Frequently Asked Questions

TxDOTCONNECT is TxDOT's new, web-based, custom-built technology system for automating the delivery of transportation programs, projects and right of way.

TxDOTCONNECT standardizes and streamlines TxDOT business processes while providing transparency in performance measurement and serving as a single, up-to-date source for project information. TxDOTCONNECT will help us work more efficiently and enable us to keep pace with expectations of taxpayers and the traveling public.

The Transportation Programs Division (TPD) is overseeing the development of the TxDOTCONNECT system in collaboration with the Information Management Division. TxDOT’s Modernize Portfolio and Project Management (MPPM) team, located within TPD, is responsible for developing TxDOTCONNECT.

MPPM collaborates with TxDOT leaders, internal subject matter experts and a dedicated champion network of over 350 TxDOT employees who provide information key to TxDOTCONNECT’s development since the beginning of the initiative.

TxDOTCONNECT will be delivered in six releases over the next few years. A multi-release approach allows TxDOT to continue doing business with minimal disruption. The first release of TxDOTCONNECT was deployed early in 2019.

To access TxDOTCONNECT, external partners need a TxDOT network ID and password. Complete instructions for accessing TxDOTCONNECT are detailed under Access and Training.

External partners may access a training video, reference guides, job aids and interactive training modules at Access and Training.

Consultants with -O user IDs and Engineer Estimate Coordinator Consultant or Professional Engineer Consultant roles may upload estimates for projects they have been invited to on the Resources page.

Yes. You can upload the spreadsheet multiple times for the same project. The newest uploaded estimate will overwrite the information in TxDOTCONNECT, not add to it.

No. You will need to upload a spreadsheet for each CSJ individually.

You can contact the Design Division at DES_PD_WEBHELP@txdot.gov if you have any questions about the Engineer’s Estimate bulk upload spreadsheet.

This release consolidates maintenance project development functionality from CMCS into TxDOTCONNECT and includes the following capabilities:

• Create/Search for Maintenance Projects
• Edit Project Information
• Map Maintenance Projects
• Process Engineer's Estimates
• Improve Reporting
  

Yes. External partners who are new to TxDOTCONNECT should follow the new external user access process listed on the Access and Training page.

The new Right of Way and Utilities release brings the Right of Way Division and external partners into the TxDOTCONNECT system.

This release consolidates functionality from ROWIS, ROW project tracking spreadsheets and the Utilities database. UIR is not being retired and must still be updated.

No. External users are not able to access payments functionality. External users are only able to view projects and associated parcels that they have been invited to.

Surveyors and ROW Project Managers have access to upload .gdb survey files.

There will be five ways to add bid items to your Engineer’s Estimate. The team has completed development for:

• Adding a Bid Item line
• Copying Bid Items from within the Estimate (for example, copying the Bid Item from one bridge to another within the Estimate)
• Copying an Estimate from another project (for example, copying the Estimate from one seal coat project to another seal coat project)

Other ways to add a Bid Item that are being developed are:

• Tabbing to create a new line (similar to Microsoft Excel functionality)
• Selecting multiple bid items from a pop-up window

The intent of TxDOTCONNECT is for the Engineer’s Estimate to be built in the system and minimize the use of the Excel spreadsheets. The request has been taken as a potential future enhancement.

Yes. The Category tab groups your Items by Category of Work. The Bid Code tab groups items by Bid Code. You can add and remove items from these tabs as well.

The Category of Work does not auto-populate. A request for potential future enhancement has been captured.

Yes. In the Estimate grid, TxDOTCONNECT will provide three-month and 12-month averages for your District and Statewide.

Yes. Users can print the E&O Sheet from within the Engineer’s Estimate page of a project, by clicking the Export button at the top right-hand corner of the Estimate Grid and clicking E&O Report.

The A+B Bidding section on the Engineer’s Estimate page is activated to add bid items by selecting A+B in the Bidding Type field on the Letting page.

A+B Bidding Type should only be let with A+B Milestones.

Each Bid Code can have up to 30 Reference Items under the parent bid code. Users cannot add the same Reference Item to a single Bid Code more than once but can add the same Reference Item to multiple different Bid Codes.

No. Once a bid item is entered on the Engineer’s Estimate it is added to the Specifications List along with its associated Reference Items. Reference Items can be added or removed as needed.

Yes. Users can print their Specifications List from within the Engineer’s Estimate page of a project, by clicking the Export button at the top right-hand corner of the Estimate Grid and clicking Specifications List.

Yes, standard specifications based on federal project requirements and state project requirements auto-populate based on the project being assigned a federal project ID or state project ID on the Project Details page in the Project Identifiers section.

The information on this page will be available to all TxDOT staff – only Professional Engineers will be able to update this section. Consultants will be invited to the projects they are working on and will not see projects they have not been invited to work on.

Sealing an Engineer’s Estimate ensures that a Professional Engineer has reviewed and approved the Estimate.

The Seal and Summary grid shows the Estimates of all projects associated with a Controlling Project.

Yes. TxDOTCONNECT will validate the following before an Estimate can be sealed:

• The Professional Engineer sealing the Estimate must have a currently valid engineer’s License.
• A Responsible Engineer has been entered on the Resources page of TxDOTCONNECT.
• No placeholder Bid Codes (XXXX-XXXX) or placeholder NBI codes are present in the Estimate.
• Mobilization percentages for the entire Controlling project must be either null for all projects (mobilization does not exist in the controlling project or any of the associated projects), or a total of 0% or 100% to seal the Controlling project. Subordinate projects can be sealed without this being resolved.