Inside scoop: Texas Transportation Commission Oct. 2023
Oct. 26, 2023
By Laura Butterbrodt
AUSTIN – Here’s a look at what TxDOT is working on lately.
Transportation alternatives
New sidewalks, bikeways and other types of infrastructure will help improve safety and enhance quality of life in Texas communities with the Texas Transportation Commission’s approval of more than $345 million for projects across the state.
Detailed in a news release, the funding will go toward 83 projects that will improve access while providing safety enhancements and mobility options to schools, jobs, public transit and local destinations. This historic investment in bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure is more than six times as much funding compared to the last Transportation Alternatives call for projects when it was $54 million in 2021.
The projects include 44 sidewalk improvements, 30 shared-use paths, 10 bikeways of various types and 15 planning studies. Many of the projects were identified in the Pedestrian Safety Action Plan as potential risk areas or are in locations with moderate to high pedestrian crash histories.
Commissioner Robert Vaughn praised the project investment at the Texas Transportation Commission meeting, noting that more than 300 applications were received totaling $1.4 billion in federal funding requests.
“That just evidences the amount of demand for projects like this in our communities,” Vaughn said.
Public transportation
The commission approved the use of $12 million in state funds to expand public transportation services in rural areas. The program will increase access and connectivity in unserved or underserved areas of Texas. Of the 36 rural transit providers in the state, 24 elected to participate in the program.
The services offered in the mobility network are particularly focused on assisting older adults, people with disabilities, single-parent households and people with low income. The expansion is expected to begin by Sept. 2024.
“This is very exciting because we’re helping folks get to the doctor, get to the grocery store, get to places they need to go,” Commissioner Alvin New said at the meeting. “This helps people who really need the help in some of our rural areas in the state.”
Advanced air mobility advisory committee
The commissioners voted to extend TxDOT and Texas Transportation Commission advisory committees until the committee has completed its work or Dec. 31, 2025 – whichever is earlier.
The Urban Air Mobility Advisory Committee, which expired Jan. 1, 2023, is being replaced by the new Advanced Air Mobility Advisory Committee through the end of 2024. The committee consists of 25 appointees representing state and local law enforcement, urban air mobility industry members, transportation experts, commercial airport representatives, takeoff and landing operators, local government officials and members of the general public.
Roadway finance
The Loop 375 Border West Expressway in El Paso along the U.S. and Mexico border will be converted to a non-tolled facility. The nine-mile stretch of TxDOT-owned roadway opened in Oct. 2019 and was to be operated in partnership with the Camino Real Regional Mobility Authority, but tolling was never enforced.
Patrick Marotta, director of project finance and enterprise operations for TxDOT, said changes in the economy have challenged the project’s viability as a toll facility and the CRRMA Board requested that TxDOT consider operating the Border West Expressway as a non-tolled facility.
To enable this, the Commission has voted in favor of the termination of several agreements related to the Border West Expressway and removed the toll designation. Additionally, $3.5 million in financial assistance to the CRRMA from TxDOT for the project has been canceled.
Administrative Code changes
The Commission approved a proposal to change the Texas Administrative Code’s Gulf Intracoastal Waterway Projects section to reorganize and clarify the requirements for state participation in dredge disposal plans. The changes would allow increased flexibility for participation in beneficial use of dredged material projects.
Under the new verbiage, TxDOT would be able to contribute more than 50% of the difference between the federal share and local cost of a beneficial use of dredged material project.
Contracts
The Commission also approved: