to the benefit of freight stakeholders.

The focus groups will be held in El Paso, Tyler, Corpus Christi, Lubbock, San Angelo and Houston. Freight Stakeholders can participate in the Focus Group by personally attending or by participating via Webinar.

Click here for more information on a focus group in your area.

Business Leaders Gather in Seguin to Discuss Transportation Challenges

Emily — Thu, 06 May 2010 17:08:00 GMT

Business leaders in the Seguin area gathered on Wednesday for a discussion with TxDOT on the transportation and infrastructure needs facing the Seguin region and the entire state. TxDOT Executive Director Amadeo Saenz and Texas Transportation Commissioner Fred Underwood discussed future transportation plans, including funding issues facing Texas and the various options available to meet these challenges.

Saenz demonstrated the urgency for additional funding, stating there will be no money available to TxDOT to fund new capacity projects by 2012. He expressed the importance of the business community’s participation in the transportation debate, and urged the audience to work with the Legislature to identify the tools available to solve the funding issues.

“The business community needs to show the Legislature the economic benefits of having an investment in transportation that meets the needs of the business community,” he said. “You must show the Legislature the value of transportation investment for the state of Texas.”

Attendees agreed that something must be done to address these increasing challenges. They participated in an active dialogue on possible funding solutions including stopping diversions, indexing the gas tax and reauthorizing the use of public-private partnerships.

TSRT would like to thank all who participated, especially El Ranchito for hosting the event.

AASHTO Addresses National Transportation Challenge in "Transportation Reboot: Unlocking Gridlock"

Emily — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 18:19:00 GMT

The American Association of State Highway and Transportation (AASHTO) released a report Monday - Transportation Reboot: Unlocking Gridlock - which states that demand for automobile travel is far outpacing the available infrastructure on the nation's roadways. The report expressed the need for an increase in new federal highway dollars to meet future needs and avoid a dangerous level of gridlock.

The report states that a balanced approach is necessary to meet future mobility needs, including preserving current infrastructure, improving system performance and adding substantial capacity to highways, transit, freight rail and intercity passenger rail. Rail improvements alone cannot meet the significant transportation needs of our nation.

“Expanding the ability of the transportation system to meet the needs of the traveling public is critical to the health of our economy and the quality of life of our citizens,” said John Horsley, executive director of AASHTO. Horsley continued that expanding highway capacity will be a principle element of what is required to meet future mobility needs (since 95 percent of passenger travel in America is made by car, motorcycle and truck; and 93 percent of freight by value moves on our highways), though it is not the only component required.

More than 100 urgently needed road projects were identified, including U.S. 290 in Houston.

Some key conclusions:

Population increases are putting strains on existing transportation networks,and are increasing the need for new capacity.
Investment in transportation and capacity has been on the decline; significant investment is needed to keep America moving.
Nationwide, congestion is costing more than four billion hours of annual travel delay and 2.9 billion gallons of wasted fuel.
Even at the 2009 reset level, drivers with a 30 minute commute still lose 22 hours (nearly three full work days) annually sitting in traffic, according to the newly released INRIX National Traffic Scorecard.
The Interstate Highway System is the backbone of the nation’s transportationnetwork and must continue to play a strategic role.
The results of inaction are clear. Unless the nation creates adequate highway, transit, and railroad capacity, the nation’s economy could slow to a standstill.

AASHTO recommends that funding for the overall highway program be increased to $375 billion over the next six years. A significant portion of these funds should be provided to build needed highway capacity.

For more information, check out the following articles:

Texas Transportation Commission Chair Deirdre Delisi Speaks on State's Transportation Funding Needs

Emily — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 15:21:00 GMT

Transportation stakeholders and officials gathered this morning at the Austin Club for “A Conversation with Deirdre Delisi, Chair of the Texas Transportation Commission” hosted by The Texas Tribune.

Delisi stressed the importance of the public education process in the transportation debate. She stated that the Commission and TxDOT have been very aggressive in this process over the last few years. They are working hard to improve transparency and make the agency more user friendly to the Legislature and the public.

Delisi applauded Speaker Joe Straus for creating a special committee to focus on the funding issues of transportation, and indicated the value of communicating the transportation funding needs to the Legislature.

“We need to be honest with the Legislature about what we need going forward to make investments in infrastructure,” said Delisi. “We need a long-term stable source of funding for transportation infrastructure in our state, and the Legislature must start laying the groundwork for a long-term solution.”

Delisi told the audience that Texas has been recognized nationally and internationally for utilizing creative and innovative funding mechanisms to meet its infrastructure needs. “I think every option should be discussed,” concluded Delisi. “My preference will always be for a statewide (transportation funding) solution.”

The event concluded with a Q&A session, offering the audience a chance to interact with the guest.

The Texas Tribune is hosting a series of conversations featuring prominent elected officials and other newsmakers over the next few months. These discussions are moderated by the Tribune's CEO and editor in chief, Evan Smith.

LaHood and his team are coming to Texas to talk reauthorization on May 5

Emily — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 15:32:00 GMT

US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and his team are coming to Texas to talk reauthorization.

TxDOT has been working with ITSA on an annual meeting in Houston this May. The ITSA meeting has two excellent public opportunities:

Senator Carona is bringing the Senate Transportation and Homeland Security Committee to Houston Monday, May 3rd to kick off the conference (For more information, CLICK HERE) and Sec. LaHood and his modal administrators will hold a public meeting on reauthorization on May 5th when the ITSA meeting concludes.

The USDOT Reauthorization meeting is scheduled from 12:30 - 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 5, immediately following ITS America's Closing Plenary. The meeting is part of a series of sessions across the country designed to bring together Federal, state and local officials, as well as transportation providers, users, and other stakeholders, to discuss the upcoming surface transportation reauthorization.

Stuck in Traffic? Gridlock affects business in North Texas

Emily — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 17:44:00 GMT

"Stuck in Traffic? Gridlock affects business in North Texas"

Fort Worth Business Press, By Mac Churchil

If you travel along the Interstate 35W corridor between Fort Worth and Denton County, or along the Interstate 820-Airport Freeway corridor, you are very familiar with traffic. More specifically, you are familiar with sitting in traffic.

Gridlock affects our businesses* bottom line by causing significant delays in receiving and distributing goods. Our employees* quality of life - as well as our own - is dramatically affected.

My business is located at the intersection of I-35W and Loop 820. I know all too well how bad traffic can get - all I need to do is look out my windows and witness the glacial crawl along the corridor. This frustrates employees and customers every day. Customers avoid gridlock whenever possible; new homebuyers and businesses buy in other areas without congestion.

So the question is: why are we stuck in traffic?

The Fort Worth region is currently the fastest-growing region in the United States, and estimates are that our population will only continue to grow in the next 20 years, reaching more than 9 million in 2030.

What this means is that there are - and will continue to be - many more people and cars on the roads than capacity can accommodate. Simple math tells you that we will continue to be stuck in traffic - and for much longer periods of time - unless we start to identify solutions today.

So, what about the gas taxes the state collects? Shouldn*t the taxes on the fuel we purchase generate enough revenues to support our transportation needs today and in the future?

Unfortunately, they do not.

Gas tax revenues - the largest source of funding for our transportation needs - have not kept pace with rising roadway maintenance and construction costs and are actually declining now. When fuel prices go way up, people adapt - driving less, taking mass transit or purchasing more fuel-efficient cars that consume less gas and therefore generate less tax revenue. Gas tax revenue goes up only when more gallons of fuel are purchased, not when gas prices go up, so transportation funding from this revenue source will decline further as federal fuel efficiency standards increase.

Furthermore, the gas tax in the state of Texas has not been raised since 1991, which has limited the purchasing power of the Texas Department of Transportation as it plans for new infrastructure development. Think of it this way: If you still earned the same amount of money as you did in 1991, while the costs of goods and services continued to rise significantly, you would have much less money to pay for what your family needs at today*s costs.

Compounding the problem, 40 percent of gas tax revenues are used to fund public education and public safety, leaving only 60 percent to fund roadway maintenance and construction.

The stark fact is this: Over the last 10 years, TxDOT has spent approximately $400 million per year on transportation projects in our region.

Unless the Legislature provides more revenue for transportation than it does now, we will have that amount only for the next 11 years combined. This means that North Texas will have enough money to fund one large interchange project over the next decade and little else.

And without new revenue, there will be no new funding for added transportation capacity projects in Texas after 2012.

So what do we do about it?

Talk to your state representative and state senator - they are the ones who allocate revenues to fund transportation. Let them know how gridlock affects your life and your business, and tell them that you are willing to pay a little more for better service. They must demonstrate the leadership and willpower to enable greater financial investment in highways and other modes of transportation our region so desperately needs.

The future of our region and our quality of life are at stake, so we must act now. Otherwise, the cost of doing nothing will be staggering and insurmountable.

Mac Churchill is the president of Mac Churchill Acura in Fort Worth and the chairman of the nonprofit transportation advocacy group, 35W Coalition.bizpress.net

Business Leaders’ Roundtable in San Angelo Addresses States’ Transportation Needs

Lauren — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 15:52:00 GMT

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.

TxDOT Statewide Long-Range Transportation Plan 2035

Lauren — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 15:45:00 GMT

TxDOT is looking for public input on the Statewide Long-Range Transportation Plan 2035. Plan 2035 is a "blueprint" for the future of Texas Infrastructure with the goal of achieving the most possible from every transportation dollar. The plan will be submitted for public hearing and adoption by the Texas Transportation Commission this fall.

The plan will establish a framework for addressing the challenges of our aging infrastructure, urban densification, and a growing population through 2035. The plan will also address the need for improvements to all modes of transportation including roadways, pedestrian and bicycle facilities, transit, freight rail, passenger rail, airports, water ports, pipelines, and Intelligent Transportation Systems. TxDOT is looking to you for participation and to offer any suggestions or questions you may have.

TxDOT is hosting two series of open house-style public meetings in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration for the development of Plan 2035. The first series will present an overview of the plan and will accept comments to further develop the plan. Exhibits and videos of the planning process thus far will be available as well as TxDOT representatives for questions and discussion. Written commentary is welcome at the meeting or online at www.txdot.gov and by email.

The meetings will take place for two weeks in May. For more information on meetings in your area, click here.

To read about the Statewide Long-Range Transportation Plan and how you can get involved click here.

IH35 / Ben White Interchange Ground Breaking

Emily — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 19:17:00 GMT

On Tuesday, April 13, 2010, Texas Senator Kirk Watson will host the ground breaking for the IH35/Ben White interchange. The event will take place at 10:30 a.m. in the parking lot of the Southfield building located in the northwest quadrant of the Ben White/IH35 intersection. Texas Transportation Committee Chair Deirdre Delisi and Representative Eddie Rodriguez will speak at the ground breaking.

Transportation Funding Committee Addresses Issues in Public Hearing

Emily — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 15:28:00 GMT

The House Select Committee on Transportation Funding held a public hearing April 7. Panels of transportation experts, state officials and agency staff, and business leaders discussed a myriad of funding issues including current funding sources, Fund 6 diversions, population growth, and current and future transportation needs.

TxDOT Executive Director Amadeo Saenz explained the importance of the TxDOT Tracker to measure agency performance and ensure transparency and accountability. Saenz expressed the need for public understanding of these processes. Jon Barton, Assistant Executive Director for Engineering Operations at TxDOT, spoke on the various development stages and programs which are all part the agency’s planning process. Barton stated that the transportation planning process is ongoing and continuously evaluated based on state and regional transportation needs.

“The (long-range transportation plans) are driven by needs that are identified by our local communities and statewide stakeholders, and they are financially constrained…” said Barton. He continued that the biggest challenge is filling the gap between the needs of the state and the available resources.

Committee member and State Rep. Edmund Kuempel proposed that the agency consider publishing a public annual report showing projects that were planned for the year and the projects that were implemented that year. He stressed the importance of reprioritizing the agency’s plans and goals each year.

Darrell Edge, Manager of Fiscal Integrity for the Texas Comptroller’s office, presented an overview of State Highway Fund 0006, including appropriations and expenditures. John Heleman, chief revenue estimator for the Texas Comptroller’s office, spoke on the state’s current funding sources. Heleman pointed out that the funding gap continues to increase as tax revenues decline and the population of the state increases each year.

James Bass, Chief Financial Officer for TxDOT, discussed TxDOT funding and explained that $2.2 billion from fuel tax revenues was transferred to the State Highway Fund in 2009, which was $50 million less than the 2008 revenues.

2030 Committee Chairman Dr. Michael Walton, professor of civil engineering at UT Austin, and member Ken Allen, Senior Vice-President of Supply Chain and Logistics at H-E-B, spoke on the committee’s findings and recommendations regarding the state’s transportation funding needs. The Committee estimated that $315 billion is required to meet Texas’ transportation needs between 2009 and 2030. (Click here to view the executive summary or the full report from the 2030 committee).

“HEB has a major and growing concern regarding the adequacy of the state’s infrastructure to meet the growing transportation needs within our state,” said Ken Allen. “All across Texas today, we are finding that the roadways are already inadequate. Congestion is huge and it is a growing concern for us in the business community.”

Other witnesses included David Ellis, Bill Stockton and Tim Lomax (Texas Transportation Institute), Bryant Lomax (Texas Comptroller), Cheryl MacBride and Steven McCraw (TX DPS), Ken Allen (H-E-B, 2030 Committee), and Lloyd Potter (Texas State Data Center).

Click here to view a broadcast of the hearing.

"Are we doing the job necessary to keep the transport of people and goods flowing as we look to 2025?"

Ken Allen, H-E-B