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August 1, 2011Editor's Note: Here's our roundup of Texas Department of Transportation news and events. If you have any questions, comments or just want to know more about something you read here, send a message to AskTxDOT@txdot.gov.
Active Months of Hurricane Season Begin
Tropical Storm Don, the first major Gulf of Mexico storm this year, threatened the Texas coast late last week, serving as a reminder that hurricane season has arrived. While the season lasts from June to November, typically more than half of all named storms occur during August and September. All indications are that the next two months should be very busy for the Atlantic-Caribbean storm season. Working closely with federal, state and local emergency officials, TxDOT is prepared to quickly respond in the event of storms and flooding. We'll also use Twitter and Facebook to alert and update residents about road conditions and, if necessary, contraflow and evacuation routes on state highways. We urge residents, particularly those along the Texas Gulf Coast, to pay close attention to weather forecasts during the season. Being prepared is everyone's responsibility. The time to be prepared and make evacuation plans is now.
TxDOT Recognized for Dallas SH 161 ProjectTxDOT recently received a regional award for completing the SH 161 Western Extension project in Dallas on time. The $225 million project won the 2011 American Transportation Awards competition in the on-time large project category for the Western Region. The annual awards are co-sponsored by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), AAA and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Four other western region states were also honored. Smart Growth in Hutto
The Central Texas town of Hutto was once a small farming community. But, in recent years, its proximity to Austin and new toll road SH 130 has attracted more people and related transportation challenges. An article entitled "Growing Gracefully" in the current issue of Public Roads, a bimonthly Federal Highway Administration publication, details how Hutto leaders are taking a proactive approach to growing population and transportation needs. The article was researched and written by Gretchen Stoeltje, program specialist with TxDOT's Office of Strategic Policy and Performance Management. Transportation Commission Meeting ActionsThe Texas Transportation Commission convened July 28 for its monthly meeting and took the following actions:
The Commission also discussed establishing eligibility and selection criteria for highway projects to be funded with Proposition 12 bond proceeds and received a staff update on the agency's modernization efforts. Labor Day Weekend: "Drink. Drive. Go to Jail."
TxDOT will join the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and law enforcement officials from across the state on Thursday, Aug. 4 to kick off the annual campaign to reduce impaired driving during the Labor Day weekend. State troopers and local law officers will step up patrols and arrests of drunk drivers Aug. 19-Sept. 5. The "Drink. Drive. Go to Jail." campaign urges Texans to avoid a DWI conviction by using alternative means of transportation, such as calling a cab, designating a sober driver ahead of time, using public transportation, staying put, calling a friend or family member for a ride, taking a pedicab and more.
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