TxDOT Mission

Work with others to provide safe and reliable transportation solutions for Texas.

TxDOT Goals

• Maintain a safe system
• Address congestion
• Connect Texas communities
• Best in class state agency

TxDOT Values

• Trust
• Integrity
• Responsibility
• Excellence
• Service

In this issue

• Guadalupe County Rest Areas to Honor Late Lawmaker
• Fort Worth Project Showcased
• Celebrating Texas Tourism
• Rural Transportation Plan Hearing
• Burford to Retire
• Transportation Commission Set to Meet May 31
• TxDOT Podcast: Doug Shupe, AAA Texas
• TN ONLINE

Unsubscribe

Contact Us

Follow Us

May 14, 2012

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.

Guadalupe County Rest Areas to Honor Late Lawmaker

Edmund P. Kuempel

The two Guadalupe County safety rest areas on eastbound and westbound I-10 near San Antonio will be renamed in honor of the late state Rep. Edmund P. Kuempel of Seguin during a dedication ceremony at 9:30 a.m., Tuesday, May 15. Kuempel, who had represented the Seguin area since 1983, died Nov. 4, 2010 after suffering a heart attack. The veteran lawmaker had just been re-elected to a 14th term and is remembered by his colleagues as one of the Legislature's most popular and beloved members. Dignitaries participating in the event include TxDOT Executive Director Phil Wilson, Texas House Speaker Joe Straus, State Rep. Ruth Jones McClendon and State Rep. John Kuempel, the late legislator's son.

Back to top

Fort Worth Project Showcased

Innovative technologies being used on the FM 1938/Davis Boulevard extension project are expected to extend the life of the roadway.

Transportation officials from across the country recently attended the Concrete Innovations Showcase in Fort Worth sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to highlight innovative technologies being used on the FM 1938/Davis Boulevard extension project. Some of the technologies ─ including optimized concrete grading, improved texturing and grooving and special pavement curing ─ are designed to extend the life of the roadway and enhance air quality. The FHWA awarded the project a $1 million Highways for Life grant in 2009. The project is a partnership between TxDOT and Tarrant County, the North Central Texas Council of Governments and the cities of Keller, Southlake and Westlake.

Read more about the project »

Back to top

Celebrating Texas Tourism

TxDOT Executive Director Phil Wilson kicks off Texas Travel Rally Day at the Texas Travel Information Center in Waskom.

TxDOT officials marked Texas Travel Rally Day on May 8 with a celebration at the Waskom Texas Travel Information Center that included scavenger hunts, a rod and reel casting contest, horseshoe pitching and live music. The annual observance, which is part of Texas Travel and Tourism Week, spotlights the important role the travel industry plays in the state's vibrant economy. In 2011, travel spending supported approximately 530,000 jobs and generated nearly $4 billion in state and local taxes. TxDOT's 12 travel information centers hosted an estimated 2.4 million visitors last year.

Read more about Texas Travel Information Centers »

Back to top

Rural Transportation Plan Hearing

TxDOT will conduct a public hearing on the proposed Texas Rural Transportation Plan (TRTP) at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 21 at 200 East Riverside Drive, Room 1A-2, in Austin. The proposed plan is the rural component of the Statewide Long-Range Transportation Plan 2035 and includes a needs assessment for all modes of the state's rural transportation system, including highways, rail, water ports, airports, pedestrian and bicycle facilities, pipelines and intelligent transportation systems. The Texas Transportation Commission will consider adoption of the plan in coming months.

Read more »

Back to top

Scott D. Burford

Burford to Retire

TxDOT veteran Scott D. Burford, General Services Division (GSD) director, recently announced his retirement, effective May 31. Burford started his 31-year career with the agency in 1981, when he joined the former Automation Division. In 1998, he was appointed director of the former Information Systems Division's Resource Management and Procurement Services Section. Since October 2003, he has served as GSD director, overseeing diverse support programs, including purchasing and contracting, supply chain management, equipment and fleet management, property management and online information services. Most recently, Burford has served as interim chief programs officer.

Back to top

Transportation Commission Set to Meet May 31

The Texas Transportation Commission will convene for its regular monthly meeting at 9 a.m., Thursday, May 31 at 200 East Riverside Drive, Room 1-A.1, in Austin. The Commission is scheduled to discuss strategies in establishing and developing the state's mobility investment priorities and consider authorizing the issuance of a request for qualifications for the development, design, construction and, potentially, maintenance for the US 77 project from CR 16 south to FM 1898 in Nueces County.

Read more »

Back to top

TxDOT Podcast: Doug Shupe, AAA Texas

The weekly TxDOT Podcast keeps you updated on the latest transportation news and issues, and new episodes are published every Friday on the TxDOT website, www.txdot.gov.

In this week's episode, we talk with Doug Shupe, public affairs specialist with AAA Texas, about a new study by the AAA Foundation and AAA Texas that examines the hazards of teen passengers riding with teen drivers. Episodes are also available on iTunes.

Listen to Podcast »

Back to top

TN ONLINE

Read the latest issue of TN, TxDOT's bimonthly newsletter for employees »

Back to top

All inquiries may be directed to AskTxDOT@txdot.gov.