Updates-Work with FHWA to Address Concerns Video Text Texas Transportation Commission Chairman Bruce Bugg: I would like to turn to just one other item. And this would be the last time I want to mention to my fellow commissioners, you’ll remember that about 90 days ago, in our August 31 commission meeting, we discussed the status of the NHHIP Project. And at that time we had the discussion that unless we saw some real and concrete steps forward, we would set another agenda item to discuss potential allocations of funding to the NHHIP Project. Since that time, I directed our Executive Director Marc Williams and his team to engage in direct conversations with the FHWA which is the Federal highway Administration to find a path forward on our NHHIP Project. We all know how important the NHHIP Project is not only to the people in the Houston area, but also throughout the entire state of Texas. It is my understanding that the FHWA and TxDOT have in fact engaged in significant discussions on how to move this project forward, and more meetings are being scheduled. Things are moving in what seems to be a very positive direction. We will continue to look to staff to keep us updated, and I will not plan on further action by the commission at this point. That concludes my remarks, I’d like to turn it over to our Executive Director Marc Williams and see if you have any opening comments. TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams: Thank you very much Chairman. I would like to offer the commission an update on the status of our ongoing efforts related to the North Houston Highway Improvement Project. But before I do that, I wanted to call on our Deputy Executive Director Brandye Hendrickson to offer a few comments of her own about the ongoing efforts that she has been leading involving the Federal Highway Administration. So Brandye? TxDOT Deputy Executive Director Brandye Hendrickson: As the Chairman alluded to today, we have had several meetings with the Federal Highway Administration between TxDOT and FHWA leadership, along with the local meetings that have been happening at the staff level with our Houston District and the staff at FHWA.The TxDOT team has been very responsive to multiple requests for information from the FHWA as part not only of the NEPA review but also as part of the Title 6 investigation. I can assure you today that progress is being made. We have come to an agreement with the FHWA that we will actively pursue a voluntary resolution to be compliant as they continue their investigation. And at our request, FHWA has agreed to lift its pause on select portions of the NHHIP, including allowing TxDOT to proceed with detailed design work for Projects 3A and 3B, as well as certain aspects of design work contained in Project 3C. So with that information, I also want to caution that this takes time. Based on my experience of over 15 years working with and for the FHWA, this will not come quickly and it will be something that we will have to work at to bring resolution to. But I promise you that we will continue to stay in close contact, we will work closely with FHWA on working toward a resolution and we will keep you updated on the progress. TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams: Thank you Brandye. In addition to the ongoing work with FHWA that Brandye referenced, we have also continued to be engaged with local stakeholders. For example, Harris County has recently offered to abate their lawsuit to facilitate further communication with TxDOT on some of their areas of concern. And most recently the commission received a letter from the Houston-Galveston Metropolitan Planning Organization that was unanimously supported by the policy board there announcing their continued support for the project. So this project and this process is still evolving, and this time that we have is allowing us an opportunity for this work to continue. While a partial release of the pause on the project is good news, the project has been on pause by FHWA now for nine months and still largely remains under pause. This delay has set the project back a couple of years at least. The department’s original design-build procurement from last year has been canceled. And TxDOT is reassessing our schedule and delivery approach. Even if at this point the NHHIP allocations are not removed from the 10-year Unified Transportation Program, or UTP, the timing of the planned availability of funding within the 10 years of the UTP is impacted. The project is largely pushed out of the department’s letting schedule over the next two years and will likely require that significant portions of the planned funding be adjusted with respect to our four-year transportation improvement program. These changes are a reflection of the reality of the project’s schedule delay, and allows TxDOT to take necessary steps to advance other projects to use available funding in the scheduled of work that the department expects to award over the next few years. Nevertheless, we are optimistic that we will continue to make progress and should we have further success in working with FHWA to allow more elements of the project to proceed we will work to advance the schedule of funding for the NHHIP within our ten-year UTP. And staff will continue to keep the commission updated as these important efforts continue. So with that, Chairman I appreciate the opportunity to make these comments. Texas Transportation Commission Chairman Bruce Bugg: Thank you, thank you Executive Director Williams and thank you for your work Deputy Execuitve Director Hendrickson thank you very much. It’s encouraging news.