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December 19, 2011Editor's Note: Due to the upcoming holidays, we will not publish a TxDOT Update on Jan. 2, 2012. TxDOT wishes you a happy and safe holiday season.
I-35 Congestion Relief for the Holidays
This holiday season, TxDOT is giving the gift of traffic congestion relief on I-35 in the Austin area. Starting Dec. 21 through Jan. 4, TxDOT will reduce tolls for trucks to take the 56-mile SH 130 and SH 45SE bypass around Austin. All motorists who choose to avoid traffic congestion through the Austin area and travel nonstop between Georgetown and Buda on the SH 130/SH 45SE toll bypass will pay the passenger vehicle (two-axle) toll rate. For trucks with four axles or more, this means a savings of more than 67 percent. The Texas Transportation Commission approved the temporary rates at its Dec. 15 regular monthly meeting.
Transportation Commission ActionsThe Texas Transportation Commission convened for its regular monthly meeting on Dec. 15 and took the following actions:
The Commission also received the following presentations:
First I-69 Sign Unveiled
TxDOT recently unveiled a sign for the first stretch of I-69 in Texas, also marking the state's first new interstate since 1992. The ceremony, celebrated Dec. 5 in Robstown, officially designated the I-69 segment to run concurrently with US 77 for 6.2 miles from SH 44 in Robstown to I-37 in Corpus Christi. The Texas I-69 corridor is planned to run from the Rio Grande Valley and Laredo to Texarkana and occupy the footprint of existing highways, including US 59, 77, 84 and 281 and SH 44. Elected officials from across South Texas participated in the sign unveiling, along with TxDOT Executive Director Phil Wilson, Deputy Executive Director/Chief Engineer John Barton and Texas Transportation Commissioners Fred Underwood and Jeff Austin III. Interstate Signs Promote Texas Pride
Did you notice that TEXAS is included in the new I-69 sign? Adding the state's name to the interstate shield was the idea of Austin resident Jeffrey Royston, who believed it was an opportunity to promote the state and demonstrate a strong sense of state pride and identity. Royston, who works in implantable medical device sales, approached TxDOT about revising the Texas Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) to allow the option of including the state's name on interstate route signs. TxDOT officials, including Traffic Operations Division Director Carol Rawson, found Royston's suggestion compelling and recommended that the Texas Transportation Commission adopt such a revision to the 2011 MUTCD. When he learned that the Commission in November approved the revised regulations, Royston said he was overwhelmed with a sense of pride. “I travel extensively for work and have always been interested in highways and transportation. During my travels I noticed the state name is prevalent on interstate shield signs in about half the states in which I travel. Texas wasn't one of those states,” Royston said recently. “I thought if I brought this issue to the attention of the appropriate officials, then it would make sense to them…I have always been proud of being a Texan, and it didn't surprise me that our government listens to its citizens and makes sound, common sense decisions.” Don't Wreck the Holidays!Avoid the holiday "buzz" this year – if you've been drinking, find a sober ride home, call a cab or stay put. Don't wreck the holidays! TxDOT Receives Global AwardTxDOT has been recognized by an international road advocacy group for its innovative four-year maintenance management plan to improve pavement conditions across the state. The International Road Federation's 2011 Global Road Achievement Award recognizes industry and government organizations for excellence and innovation in road development. Final I-35/Ben White Flyover Opens
The last of eight flyovers at the I-35/Ben White Boulevard interchange in Austin opened last week, completing a 15-year, $135 million project to provide relief at one of the state's most congested intersections. The three-phase project included a mile-long drainage tunnel, new frontage roads, a new underpass for Ben White Boulevard and 15 bridges. The last phase of the project, which began two years ago, added the last four flyovers and cost $26 million. Three of the flyovers opened earlier this fall. The fourth flyover is a direct link between westbound Ben White and I-35S. On Dec. 12, TxDOT, city and state officials participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the final flyover. TxDOT Recognized for Clean Air Plan
TxDOT's Environmental Affairs Division has received the Government Partner Excellence Award from Clean Air Partners of Central Texas for its Clean Air Plan. It encourages department employees to do their part in reducing air pollution by exploring alternatives to drive-alone commuting, including carpooling, vanpooling, walking, bicycling, public transit and driving hybrids. The department reduced 30 percent of its commuter-based baseline emissions in 2010 with an increase in commute solutions. New Ferry Christened
The John W. Johnson, the newest vessel in TxDOT's Galveston-Port Bolivar Ferry System, was recently dedicated and christened. The ferry, named after the former Texas Transportation Commission chairman, is the sixth vessel in the fleet that operates on Galveston Bay between Galveston Island and Port Bolivar. Johnson, his family, TxDOT Executive Director Phil Wilson and Texas Transportation Commissioners Ned Holmes and William Meadows participated in ceremony. DFW Connector Milestone Celebrated
The $1 billion DFW Connector project recently surpassed the halfway mark, with local, state and federal officials celebrating the milestone. The celebration, hosted by the city of Grapevine, included a ribbon-cutting for the substantial completion of the Main Street Bridge, one of the major cross streets in the project. The eight-mile project, being built under a comprehensive development agreement between TxDOT and NorthGate Constructors, is rebuilding portions of four highways, two interchanges and five bridges, all north of the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. Construction began in early 2010 and is slated for completion in 2014. Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez, TxDOT Executive Director Phil Wilson and Texas Transportation Commissioner Bill Meadows attended the event. We're Going Places!
The 7th Annual Texas Transportation Forum, set for Feb. 15-17 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in San Antonio, is eight weeks away. The Forum will feature a number of notable speakers and expert panelists discussing a range of issues from the New TxDOT to Solving the Transportation Funding Dilemma. Here are two important dates to remember:
Please check the Forum program for official updates. Engineers attending the Forum can earn Professional Development Hours. Find out more here. Reserve your hotel room and register now for your seat at the table. We hope to see you in February! |
