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Traditionally, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) requested
appropriations based on what was expected to be available specifically to TxDOT,
not what was needed to meet the states goals for transportation or what the
department and industry could deliver.
The
2010-2011 Legislative
Appropriations Request (LAR) is based on Texas transportation needs and
the capability to deliver.
- This LAR provides a clearer picture of what is needed to continue making
progress payments on projects underway, and how we may be able to increase
the number of new projects that can begin in 2010 and 2011.
- TxDOT's request examines the industry capacity and the number of
projects that can be ready to go with the completion of the necessary
developmental and environmental work.
- The requested dollar amounts in each strategy are designed to meet a
TxDOT and industry contracting capacity of $12.7 billion in 2010 and $14.3
billion 2011. Without any new funding resources beyond what is currently
available, those amounts are $2.7 billion and $2.4 billion respectively.
- To finance this level of new contracting, the LAR contemplates that all
of the State Highway Fund will be made available to support agency
functions, $5 billion of general obligation debt will be authorized
(Proposition 12), and TxDOT will have issued all remaining State Highway
Fund Revenue bonds.
- Additionally, a significant source of general revenue would need to be
appropriated if the legislature determines we are to reach our maximum
capacity for new transportation projects.
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