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June 3, 2013Here'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. TxDOT Prepared for Hurricane Season
Hurricane season is underway, and TxDOT is ready to promptly respond in the event of storms and flooding. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts that the 2013 Atlantic hurricane season should be “active or extremely active,” with between 13 and 20 named storms — those with sustained winds above 39 mph. By comparison, in 2012 — the year of Isaac and Sandy — there were 19 named storms. The season runs June 1 to Nov. 30. If a tropical storm is forecast to make landfall along the Texas Gulf Coast, TxDOT crews will be mobilized statewide to help Texans flee from harm's way and return home safely. We'll use our website, www.txdot.gov, Twitter and Facebook to alert and update residents about road conditions, including contraflow and evacuation routes on state highways. We urge all residents, particularly those along the coast, to pay close attention to weather forecasts during hurricane season. Being prepared is everyone's responsibility. The time to get prepared and make evacuation plans is now. To make sure you’re prepared in time, read our Hurricane Information Web page. Watch this video on hurricane preparedness » Transportation Commission ActionsThe Texas Transportation Commission convened May 30 for its regular monthly meeting and took the following actions:
TxDOT Podcast: TxDOT Executive Director Phil Wilson
The weekly TxDOT Podcast keeps you updated on the latest transportation news and issues. New episodes are published every Friday on the TxDOT website, www.txdot.gov. When Phil Wilson came aboard as TxDOT’s executive director in 2011, many inside and outside the department felt he had his work cut out for him. The department had just been through an exhaustive multi-legislative session Sunset process and was at the same time struggling to make ends meet as revenues dropped. In this week’s episode, we talk with Wilson about getting TxDOT ready for this most recent legislative session and what’s next for the department. Episodes are also available on iTunes. Get a Summer P.A.S.S.
San Antonio District Engineer Medina Retiring
San Antonio District Engineer Mario Medina, a 28-year TxDOT veteran, will retire at the end of June. Medina began his TxDOT career in 1981 in the Laredo Area Office, where he worked for five summers while pursuing a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. The Laredo native also served as multimodal section director in the Transportation Planning and Programming Division and Laredo District engineer before being named San Antonio District engineer in 2008. Put Your Trash in the Can
With an estimated 1,000 people moving to Texas every day, many newcomers don’t realize that Don’t mess with Texas® is actually a litter prevention campaign and that littering in Texas is against state law. In fact, illegally disposing of trash costs litterers a fine of up to $500 for the first offense. Repeat offenders can face a fine up to $2,000 and 180 days in jail. To emphasize that trash belongs in a trash can and not along Texas roadways, the campaign’s stars are the iconic red, white and blue Don’t mess with Texas® trash barrels and play a key role in reminding Texans to put litter in its place. Listen to Austin-based musicians Bob Schneider and Grupo Fantasma remind Texans to keep the state clean and litter-free in both English and Spanish. DriveTexas® Wins National Award
DriveTexas® received a Laureate from The Computerworld Honors Program during an awards program today in Washington, D.C. TxDOT’s online map application, introduced in 2012, was recognized for its use of information technology to measurably improve the safety and security of the traveling public. DriveTexas® provides travelers with real-time traffic conditions and weather feeds about the 80,000 miles of road maintained by the state, as well as links to other useful travel information. Cost Savings: Managed Print ServicesTxDOT will save approximately $1.6 million annually by switching to a managed print services contract that consolidates all printer purchases and service with a single vendor. TxDOT had been using a decentralized approach to buy printers, with individual offices selecting devices and vendors. As a part of this new print services strategy, the vendor has initiated a study to determine the most efficient device plan for each TxDOT building. The study is expected to result in an overall reduction in the number of printers and service required. This is just one example of recent cost savings achievements, as TxDOT strives to be a best-in-class agency by working safely and smartly. Read more about TxDOT cost savings achievements » All inquiries may be directed to AskTxDOT@txdot.gov. |
