10:00 A.M. CONVENE MEETING
Meeting Guidelines Staff will provide instruction and guidance on procedures for the meeting.
Opening Remarks
Consider the approval of the Minutes of the March 9, 2021, special meeting, the March 24, 2021, special meeting, and the March 25, 2021, regular meeting of the Texas Transportation Commission
Contracts Consider the award or rejection of contracts for highway construction and maintenance, and construction and rehabilitation of buildings (Presentation) These proposed minute orders contain information concerning the receipt of bids for highway improvement contracts. The department may reschedule receipt of bids for those projects where the commission rejects all bids. Those bids accepted by the commission will result in conditional contract awards to the low bidders. Contract award conditions may involve securing funding from other sources, the contractor's ability to satisfy federal DBE subcontracting requirements, or other requirements as outlined in the project bid proposal. Highway Improvement and Other Transportation Facilities (see attached itemized list) (MO)
Routine Maintenance (see attached itemized list) (MO)
Construction and Rehabilitation of Buildings (see attached itemized list) (MO)
Aviation Various Counties - Consider the award of federal non-primary entitlement grant funding, federal apportionment grant funding, and state grant funding for airport improvement projects at various locations (MO) Federal law authorizes the award of federal non-primary entitlement grant funding and federal apportionment grant funding to preserve and improve the state's general aviation system. State law authorizes the award of state grant funding for capital improvement projects.
Various Counties - Consider the award of federal funding for General Aviation Airports from the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriation Act (CRRSAA) (MO) The awards identified in this minute order reflect the CRRSAA allocation to federally eligible General Aviation Airports in Texas to prevent, prepare for, and respond to COVID-19.
Public Transportation Various Counties - Consider the award of federal §5310 Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities program funds to eligible subrecipients. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) apportioned additional §5310 funds based on the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (MO) The awards identified in this minute order reflect the allocation of FTA §5310 Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities program funds to eligible subrecipients for operating expenses. The funds were allocated to the state based on the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to prevent, prepare for, and respond to COVID-19.
Various Counties - Consider the award of federal funding to small urban and non-urban areas of the state for projects submitted in the department's 2019 Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside call for projects (MO) The awards identified in this minute order reflect the allocation of federal Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside funds for selected infrastructure projects in population areas of 200,000 or less to construct on- and off-road bicycle and pedestrian accommodations, including sidewalks, shared use paths, and bicycle lanes.
Regional Mobility Authority Webb County - Approve the City of Laredo's request for an exception to the requirements of 43 TAC §26.51(b)(1)(A), concerning eligibility to serve as a director or chief administrative officer of a regional mobility authority, in connection with a member of the board of directors of the Webb County-City of Laredo Regional Mobility Authority appointed by the City of Laredo (MO) Under Title 43 Texas Administrative Code §26.51(b)(1)(A), a person is not eligible to serve as a director or chief administrative officer of a regional mobility authority (RMA) if the person or the person’s spouse is employed by or participates in the management of a business entity or other organization that is regulated by or receives funds from the department, the RMA, or a member county. The City of Laredo appointed Jose Murillo to the Webb County-City of Laredo RMA Board of Directors. Mr. Murillo's spouse serves as executive director of the Imaginarium of South Texas, a non-profit agency that receives funding from the City of Laredo and Webb County. Staff has reviewed the City of Laredo’s request, and determined that the conditions for commission approval of an exception have been met.
Eminent Domain Proceedings Various Counties - Consider the authorization of the filing of condemnation proceedings to acquire real property by eminent domain for non-controlled and controlled access highways (see attached itemized list) (MO) Commission findings, determinations, and authorizations for the state, by motion made in accordance with Senate Bill 18, 82nd Legislature, to acquire by eminent domain, upon the payment of adequate and just compensation, various ownership interests in specific parcels of real property that are needed to develop or improve both non-controlled and controlled access state highways, to include requesting the state attorney general to bring and pursue condemnation suits relating to those specific parcels of real property described in the attached itemized list.
Routine Minute Orders and Reports a. Donations to the Department Various Districts - Consider the acknowledgment of donations with a value of $500 or more, including donations of money, materials, services, or real property, that are made to the department for the purpose of assisting the department in carrying out its functions and duties or for improving access to or from a highway on the state highway system (see attached itemized list) (MO) State statutes require the commission to acknowledge the acceptance of a gift to the department that is valued at $500 or more. By the adoption of this minute order, the commission acknowledges the receipt and acceptance of the property specified in the minute order. b. Real Estate Dispositions The commission must approve the sales, transfers, and exchanges of state rights of way and other real properties that are no longer needed for a state highway purpose. It must also approve, accept, and acknowledge donations to the state of real property that is valued at $500 or more. (1) Bexar County - PA 1502 - Consider an easement release to the underlying fee owner (MO) The district has determined that the easement is no longer needed for highway purposes. The easement may be released to the underlying fee owner. (2) Galveston County - I-45 - Consider the sale of right of way to an abutting landowner (MO) The district has determined that the land is no longer needed for highway purposes. An abutting landowner has requested to purchase the land, and it may be sold to the requester. (3) Harris County - SH 249 - Consider the sale of right of way to the Lone Star College System (MO) The district has determined that the land is no longer needed for highway purposes. Lone Star College System has requested to purchase the land, and it may be sold to the requester. (4) Tarrant County - SH 121 - Consider the sale of right of way to the City of North Richland Hills, Texas (MO) The district has determined that the land is no longer needed for highway purposes. The City of North Richland Hills (city) has requested to purchase the land, and it may be sold to the city. c. Reports (1) Compliance Division Report State law requires the commission to establish a compliance program, which must include a Compliance Division to oversee the program. The Compliance Division is responsible for acting to prevent and detect serious breaches of department policy, fraud, waste, and abuse of office, including any acts of criminal conduct within the department. The Compliance Division is required to provide a monthly report to the commission regarding investigations and a summary of information relating to trends and recommendations. (2) Letting Allocation Status Report Quarterly status report on the FY 2021 letting allocation, the actual allocation utilized through the current month, and proposed remaining highway maintenance and construction contract letting for the fiscal year (Report) This report will provide the current overall allocation status, by district, metropolitan planning organization, and statewide program, of the FY 2021 letting allocation and will also provide the anticipated effect on the letting allocation of remaining proposed highway maintenance and construction letting. (3) Quarterly Cash Report Quarterly report on FY 2021 State Highway Fund 6 cash status (Report) This report updates the commission on the year-to-date cash balance and activity of Fund 6. The report will include original projections and actual revenues/inflows and expenditures/outflows on a cash basis. d. Highway Designations (1) Harrison County - In the city of Marshall, consider redesignating a segment of US 59 as Business US 59-C, designating three segments of US 59 on new locations, designating two segments of US 59 concurrent with SL 390, and extending the designation of SL 390 (MO) This minute order 1) redesignates a segment of US 59 as Business US 59-C from Henderson School Road southward to approximately 1.0 mile south of FM 2625, a distance of approximately 13.9 miles; 2) designates a segment of US 59 as a controlled access facility on a new location from Henderson School Road southward to SL 390, a distance of approximately 3.2 miles; 3) designates a segment of US 59 as a controlled access facility concurrent with SL 390 from Harris Lake Road southeastward to US 80, a distance of approximately 3.5 miles; 4) designates a segment of US 59 as a controlled access facility on a new location and concurrent with SL 390 from US 80 south and southwestward to I-20, a distance of approximately 7.3 miles; 5) designates a segment of US 59 as a controlled access facility on a new location from I-20 south and southwestward to Business US 59-C, a distance of approximately 5.3 miles; and 6) extends the designation of SL 390 on a new location from US 80 south and southwestward to I-20, a distance of approximately 7.3 miles. (2) Kaufman County - In the city of Kaufman, consider designating SH 34 on a new location and redesignating SH 34 as Business State Highway 34-G (MO) This minute order 1) designates SH 34 on the state highway system on a new location from SH 243 southward to US 175, then southward and westward to the intersection of S. Washington Street, a distance of approximately 3.9 miles; and 2) redesignates a segment of SH 34 as Business State Highway 34-G on the state highway system from SH 243 southward to US 175, a distance of approximately 1.0 mile. e. Transportation Planning (1) SH 121 Various Counties - Consider concurrence with the Regional Transportation Council of the North Central Texas Council of Governments' funding of construction and other project development costs of projects to be advanced through the use of payments received from the North Texas Tollway Authority in accordance with the SH 121 Toll Project Agreement (MO) The department has established a separate fund to account for and track projects and project costs funded with the SH 121 payments. This minute order authorizes the funding of additional project costs and changes to the list of previously-approved projects. The project costs to be funded were selected through a cooperative process with the Regional Transportation Council. (2) SH 161 Various Counties - Consider concurrence with the Regional Transportation Council of the North Central Texas Council of Governments' funding of construction and other project development costs of projects to be advanced through the use of payments received from the North Texas Tollway Authority in accordance with the SH 161 Toll Project Agreement (MO) The department has established a separate fund to account for and track projects and project costs funded with the SH 161 payments. This minute order authorizes changes to the list of previously-approved projects. f. Designation of Access Control Brazoria County - SH 288, in the City of Manvel - Consider the designation of one location on the SH 288 northbound frontage road at which access will be permitted to the abutting property (MO) The designation of one 45-foot break in the control-of-access line will allow the abutting landowner to open one commercial driveway for access to and from the SH 288 northbound frontage road. The district has determined that access may be permitted at the designated location. g. Land Acquisitions for Facilities Various Counties - Consider the grant of authority to the department to acquire real property for facilities (MO) The department is in the process of acquiring real property for the construction of new or relocated facilities and the expansion of existing sites. Funds for the purchase of these properties were appropriated by the 86th Legislature, General Appropriations Act for the 2020-21 Biennium. The department requests the commission’s authorization to enter into purchase contracts and related documents to complete the acquisition of the listed properties. h. Speed Zones Various Counties - Consider the establishment or alteration of regulatory and construction speed zones on various sections of highways in the state (MO) This minute order establishes or alters regulatory and construction speed zones on various sections of highways in the state.
Item 9 - Executive Session, Open Comment, & Adjourn
Executive Session Pursuant to Government Code, Chapter 551 a. Section 551.071 - Consultation with and advice from legal counsel regarding any item on this agenda, pending or contemplated litigation, or other legal matters. b. Section 551.074 - Deliberate on the election and compensation of an interim executive director of the Texas Department of Transportation. c. Section 551.074 - Deliberate on the search for a new executive director of the Texas Department of Transportation. d. Section 551.074 - Deliberate on the election and compensation of an executive director of the Texas Department of Transportation. OPEN COMMENT PERIOD - At the conclusion of all other agenda items, the commission will allow an open comment period, not to exceed one hour, to receive public comment on any other matter that is under the jurisdiction of the department. No action will be taken. Each speaker will be allowed a maximum of three minutes. Speakers should be on the phone line prior to the beginning of the open comment period. ADJOURN
10:00 A.M. CONVENE MEETING
Meeting Guidelines Staff will provide instruction and guidance on procedures for the meeting.
Opening Remarks
Consider the approval of the Minutes of the March 9, 2021, special meeting, the March 24, 2021, special meeting, and the March 25, 2021, regular meeting of the Texas Transportation Commission
Contracts Consider the award or rejection of contracts for highway construction and maintenance, and construction and rehabilitation of buildings (Presentation) These proposed minute orders contain information concerning the receipt of bids for highway improvement contracts. The department may reschedule receipt of bids for those projects where the commission rejects all bids. Those bids accepted by the commission will result in conditional contract awards to the low bidders. Contract award conditions may involve securing funding from other sources, the contractor's ability to satisfy federal DBE subcontracting requirements, or other requirements as outlined in the project bid proposal. Highway Improvement and Other Transportation Facilities (see attached itemized list) (MO)
Routine Maintenance (see attached itemized list) (MO)
Construction and Rehabilitation of Buildings (see attached itemized list) (MO)
Aviation Various Counties - Consider the award of federal non-primary entitlement grant funding, federal apportionment grant funding, and state grant funding for airport improvement projects at various locations (MO) Federal law authorizes the award of federal non-primary entitlement grant funding and federal apportionment grant funding to preserve and improve the state's general aviation system. State law authorizes the award of state grant funding for capital improvement projects.
Various Counties - Consider the award of federal funding for General Aviation Airports from the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriation Act (CRRSAA) (MO) The awards identified in this minute order reflect the CRRSAA allocation to federally eligible General Aviation Airports in Texas to prevent, prepare for, and respond to COVID-19.
Public Transportation Various Counties - Consider the award of federal §5310 Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities program funds to eligible subrecipients. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) apportioned additional §5310 funds based on the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (MO) The awards identified in this minute order reflect the allocation of FTA §5310 Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities program funds to eligible subrecipients for operating expenses. The funds were allocated to the state based on the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to prevent, prepare for, and respond to COVID-19.
Various Counties - Consider the award of federal funding to small urban and non-urban areas of the state for projects submitted in the department's 2019 Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside call for projects (MO) The awards identified in this minute order reflect the allocation of federal Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside funds for selected infrastructure projects in population areas of 200,000 or less to construct on- and off-road bicycle and pedestrian accommodations, including sidewalks, shared use paths, and bicycle lanes.
Regional Mobility Authority Webb County - Approve the City of Laredo's request for an exception to the requirements of 43 TAC §26.51(b)(1)(A), concerning eligibility to serve as a director or chief administrative officer of a regional mobility authority, in connection with a member of the board of directors of the Webb County-City of Laredo Regional Mobility Authority appointed by the City of Laredo (MO) Under Title 43 Texas Administrative Code §26.51(b)(1)(A), a person is not eligible to serve as a director or chief administrative officer of a regional mobility authority (RMA) if the person or the person’s spouse is employed by or participates in the management of a business entity or other organization that is regulated by or receives funds from the department, the RMA, or a member county. The City of Laredo appointed Jose Murillo to the Webb County-City of Laredo RMA Board of Directors. Mr. Murillo's spouse serves as executive director of the Imaginarium of South Texas, a non-profit agency that receives funding from the City of Laredo and Webb County. Staff has reviewed the City of Laredo’s request, and determined that the conditions for commission approval of an exception have been met.
Eminent Domain Proceedings Various Counties - Consider the authorization of the filing of condemnation proceedings to acquire real property by eminent domain for non-controlled and controlled access highways (see attached itemized list) (MO) Commission findings, determinations, and authorizations for the state, by motion made in accordance with Senate Bill 18, 82nd Legislature, to acquire by eminent domain, upon the payment of adequate and just compensation, various ownership interests in specific parcels of real property that are needed to develop or improve both non-controlled and controlled access state highways, to include requesting the state attorney general to bring and pursue condemnation suits relating to those specific parcels of real property described in the attached itemized list.
Routine Minute Orders and Reports a. Donations to the Department Various Districts - Consider the acknowledgment of donations with a value of $500 or more, including donations of money, materials, services, or real property, that are made to the department for the purpose of assisting the department in carrying out its functions and duties or for improving access to or from a highway on the state highway system (see attached itemized list) (MO) State statutes require the commission to acknowledge the acceptance of a gift to the department that is valued at $500 or more. By the adoption of this minute order, the commission acknowledges the receipt and acceptance of the property specified in the minute order. b. Real Estate Dispositions The commission must approve the sales, transfers, and exchanges of state rights of way and other real properties that are no longer needed for a state highway purpose. It must also approve, accept, and acknowledge donations to the state of real property that is valued at $500 or more. (1) Bexar County - PA 1502 - Consider an easement release to the underlying fee owner (MO) The district has determined that the easement is no longer needed for highway purposes. The easement may be released to the underlying fee owner. (2) Galveston County - I-45 - Consider the sale of right of way to an abutting landowner (MO) The district has determined that the land is no longer needed for highway purposes. An abutting landowner has requested to purchase the land, and it may be sold to the requester. (3) Harris County - SH 249 - Consider the sale of right of way to the Lone Star College System (MO) The district has determined that the land is no longer needed for highway purposes. Lone Star College System has requested to purchase the land, and it may be sold to the requester. (4) Tarrant County - SH 121 - Consider the sale of right of way to the City of North Richland Hills, Texas (MO) The district has determined that the land is no longer needed for highway purposes. The City of North Richland Hills (city) has requested to purchase the land, and it may be sold to the city. c. Reports (1) Compliance Division Report State law requires the commission to establish a compliance program, which must include a Compliance Division to oversee the program. The Compliance Division is responsible for acting to prevent and detect serious breaches of department policy, fraud, waste, and abuse of office, including any acts of criminal conduct within the department. The Compliance Division is required to provide a monthly report to the commission regarding investigations and a summary of information relating to trends and recommendations. (2) Letting Allocation Status Report Quarterly status report on the FY 2021 letting allocation, the actual allocation utilized through the current month, and proposed remaining highway maintenance and construction contract letting for the fiscal year (Report) This report will provide the current overall allocation status, by district, metropolitan planning organization, and statewide program, of the FY 2021 letting allocation and will also provide the anticipated effect on the letting allocation of remaining proposed highway maintenance and construction letting. (3) Quarterly Cash Report Quarterly report on FY 2021 State Highway Fund 6 cash status (Report) This report updates the commission on the year-to-date cash balance and activity of Fund 6. The report will include original projections and actual revenues/inflows and expenditures/outflows on a cash basis. d. Highway Designations (1) Harrison County - In the city of Marshall, consider redesignating a segment of US 59 as Business US 59-C, designating three segments of US 59 on new locations, designating two segments of US 59 concurrent with SL 390, and extending the designation of SL 390 (MO) This minute order 1) redesignates a segment of US 59 as Business US 59-C from Henderson School Road southward to approximately 1.0 mile south of FM 2625, a distance of approximately 13.9 miles; 2) designates a segment of US 59 as a controlled access facility on a new location from Henderson School Road southward to SL 390, a distance of approximately 3.2 miles; 3) designates a segment of US 59 as a controlled access facility concurrent with SL 390 from Harris Lake Road southeastward to US 80, a distance of approximately 3.5 miles; 4) designates a segment of US 59 as a controlled access facility on a new location and concurrent with SL 390 from US 80 south and southwestward to I-20, a distance of approximately 7.3 miles; 5) designates a segment of US 59 as a controlled access facility on a new location from I-20 south and southwestward to Business US 59-C, a distance of approximately 5.3 miles; and 6) extends the designation of SL 390 on a new location from US 80 south and southwestward to I-20, a distance of approximately 7.3 miles. (2) Kaufman County - In the city of Kaufman, consider designating SH 34 on a new location and redesignating SH 34 as Business State Highway 34-G (MO) This minute order 1) designates SH 34 on the state highway system on a new location from SH 243 southward to US 175, then southward and westward to the intersection of S. Washington Street, a distance of approximately 3.9 miles; and 2) redesignates a segment of SH 34 as Business State Highway 34-G on the state highway system from SH 243 southward to US 175, a distance of approximately 1.0 mile. e. Transportation Planning (1) SH 121 Various Counties - Consider concurrence with the Regional Transportation Council of the North Central Texas Council of Governments' funding of construction and other project development costs of projects to be advanced through the use of payments received from the North Texas Tollway Authority in accordance with the SH 121 Toll Project Agreement (MO) The department has established a separate fund to account for and track projects and project costs funded with the SH 121 payments. This minute order authorizes the funding of additional project costs and changes to the list of previously-approved projects. The project costs to be funded were selected through a cooperative process with the Regional Transportation Council. (2) SH 161 Various Counties - Consider concurrence with the Regional Transportation Council of the North Central Texas Council of Governments' funding of construction and other project development costs of projects to be advanced through the use of payments received from the North Texas Tollway Authority in accordance with the SH 161 Toll Project Agreement (MO) The department has established a separate fund to account for and track projects and project costs funded with the SH 161 payments. This minute order authorizes changes to the list of previously-approved projects. f. Designation of Access Control Brazoria County - SH 288, in the City of Manvel - Consider the designation of one location on the SH 288 northbound frontage road at which access will be permitted to the abutting property (MO) The designation of one 45-foot break in the control-of-access line will allow the abutting landowner to open one commercial driveway for access to and from the SH 288 northbound frontage road. The district has determined that access may be permitted at the designated location. g. Land Acquisitions for Facilities Various Counties - Consider the grant of authority to the department to acquire real property for facilities (MO) The department is in the process of acquiring real property for the construction of new or relocated facilities and the expansion of existing sites. Funds for the purchase of these properties were appropriated by the 86th Legislature, General Appropriations Act for the 2020-21 Biennium. The department requests the commission’s authorization to enter into purchase contracts and related documents to complete the acquisition of the listed properties. h. Speed Zones Various Counties - Consider the establishment or alteration of regulatory and construction speed zones on various sections of highways in the state (MO) This minute order establishes or alters regulatory and construction speed zones on various sections of highways in the state.
Item 9 - Executive Session, Open Comment, & Adjourn
Executive Session Pursuant to Government Code, Chapter 551 a. Section 551.071 - Consultation with and advice from legal counsel regarding any item on this agenda, pending or contemplated litigation, or other legal matters. b. Section 551.074 - Deliberate on the election and compensation of an interim executive director of the Texas Department of Transportation. c. Section 551.074 - Deliberate on the search for a new executive director of the Texas Department of Transportation. d. Section 551.074 - Deliberate on the election and compensation of an executive director of the Texas Department of Transportation. OPEN COMMENT PERIOD - At the conclusion of all other agenda items, the commission will allow an open comment period, not to exceed one hour, to receive public comment on any other matter that is under the jurisdiction of the department. No action will be taken. Each speaker will be allowed a maximum of three minutes. Speakers should be on the phone line prior to the beginning of the open comment period. ADJOURN