[10:00 A.M. CONVENE MEETING]
[00:00:08]
IT IS 10:00 A.M., AND I CALL TO ORDER THE MEETING OF THE JUNE 20, 2025 MEETING OF THE TEXAS TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.NOTE FOR THE RECORD THAT PUBLIC NOTICE OF THIS MEETING CONTAINING ALL ITEMS ON THE AGENDA WAS FILED WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE AT 1:40 P.M.
ON JUNE THE 12TH, 2025, WHICH IS, AT LEAST, SEVEN DAYS PRIOR TO THE MEETING IN ACCORDANCE WITH GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.044.
AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THAT BEFORE WE BEGIN TODAY'S MEETING YOU PLACE ALL CELL PHONES AND OTHER COMMUNICATION DEVICES IN THE SILENT OR OFF MODE.
TODAY COMMENT OR REGISTER YOUR OPINION ON AN AGENDA ITEM, PLEASE COMPLETE A YELLOW CARD.
PLEASE IDENTIFY THE AGENDA ITEM, BRING THAT CARD UP TO OUR CLERK, MISS BROWN, HERE ON THE TODAYEST TO MY RIGHT. WHEN WE GET TO THAT AGENDA ITEM, AND AFTER THE STAFF HAS PRERNTED THE AGENDA ITEM, I WILL CALL YOUR NAME TO COME UP TO THE PODIUM.
WHEN YOU COME UP TO THE PODIUM TO SPEAK, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, THE ORGANIZATION YOU REPRESENT, AND THEN STATE YOUR REMARKS.
IF YOUR REMARKS DO NOT CONCERN AN AGENDA ITEM, WE WILL TAKE YOUR COMMENTS DURING THE OPEN COMMENT AT THE END OF THE MEETING.
FOR THOSE COMMENTS, PLEASE COMPLETE A BLUE CARD.
WHEN YOU COME UP TO THE PODIUM TO SPEAK AND YOU HAVE PRESENTED A BLUE CARD TO MRS. BROWN OR THE DAIS, IF YOU'RE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF AN ORGANIZATION, PLEASE LET US KNOW THE NAME OF THAT ORGANIZATION OF PLEASE NOTE THAT DURING OPENING COMMENT, WHICH IS WHEN YOU HAVE THE BLUE COMMENT CARDSISH THE COMMISSION IS PROHIBITED BY LAW FROM ANSWERING QUESTIONS OR ENGAGING IN A DIALOGUE WITH YU CONCERNING REMARKS THAT ARE NOT ON THE POSTED AGENDA.
REGARDLESS OF WHETHER YOU SPEAK ON AN AGENDA ITEM OR DURING THE OPEN COMMENT PERIOD, YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO PROVIDE YOUR REMARKS.
WHEN 60 SECONDS REMAIN, THE YELLOW LIGHT ON THE PODIUM TIMER WILL FLASH WHEENG YOU SHOULD START WRAPPING UP YOUR COMMENTS.
WHEN THE RED LIGHT FLASHES YOUR THREE MINUTES HAVE EXPIRED.
BEFORE WE BEGIN TODAY'S MEETING, I'M GOING TO TURN THE MEETING
[1. Safety Briefing]
OVER TO OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MARC WILLIAMS. GOOD MORNING, MARC.>> GOOD MORNING, CHAIRMAN, COMMISSIONERS.
AT THIS TIME I'D LIKE TO ASK FOR EVERYONE'S FULL ATTENTION TO BE DIRECTED TO THE SCREENS AS WE SHOW THE GREER BUILDING SAFETY VIDEO DESCRIBING OUR EMERGENCY EXITS AND OTHER EMERGENCY PROCEDURES.
>> ATTENTION, PLEASE, THE FOLLOWING IS A SAFETY BRIEFING TO HELP ENSURE YOUR PERSONAL SAFETY WHILE AT THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION GREER BUILDING.
IN CASE OF A MEDICAL EMERGENCY, PLEASE CALL 911.
AN AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATOR UNIT IS LOCATED ON LEVEL ONE AT THE MAIN LOBBY AT THE SECURITY BOOTH.
FIRST AID KITS ARE MARKED AND LOCATED ON EACH FLOOR.
FIRE EXTINGUISHERS ARE MARKED AND LOCATED ON EACH FLOOR.
IN THE EVENT OF AN EVACUATION, PROCEED TO THE NEAREST EXIT.
ONCE OUTSIDE, PROCEED TO THE WEST PARKING LOT OF THE GREER BUILDING LOCATED AT THE CORNER OF CONGRESS AVENUE AND 11TH STREET.
IN CASE OF A TORNADO OR INCLEMENT WEATHER, STAY INSIDE.
MOVE AWAY FROM EXTERIOR WALLS AND WINDOWS.
THE DESIGNATED SHELTERS ARE STAIRWELLS, BASEMENT, INTERIOR HALLWAYS AND CENTRALLY LOCATED RESTROOMS. IN CASE OF ACTIVE SHOOTER OR BOMB THREAT, FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEM AND ON SITE SECURITY PERSONNEL FOR MORE DETAILS.
HAVE A SAFE AND PRODUCTIVE MEETING.
[2. Opening Comments from Commissioners and Executive Director]
THAT CONCLUDES OUR BRIEFING.NOW WE WILL OPEN WITH COMMENTS FROM MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS.
I'D LIKE TO START WITH COMMENTS FROM COMMISSIONER ALVIS.
GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONER ALVIS.
>> CHAIRMAN, I'VE GOT NO COMMENTS.
>> I'M LOOKING AT THE COMMENTS.
>> I HAVE NO COMMENTS, BUT I WOULD LIKE, I ATTENDED SPUR 399 GROUNDBREAKING EARLIER THIS WEEK, AND I JUST WANT TO QUICKLY THANK ALL THE TEAM MEMBERS WITH THE DALLAS DISTRICT FOR A GREAT GROUNDBREAKING EVENT.
>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER VAUGHN, FOR BEING THERE.
>> I HAVE NO OPENING COMMENTS SO WE'RE GOING TO TURN IT DIRECTLY BACK OVER TO OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
>> WE'LL GO BACK ON THE CLOCK AFTER 30 MINUTES.
>> I APPRECIATE EACH OF THE COMMISSIONER'S GRANTING ME THEIR
[00:05:03]
TIME.SO WHAT I WANTED TO DO, IF WE CAN BRING UP A SLIDE.
I'LL LET EVERYONE ADMIRE COMMISSIONER ALVIS'S NAME.
WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS TALK TO YOU ABOUT SAFETY.
I WANT TO AT LEAST A COUPLE TIMES A YEAR, AND MAYBE ONCE A QUARTER, GIVE YOU FEEDBACK ON WHAT'S GOING ON WITH OUR SAFETY WORK.
YOU SEE PRE-COVID, WE WERE SMALLER BARS AND MOVING DOWN.
THEN WE HAVE COVID AND WE MOVED UP DRAMATICALLY DURING COVID.
THEN WE STARTED TO TREND DOWN AGAIN BUT NOT QUITE BACK AS FAR AS WHERE WE WERE BEFORE COVID.
LAST YEAR IN 2024, WE ENDED UP WITH 4,000159 FATALITIES.
COMPARED TO 4,291 IN 2023, SO A 2.3 REDUCTION IN LIVES LOST.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW HOW WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW.
SO AT THIS POINT WE'VE ARE 1,063 CRASHES, 1,944 FATALITIES YEAR-TO-DATE.
AN AVERAGE NUMBER OF FATALITIES PER DAY OF 9.4.
SO LET'S HAVE SOME REFERENCE POINTS FOR THAT.
PRIOR YEAR THE FATAL CRASHES 01,559, SO DOWN TO 1,463 FROM 01,559.
FATALITIES DOWN TO 1,594 TO 01,701.
AVERAGE FATALITIES PER DAY DOWN AT 9.4 COMPARED 20 A YEAR AGO 9.9.
THAT LAST YEAR WAS AN IMPROVEMENT OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR-TO-DATE EVEN RIGHT NOW EVEN.
WE'RE AT 10.2 FATALITIES PER DAY THEN 9.9.
CURRENTLY WE'RE RUNNING 9.4 YEAR-OVER-YEAR, A TREND THAT'S DOWN 6.3%.
OKAY? NOW, WHAT I WANT TO DO WITH THAT DATA, REMEMBER THAT LAST TIME WE SAW THE VIDEO, LAST TIME I DID A SAFETY UPDATE, I DID A VIDEO AND IT WAS A GENTLEMAN BEING INTERVIEWED.
HE WAS ASKED, WE HAVE THIS MANY -- SO 1,701 JUST TO MAKE UP A NUMBER FATALITIES.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT IT? OH, THAT'S TERRIBLE.
WELL, WHAT WOULD BE AN ACCEPTABLE NUMBER.
SO THEN THEY START BRINGING HIS WIFE ACROSS THE STAGE, HIS KIDS ACROSS THE STAGE, HIS AUNTS ACROSS THE STAGE AND STARTS BRINGING HIS FRIENDS AND FAMILY.
AS THEY GET OUT THERE, THEY SAY THAT'S 75 PEOPLE.
HOW MANY FATALITIES DO YOU THINK IS THE RIGHT NUMBER.
OKAY? HOW DO WE DO THAT? THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO RIGHT QUICK.
HOW DO WE DO THAT? WE DO THAT BY OWNING THIS.
YOU DON'T OWN IT -- WE DO A LOT OF EDUCATION.
WE WORK VERY HARD ON CLICK IT OR TICKET, OUR READER BOARD SIGNS.
BUT WHAT MATTERS IN ANYTHING THAT YOU DO IS WORD OF MOUTH.
ISN'T IT REALLY? THAT'S WHAT GOES A LOT FURTHER THAN ANY OF YOUR EFFORTS THAT ARE COMMERCIAL.
I KNOW THAT FROM MY EXPERIENCE ANYWAY IN BUSINESS I'M DESCRIBING.
SO WHAT I'M CHARGING YOU WITH.
WE'LL DO OUR PART ON EDUCATION.
YOU NEED TO DO YOUR PART ON EDUCATION.
YOU'RE THE ONE THAT'S IN THE CAR WITH YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS.
YOU'RE THE ONE THAT HAS INFLUENCE OVER PEOPLE IN YOUR LIVES.
YOU CAN ASK THEM TO BUCKLE UP.
YOU CAN RENEWS TO START THE CAR UNTIL EVERYBODY BUCKLES UP.
YOU CAN MAKE THAT SOMETHING YOU DO.
YOU CAN BE THE EXAMPLE OF NOT SPEEDING.
WE KNOW RIGHT NOW THAT SPEED IS ONE OF THE BIG PROBLEMS WE HAVE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS CAUSING A LOT OF OUR FATAL ACCIDENTS AND OUR FATALITIES.
SO MY CHALLENGE IS THAT YOU'RE THE EDUCATION PIECE THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.
SO IT'S YOUR FAMILY, YOUR FRIENDS.
WE ALL HAVE RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN BY BEING PART OF THAT, OKAY? SO IT'S EDUCATION, ENFORCEMENT, ENGINEERING, WHICH I'LL TALK ABOUT IN A SECOND, AND INNOVATION.
THOSE ARE THE THINGS WE CAN DO TO PULL THIS NUMBER DOWN DRAMATICALLY.
THIS ONE I'LL GIVE ANECDOTALLY INFORMATION ABOUT.
IF YOU LOOK BEHIND US YOU'LL SEE
[00:10:01]
INTERSTATE 20 IN MIDLAND, TEXAS, GOING OVER A ROAD, MIDKIFF ROAD.DAYS GOING BY MIDKIFF WAS AN OVERPASS, IT WENT OVER MIDKIFF.
ANOTHER BRIDGE THAT IS COTTON FLAT BRIDGE.
NOW THE INTERSTATE GOES OVER THAT ROAD.
SO WE'VE RAISED THE OF THE BRIDGES.
THE BRIDGES ARE ON MIDKIFF AND COTTON FLAT ROAD AS OPPOSED TO OVER THE INTERSTATE.
THAT MATTERS GREATLY BECAUSE COTTON FLAT WAS HIT TWO TIMES WITH EQUIPMENT IN THE YEAR 2020.
SO BRIDGE STRIKES ARE A PROBLEM OUT THERE.
BIG EQUIPMENT IN THE OILFIELD AND TALL EQUIPMENT IN THE OILFIELD.
FROM MY EXPERIENCE, MALFUNCTIONING EQUIPMENT.
YOU CAN'T GET THE CRANE DOWN ALL THE WAY OR SOME SUCH LIKE THOUGH.
ANYWAY, COTTON FLAT BRIDGE WAS HIT TWICE.
IT'S THE BRIDGE GROUP AND DISTRICT ENGINEERING OUT THERE DESCRIBED IF THAT BRIDGE HAD ANY OTHER SUBSTANTIAL BRIDGE, IT WOULD BE GONE.
YOU CAN IMAGINE WHAT THAT WOULD DO ON AN INTERSTATE.
THE OTHER THINGS I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT THIS ARE THINGS THAT AREN'T THE WAY WE ALL THINK, I DON'T THINK, AS THE PUBLIC.
YOU KNOW, THERE WERE ONLY FOUR WAYS FOR PEOPLE SOUTH OF I-20 TO GET INTO MIDLAND.
IT'S A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF PEOPLE.
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TRYING TO GET TO WORK, TRYING TO GET TO THE DOCTOR, TRYING TO GET TO SCHOOL.
THIS GROUP OUT HERE WORKED REALLY WELL.
THE COUNTY JUDGE IS TERRY JOHNSON, MAYOR LAURIE BLONG.
I DON'T KNOW WHO WAS WITH THE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.
BUT THOSE FOLKS ALL WORKED WITH ERIC TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO CHANGE BUS ROUTE PICKUPS FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND HOW TO USE THE TWO OPEN ROADS TO GET TO AND FROM MIDLAND TO THE SOUTH BECAUSE THESE TWO WERE SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY.
SO THESE FOLKS LOST 50% OF THEIR ACCESS TO WHERE THEY GO TO GO TO WORK TO DO ALL THOSE THINGS.
IT TAKES A LOT OF WORK WITH LOCAL FOLKS AND ANOTHER KEY THING THAT HAPPENED HERE.
ONE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY HAD ONE PROJECT AND THE OTHER CONSTRUCTION COMPANY HAD THE OTHER PROJECT.
SO YOU HAD ONE ON MIDKIFF AND ONE ON COTTON FLAT.
THESE FOLKS WERE SUPPOSED TO BE LIKE WE'RE DONE, YOU START.
SO THEY HAD TO COORDINATE TO MAKE SURE WHEN WE'RE REROUTING TRAFFIC WE'RE WORKING ONE CONTRACTOR WITH ANOTHER CONTRACTOR.
CERTAINLY THE GROUP IN ODESSA, ERIC AND HIS TEAM BEING HEAVILY INVOLVED IN THAT, ROBERTS THE ENGINEER HEAVILY INVOLVED IN THAT.
YOU'RE WORKING WITH TWO CONTRACTING COMPANIES AT THE SAME TIME ON TWO OVERPASSES.
ANYWAY, SO YOU HAVE LOCAL PEOPLE, YOU HAVE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
A GROUP IN ABILENE, EXTERNAL ENGINEERING COMPANIES, OUR GROUPS IN ABILENE, TP&D, PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT, IF I GET THAT RIGHT, I DON'T KNOW, BUT THEY ARE THE PLANNERS.
AND THE GROUP IN HOUSTON, BECAUSE THEY DO PROJECTS LIKE THIS A LOT MORE OFTEN THAN THE GROUP IN ODESSA, THEY WERE INVOLVED IN THE DESIGN.
SO I JUST WANT YOU TO SEE HOW BIG THIS IS AS A TEAM PROCESS AND TELL YOU HOW PROUD I AM OF WATCHING THAT THING COME TOGETHER AND OPEN UP AND MAKE IT MUCH SAFER.
THOSE TRUCKS WITH THE BIG EQUIPMENT GO OVER THE TOP NOW.
TRAFFIC MOVES FASTER BECAUSE WE MOVE THE EXIT RAMPS WAY FURTHER BACK.
YOU'RE TRYING TO EXIT, YOU'RE ACTUALLY STACKED UP ON THE INTERSTATE WAITING TO GET TO THE EXIT TO GET OFF.
SO MOVING THESE WAY BACK SO THAT THE STACK IS OFF OF THE INTERSTATE INSTEAD OF ON THE INTERSTATE IS A LOT SAFER.
AND SO IT'S A WONDERFUL EFFORT.
I JUST WANTED TO KIND OF SHARE THAT WITH YOU.
THE SPEAKER -- FORMER SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OVER ACROSS THE STREET AND CHAIRMAN OF TRANSPORTATION CURRENTLY IN THE TEXAS HOUSE WAS THERE, MIDLAND COUNTY JUDGE TERRY JOHNSON WAS THERE.
MIDLAND COMMISSIONER STEVEN VAEA THERE.
COWBOYS ANNIE BURKS AND JACK LEAD ALSO MPO AND HAS A LOT TO DO WITH GETTING LOCAL MONEYS TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN AND COME
[00:15:02]
TGETHER.IT WAS A CULMINATION OF A LOT OF PEOPLE MAKING THINGS HAPPEN.
SO I WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT.
>> ONE THING I'D LIKE TO ADD, COMMENT ON THE TEXAS FATALITIES WE'RE LOOKING AT.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WHAT TXDOT IS DOING, THE ENGINEERING AND EVERYTHING WE'RE TRYING TO DO.
BUT YOU'VE HEARD ME SAY BEFORE, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THE PUBLIC HEARS, THIS IS A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY.
EVERYBODY THAT GETS BEHIND THE WHEEL OF THEIR CAR OR TRUCK LA TO BE WORKING IN CONCERT WITH THE TEXAS DEPOSITION OF TRANSPORTATION BECAUSE WE ARE TRYING TO DO WHAT WE CAN DO TO REDUCE TEXAS FATALITIES IN TEXAS, AND WE TAKE IT VERY, VERY SERIOUSLY.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, ONCE A TEXAN GETS BEHIND A WHEEL OF HIS OR HER CAR OR TRUCK, IT'S ON THEM TO SHOW THAT RESPONSIBILITY.
THAT'S WHY I LIKE TO CALL IT A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY.
BECAUSE I'M LOOKING OUT AT THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MORE THAN 13,000 EMPLOYEES OF THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION THAT WORK ON THIS EVERY DAY.
THEN WE'VE GOT ALL THE MEMBERS OF AGC THAT ARE WORKING WITH US IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PLANS AND EVERYTHING EVERY DAY.
SO WE HAVE TO RELY UPON TEXANS WHEN THEY GET BEHIND THE WHEEL OF THEIR CAR OR TRUCK.
WE ARE DEPENDENT UPON YOU AT THAT POINT.
SO PLEASE KEEP THAT IN MIND, AND THEN WE CAN HOLISTICALLY BRING THESE FATALITIES REALLY DOWN WHICH IS WHAT OUR OVERALL GOAL IS.
I JUST WANTED TO ADD THAT WITH YOUR PERMISSION.
AT THIS TIME I'LL TURN IT OVER TO OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MARC WILLIAMS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CHAIRMAN.
I HAD A COUPLE OF ANNOUNCEMENTS THAT I WANTED TO SHARE WITH EVERYBODY.
FIRST I SHARED LAST MONTH I BELIEVE THE VOTING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF TEXAS IS UNDER WAY FOR JUST A LITTLE BIT LONGER, BECAUSE TODAY IS THE LAST DAY TO VOTE FOR THAT.
THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE THAT OVERSEES THE INVESTMENTS WE MAKE INTO OUR RETIREMENTS THROUGH ERS, ALL EXISTING EMPLOYEES WITH THE DEPARTMENT AND RETIREES ARE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE.
SO IF YOU ALL HAVEN'T VOTED, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO SO.
AND I WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT ONE OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT'S RUNNING FOR THAT IS BRIAN BARTH, OUR DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, WHO YOU KNOW.
HE'S RUNNING TO CONTINUE ON IN THE ROLE HE CURRENTLY SERVES ON THE ERS BOARD.
THERE'S ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL THAT'S RUNNING AS WELL, TOO, SO JUST WOULD INVITE PEOPLE TO EDUCATE YOURSELVES AND VOTE APPROPRIATELY AND TO BE AWARE THAT CLOSES AT 5:00 TODAY.
SO BE SURE TO LOG IN AND LOG YOUR VOTES ON.
ANOTHER ITEM I WANTED TO MENTION, TODAY IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER, THERE'S A NOTIFICATION CALLED NEPA DELEGATES, PARTNERED IN NEPA PROGRAM, PUBLISHED A PROPOSED EXTENSION TO THAT PARTNERSHIP AND IS ALLOWING US AS A STATE TO CONTINUE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ADMINISTERING PANNED OVERSEEING FEDERAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESS THAT HAS REALLY HELPED TO SERVE, TO EXPEDITE TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS.
THIS NEW AGREEMENT WILL INCLUDE REFINEMENTS THAT ARE REALLY A SIGNIFICANT STEP FORWARD IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF THIS RESPONSIBILITY.
WE APPRECIATE WORKING WITH ADMISSION, TXDOT AND TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO MOVE THIS FORWARD.
I ALSO WANT TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION TO BRANDIES AND DOUG AND MANY OTHERS WITH TXDOT THAT HAVE BEEN PART OF THAT EFFORT TO GET THIS DELEGATION RENEWED.
SO IT IS UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, AS THINGS ARE WHEN THEY ARE POSTED TO THE FEDERAL REGISTER BEFORE IT IS FINALLY ADOPTED BY THE U.S. DOT.
THAT PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS OPEN FOR 15 DAYS.
SO WOULD ENCOURAGE THE PUBLIC TO TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A COMMENT ON THAT.
THE LAST ITEM THAT I WANTED TO MENTION, WE HAVE A SLIDE FOR THIS, IS AS COMMISSIONER VAUGHN ACKNOWLEDGED, WE WERE ABLE TO CELEBRATE THE SPUR 399
[00:20:01]
GROUNDBREAKING.COMMISSIONER VAUGHN WAS ABLE TO JOHNNY US THERE ALONG WITH ON THE RIGHT IS OUR DISTRICT ENGINEER, SUSAN CLEMENTS WHOM YOU ALL KNOW, ALONG WITH OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONER FROM COLLIN COUNTY, WHO ALSO JOINED US THERE.
AND THE SPUR 399 PROJECT THROUGH COLLIN COUNTY IS ONE OF THE MOST CONGESTED SEGMENTS OF ROADWAYS IN TEXAS.
IT IS A TEXAS CLEAR LANES PROJECT.
IT IS REALLY THE FIRST STEP OF THE EFFORT TO IMPROVE NOT ONLY 399, SPUR 399 CORRIDOR BUT ALSO THE 380 CORRIDOR ACROSS NORTH TEXAS.
YOU ALL WERE VERY INSTRUMENTAL TWO YEARS AGO OR ABOUT A YEAR AGO TO FUND THIS INVESTMENT FOR 3 380 IN COLLIN COUNTY.
WE HAVE MORE INVESTMENTS TO CONSIDER AND MAKE.
WE HAVE A LOT OF RESOURCES FOR US TO BEGIN TO MOVE AHEAD AND START BREAKING GROUND, TURNING DIRT, AS WE LIKE TO SAY, AND GET THIS VERY IMPORTANT PROJECT GOING.
THIS MARKED THE BEGINNING OF THE WORK ON 399 BUT IT'S THE KICKOFF OF REALLY WHAT WILL ULTIMATELY BE MORE THAN $8 MILLION OF INVESTMENT ON THIS 399 AND 380 CORRIDOR.
SO COMMISSIONER VAUGHN, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR TAKING TIME TO JOIN US AT THIS EVENT LAST TUESDAY, I GUESS.
CHAIRMAN, THAT CONCLUDED MY COMMENTS, SO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO OFFER THOSE REMARKS.
AND THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER VAUGHN FOR ATTENDING THE EVENT AS WELL.
CONSIDER MINUTES, I WANT YOU TO KNOW, BRIAN, I VOTED DAY ONE FO.
THIS AFTERNOON TO GET THOSE OUT.
[3. Consider the approval of the Minutes]
MAY 21, 2025, TEXAS TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION, DRAFT MINUTES HAVE BEEN PROVIDED TO YOU.MAY WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF MAY 20, 2025 MEETING OF THE TEXAS TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION.
>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER NEW.
>> ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
>> WE'LL NOW TURN IT BACK OVER TO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTR WORKING THROUGH OUR AGENDA
[4. Acknowledgement of Service]
TODAY.>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CHAIRMAN.
ITEM 4 IS A RESOLUTION HONORING RETIRING CHIEF ENGINEER LANCE SIMMONS.
I WILL BE PRESENTING THIS RESOLUTION.
IF YOU EXCUSE ME, I'M GOING TO STEP DOWN HERE SO I CAN PROPERLY PRESENT IT.
>> SO COMMISSIONERS, TODAY WE RECOGNIZE AND THANK LANCE SIMMONS FOR 32 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE STATE OF TEXAS.
RECOGNIZED BY A FEW MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE AS YOU SEE HERE, ALTHOUGH THEY CAN NOT JOIN US HERE TODAY, SENATOR ROBERT NICHOLS AND REPRESENTATIVE TRENT ASHBY, WITH RESOLUTIONS FROM THE SENATE AND HOUSE AFTER LANCE ANNOUNCED HIS RESIGNATION.
THEY AND MANY OTHERS SPENT TIME DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION WISHING LANCE WELLSERVICE.
I WILL PERSONALLY SAY IT WAS A VERY NICE RECOGNITION IN PARTICULAR THAT SENATOR NICHOLS DID FOR LANCE.
HE DID THAT DURING THE MIDDLE OF ONE OF THE SENATE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE HEARINGS.
WE PROPERLY SET LANCE UP FOR THAT BY SENDING HIM OVER AS A WITNESS FOR SOME INNOCUOUS BRIDGE NAMING.
I SAID, LANCE, YOU'VE GOT TO GET OVER THERE.
GOOD WORK FOR US, SENATOR NICHOLS GIVING TESTAMENT TO HOW WELL REGARDED LANCE IS WAS WANTING TO MAKE THE PRESENTATION AS PART OF THAT.
I ALSO WANT TO SPEND A FEW MINUTES SHARING A HISTORY AND MAYBE A STORY OR TWO ABOUT LANCE AND HIS IMPORTANCE TO US WITH THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
AS MENTIONED BEFORE, LANCE STARTED HIS CAREER AT TXDOT LIKE MANY FOLKS AS A SUMMER HIRE.
AFTER HE FINISHED HIS DEGREE WITH CIVIL ENGINEERING IN 1994 FROM ATTACKS UNIVERSITY.
[00:25:02]
COME ON BOARD FULL TIME IN THE ATLANTA DISTRICT DESIGN OFFICE.ACTUALLY HIS WIFE DEEANN CAME ON BOARD FULL TIME AND THEY WERE NICE ENOUGH TO TRY TO FIND SOME WORK FOR LANCE AS WELL IN THE DESIGN -- IN ATLANTA.
THE DISTRICT TEAM AT THE TIME REALLY WANTED DEEANN BUT IT WAS KIND OF A PACKAGE DEAL AND THEY HAD TO FIND SOMETHING FOR LANCE TO DO.
SO BOTH OF THEM JOINED US AT THAT TIME IN ATLANTA.
IN 2015 HE WAS APPOINTED ENGINEER, IMPROVING SAFETY FOR TXDOT EMPLOYEES IN THE PUBLIC AND UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP THE BRIAN DISTRICT MET ALL FOUR SAFETY GOALS AND SAW A DECREASE IN FATAL CRASHES FOR FOUR YEARS IN A ROW.
WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT, COMMISSIONERS, AND BOTH COMMISSIONER NEW AND CHAIRMAN BUGG, YOU ALL TALKED ABOUT SAFETY, WE DON'T LIGHTLY REGARD STATISTICS LIKE THAT, BECAUSE THOSE REPRESENT -- WE DON'T KNOW WHO THEY MAY BE, BUT THEY REPRESENT HUSBANDS AND WIVES AND SONS AND DAUGHTERS THAT ARE ABLE TO GO HOME TO THEIR FAMILIES.
LANCE'S DEDICATION TO SAFETY HAS REALLY HAD A DRAMATIC EFFECT ON WHERE WE ARE TODAY AND MANY OF THE INITIATIVES WE PUT FORWARD.
HIS COMMITMENT TO SAFETY DIDN'T JUST, YOU KNOW, STOP WITH THE MOTORING PUBLIC ITSELF, WHICH IS OUR CUSTOMERS ARE VERY IMPORTANT, BUT HE ALSO FOCUSED HIS TEAM AND ENERGIES AS WELL ON OUR OWN EMPLOYEES WITH THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND LED THE TEAM THAT CREATED WHAT WE NOW REFER TO AS OUR FOUNDATION 14 SAFETY INITIATIVE THAT IS USED BY DISTRICTS AND DIVISIONS STATEWIDE.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, LANCE DEDICATED HIS TIME AND TALENTS AND ENERGY TO STEPPING OUT AND LEADING STATEWIDE ON EMERGENCY RESPONSES AND DISASTER RECOVERS.
HURRICANE HARVEY BEING ONE OF THOSE.
HAD THE HONOR OF COMING OVER TO BRIAN DURING PART OF THE RAIN AND STORM AND GOT TO SHARE SOME TIME WITH LANCE AND HIS LEADERSHIP, NOT JUST OF THE BRYAN DISTRICT STAFF BUT REALLY STAFF FROM ALL OVER THE STATE THAT WE HAD LOCATED TO BRYAN TO PRESTAGE BEFORE DEPLOYMENTS IN RESPONSE TO HURRICANE HARVEY.
LANCE DID A FANTASTIC JOB IN THAT ROLE.
IN 2021 DIRECTOR OF OPERATION SO WE MOVED HIM FROM THE BRIAN DISTRICT TO AUSTIN.
IN 2022 LANCE BECAME CHIEF ENGINEER WITH THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
UNDER LANCE'S LEADERSHIP TXDOT HAS HAD RECORD CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE PROGRAMS AND SET RECORD SKOSHS FOR FACHLT QUALITY.
WE ANNOUNCED JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO THE FACT WE HAD A CHIEF 90% OR BETTER IN OUR PAVEMENT CONDITION COURSE.
LANCE HAS BEEN A TREMENDOUS PART OF THAT.
I ALSO MENTIONED, TOO, BACK IN 2014, LANCE WAS AWARDED LUTHER DEBARY AWARD, WHICH IS ONE OF THE BIG FIVE AWARDS WITH THE TEXAS EPT DID OF TRANSPORTATION, WE PRESENT A SHORT COURSE AT TEXAS A&M.
IN 2024 THE ASPHALT PAVEMENT ASSOCIATION RECOGNIZED LANCE WITH BOB M. GOALLAWAY FOR HIS DEDICATION TO THAT INDUSTRY.
THOSE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE AWARDS LANCE HAS RECEIVED.
WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE LANCE AS WELL.
HE'S JOINED HERE TODAY WITH HIS WIFE DEEANN, WHO I MENTIONED EARLIER, AND WHO IS ALSO RETIRING WITH TXDOT AS WELL AS HIS MOM LINDA, HIS SON PARKER, HIS DAUGHTER ALISA AND HIS SON-IN-LAW DYLAN.
WE DO REALLY APPRECIATE YOU ALL BEING HERE TODAY TO HELP US TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE YOUR SON AND HUSBAND AND FATHER.
FAMILY HAS BEEN A BIG PART OF LANCED CAREER.
IT'S A BIG PART OF WHO LANCE IS.
AS I KIND OF THINK PERSONALLY ABOUT LANCE, TXDOT HAS GOT A SET OF VALUES THAT'S ON OUR WEBSITE.
WE HAVE OUR MISSION AND VISION AND VALUES.
OUR VALUES, EVERYTHING HAS AN ACRONYM AT TXDOT SO VALUES SPELL OUT PATH, PEOPLE, ACCOUNTABILITY, TRUST AND HONESTY.
I CAN SAY WHEN WE THINK ABOUT LANCE AND HIS ROLE WITH THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, I CAN'T THINK OF ANYBODY WHO EPITOMIZES THOSE VALUES BETTER THAN LANCE SIMMONS.
HE IS ALL ABOUT PEOPLE, WORKING NOT ONLY WITH THE PEOPLE WITHIN TXDOT BUT THE PEOPLE WE SERVE.
I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY DIFFERENT TIMES INDIVIDUALS WITH DIFFERENT ISSUES OR NEEDS CAME
[00:30:02]
TO TEXAS WITH TXDOT WITH SOME PROBLEM OR CONCERN THAT NEEDED TO BE FIXED.WHETHER IT WAS THE LADIES FROM THE BIG THICKET PRESERVE THAT CAP UP HERE WITH CONCERNS WITH TOO MANY TREES BEING REMOVED AND HOW TO ADDRESS THOSE TO INDIVIDUALS IN EAST TEXAS WITH CONCERNS WITH WATER.
COMMUNITIES ALL OVER THE PLACE.
BUT LANCE SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN PARTICULAR WITH THE LADIES WITH THE BIG THICKET.
NATIONAL HERITAGE -- BIG THICKET NATIONAL HERITAGE TRUST.
AMONGST OTHER THINGS THAT WE ARE RECOGNIZING LANCE WITH, WE WANTED TO GIVE LANCE A CERTIFICATE OF HONORARY RECOGNITION IN RECOGNITION OF YOUR DEDICATION AND SERVICE TO THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
WE HAVE MADE A CONTRIBUTION IN YOUR NAME TO THE BIG THICKET NATIONAL NATIONAL HERITAGE TRUST FOR ALL OF YOUR DEDICATED WORK.
REALLY DO NUMEROUS EXAMPLES OF THESE ALL OVER THE STATE, BUT -- WE ALSO HAVE COPIES OF THE RESOLUTIONS FROM THE SENATE AND HOUSE THAT I MENTIONED BEFORE WITH TRENT ASHBY.
WE ARE HERE TODAY AS WELL FOR YOU ALL TO ENDORSE A RESOLUTION ON BEHALF OF THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION THAT CAPTURES A LOT OF THE SENTIMENTS THAT I'VE EXPRESSED.
SO BEFORE WE OPEN I UP FOR YOU, COMMISSIONERS, I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME AND CONGRATULATE LANCE ON A JOB WELL DONE AND WELCOME HIM UP TO THE DAIS FOR ANY COMMENTS HE MAY HAVE AND LIKE TO EXPRESS.
I REALLY CAN'T DO ANY BETTER THAN THAT.
I DO HAVE JUST A FEW PREPARED REMARKS, REALLY, BECAUSE I WAS WORRIED ABOUT I WAS GOING TO START CRYING MYSELF SO I TYPED THIS UP.
I'M GOING TO MAKE A FATAL MISTAKE RIGHT OFF THE BAT AND GO OFF SCRIPT BEFORE I START MY SCRIPT.
I LEARNED SOMETHING SPECIFIC MARC MENTIONED.
IN THIS I DISCOVERED AFTER THIS WAS OVER WITH THAT I HAD MAYBE BEEN SET UP BUT MARC JUST CONFIRMED THAT.
SO I WAS THERE TO TESTIFY ON SOME DEAL THAT I REALLY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND OR EVEN UCHDS WHY I WAS THERE BUT I HAD SPENT THREE HOURS DOING HOMEWORK ON THAT BILL THE NIGHT BEFORE.
SO I'M GOING TO BE LOOKING FOR THAT THREE HOURS SOMEWHERE, MARC.
NO, IT WAS A REALLY NEAT THING AND I APPRECIATE IT A LOT SO THANKS FOR THAT.
MARC, THOSE WERE REALLY KIND WORDS.
THIS AND ALL THAT WAS SAID REALLY MEAN A LOT TO ME.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE RECOGNITION TODAY.
I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH AN AMAZING JOB AT TXDOT.
I GET HANDED AMAZING CHALLENGES.
I GET TO WORK WITH AN AMAZING TEAM, AND IT HAS JUST BEEN AN ABSOLUTE BLAST.
OVER 13,000 EMPLOYEES WE HAVE AT TXDOT, IT HAS BEEN A PRIVILEGE TO SERVE ALONGSIDE OF A SUPER HARDWORKING GROUP.
WE'VE GOT FOLKS ALL OVER THE STATE SOLVING ALL KINDS OF PROBLEMS DAILY THAT WE DON'T EVER HEAR ABOUT BECAUSE THEY ARE SOLVING THEM BEFORE THEY GET STARTED OR TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS IN THEIR DIVISIONS AND IN THEIR HOME AREAS AND THAT MAKES ME SUPER PROUD TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WORK WITH THAT TEAM.
NOT ONLY WORK HARD BUT THEY GET CREATIVE TO FIND SOLUTIONS.
THEY TAKE WHATEVER THEY HAVE IN THEIR YARD AND THEY ARE GOING TO MAKE THAT PROBLEM GO AWAY AND SAVE LIVES IN THE PROGRESS.
THEN AS MARC AND JAMES BASS LIKE TOOK SAY, WE ARE AN AGENCY THAT RUNS TOWARD THE STORM.
I STOLE IT FROM THEM COMPLETELY.
IT MAKES ME SUPER PROUD TO WORK FOR AN AGENCY THAT DOESN'T HAVE TO ASK EMPLOYEES BUT HAS EMPLOYEES VOLUNTEER TO RUN TOWARDS THAT STORM.
I REALIZE YOU HAVE LOTS OF BUSINESS TO TAKE CARE OF.
I'M GOING TO TRY NOT TO TAKE TOO MUCH TIME BUT I WILL SAY FOR A FEW YEARS THERE HAS BEEN A SMALL GROUP OF US HERE MORE FOR ENTERTAINMENT AND TEAM BUILDING EXERCISES THAT DO EVERY NOW AND THEN HAVE SOME SMALL BETS.
MOSTLY IT'S FOR A DRINK, A DOLLAR, JUST TO SET CAMARADERIE.
[00:35:02]
I'M GOING TO LEAVE NAMES OUT TO PROTECT THOSE FOLKS BUT JUST FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONVERSATION WE'RE GOING TO CALL THEM BRANDY AND BRIAN.I DID HEAR A RUMOR THAT BRANDY AND BRIAN ARE BETTING THAT I'M UP HERE LONGER THAN ANYBODY IN THE HISTORY OF RETIREMENT RECOGNITION.
WHEN ASKED IT'S BECAUSE I GET OFF SCRIPT AND TELL LOTS OF STORIES OR I JUST TALK REALLY SLOW, THEIR ANSWER WAS SIMPLY YES.
I WILL TRY NOT TO STAY UP HERE TOO LONG BUT I'M GOING TO JUST START BY SAYING THIS HAS BEEN GREAT.
YOU HEARD MARC MENTION THEY ARE ALL HERE.
APPRECIATE YOU ALL TAKING THE TIME.
DEEANN, I JUST LOVE YOU SO MUCH AND I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING.
SO MOST FOLKS DON'T GET THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING AT THE SAME ORGANIZATION WITH THEIR SPOUSE FOR 30 YEARS.
DEEANN AND I GOT TO BOTH WORK IN THE ATLANTA DISTRICT FOR 20.
LOVED EVERYTHING SHE DID TO HELP ME OUT.
EVERY TIME I TURNED AROUND THE SUPPORT WAS REAL.
BEING ABLE TO BOUNCE IDEAS OFF OF YOUR SPOUSE, BEING ABLE TO TALK WORK WITH YOUR SPOUSE SOMETHING MOST FOLKS FIND BORING.
YOU MIGHT THINK IT'S THE WORST PILLOW TALK EVER.
PUBLIC SERVICE IS A SACRIFICE.
WE LIVED IT TOGETHER, AND IT IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS I WILL ALWAYS APPRECIATE ABOUT HER.
SO PARKER AND ALISA GOT TO SEE SOME OF THAT SACRIFICE, TOO.
YOU SPENDS TIME IN NORTH TEXAS DISTRICT AND SNOW WHEN YOU WORK WINTER WEATHER.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO FIND MANY PICTURES OF THEM WITH A SNOWMAN OR SNOWBALL FIGHT DAD IS IN.
WE HAVE LOTS OF FOLKS AROUND THE STATE THAT DO IT EVERY WINTER.
EVERY TIME ANY CHEMICAL SPILL, CRASH, TRUCK STRIKES A BRIDGE, OUR FOLKS ARE JUST ON CALL.
IT'S WHAT WE DO, AND WE DO IT QUITE PROUDLY.
I THINK I'VE SHARED THIS STORY A FEW TIMES.
HE RETIRED AS A SIGN MAN IN MAINTENANCE IN OUR HOMETOWN.
DAD WOULD HAVE LOVED TO BE HERE TODAY.
APPRECIATE EVERYTHING SHE'S TRIED TO INSTILL IN ME.
SO I'M GOING TO GET OFF THAT AND THANK A FEW FOLKS.
CHAIRMAN, I'M GOING TO START WITH YOU.
RIGHT? YOU'RE AS HONEST AS THE DAY IS LONG.
ALWAYS BEEN A STRAIGHT SHOOTER WITH ALL OF US.
ALWAYS KNOW EXACTLY WHERE WE STAND.
YOU EMPOWER AND TURN US LOOSE TO GET OUT THERE AND SOLVE PROBLEMS AND I LOVED EVERY BIT OF THAT.
CHALLENGES, FIND WAYS TO IMPROVE ON EVERYTHING WE'RE DOING AND MOSTLY ALWAYS HAVE IN OUR BANKS.
SO YOU'VE STOOD UP AND TAKEN SOME ERRORS FOR US.
THAT IS APPRECIATED AND JUST GREAT.
I'VE LEARNED TO TRUST YOU COMPLETELY, AND YOU HAVE JUST BEEN EASY TO FOLLOW.
SO I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU'VE BEEN DOING.
COMMISSIONERS, MAN, THE CHARACTER AND INTEGRITY THAT Y'ALL HAVE SHOWN IS SUPER IMPRESSIVE.
I LOVE THE WAY Y'ALL JUST ROLE UP YOUR SLEEVES AND GET RIGHT IN THERE WITH US TO HELP SOLVE PROBLEMS. IT IS THE AMOUNT OF TIME YOU SPEND DOING WHAT YOU DO.
NOT ONLY GOING HERE BUT OUT TO SEE DISTRICT FOLKS, SPEND TIME WITH OUR DIVISION FOLKS AND EVEN GOING TO RIBBON CUTTINGS AND SAFETY DAYS.
OUR FOLKS LOVE THAT AND LOVE THAT INTERACTION.
I KNOW I HAVE REALLY ENJOYED THE TIME TO GET OUT AND TRAVEL WITH YOU AROUND THE STATE.
IT HAS BEEN EXHAUSTING AT TIMES.
THE FACT YOU DO IT, INTERACT WITH FOLKS AND PEOPLE OF TEXAS IS IMPRESSIVE.
I'M GOING TO ENCOURAGE Y'ALL TO KEEP THAT UP AND THANKS FOR DOING THAT.
MARC, I THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO BE SETTING UP HERE BUT I'M GOING TO TURN THIS WAY.
MARC IS PROBABLY THE BEST SUPERVISOR I'VE EVER WORKED FOR.
HE'S GOT LEADERSHIP SKILLS I HAVE NEVER SEEN.
HE SEEMS TO READ ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING.
BUT MARC, I'VE LEARNED A TON FROM YOU.
YOU HAVE BUILT AN AMAZING TEAM HERE.
I LOVE THE DIRECTION YOU HAVE THIS AGENCY HEADED.
THANK YOU, MARC, FOR ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES AND TRUST.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAUGHT IN MARC'S COMMENTS, YOU DIDN'T SAY THIS, IT'S KIND OF FACTUAL.
[00:40:01]
LEADERSHIP TEAM, I REALLY AM THE ONLY ONE HE'S PROMOTED TWICE.I PROBABLY SHOULDN'T HAVE MENTIONED THAT.
IN CASE YOU DIDN'T NOTICE, I DID GET OFF SCRIPT THERE.
BRANDY AND BRIAN, I'M GOING TO MISS YOU COMPLETELY.
I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT HOW Y'ALL TAKE CARE OF ME, HOW Y'ALL HELP OUT ALL THE SUPPORT.
MAN, THOSE PROBLEM SOLVING SESSIONS WE HAVE, THAT WE MAKE THINGS GO AWAY THAT MARC AND THESE FOLKS DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH HAS BEEN GREAT.
THANKS FOR ALWAYS BEING THERE FOR ME AND ALWAYS BEING DIRECT INDIVIDUALS.
SEE, I JUST Y'ALL ALL TOGETHER, MADE YOU ONE WORD.
JESSICA, MO AND CARL, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU ALL HAVE DONE.
I'M FEELING GREAT ABOUT THE TEAMWORK Y'ALL HAVE PUT TOGETHER AND EVERYTHING Y'ALL HAVE DONE.
ALL THE INTERACTION IS JUST PERFECT.
MARY ANN, STEVEN, JEFF, CAROLINE, DARREN, TRENT, ALEJANDRO, CINDY.
THAT IS A GREAT MIXTURE OF FOLKS WORKING HARD TO SOLVE PROBLEMS. A LOT OF THESE FOLKS GET IN EACH OTHER'S BUSINESS, INCLUDING MINE, UNAPOLOGETICALLY ALL THE TIME TO TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS.
IT IS JUST THE UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THEY DO.
BUT THE ATTITUDE OUT OF THAT CREW IS JUST OUTSTANDING, AND I AM GLAD TO HAVE BEEN PART OF IT.
IT IS EXACTLY WHAT MARC AND TXDOT NEEDS.
I'M PROBABLY GOING TO LOSE THE BET.
I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF FOLKS I HAVE TO MENTION.
ONE, WE DID WORK OUR FIRST 20 YEARS IN THE ATLANTA DISTRICT.
FOR 16 OF THAT, THE LAST 16 YEARS OF THAT, WE HAD THE SAME DISTRICT ENGINEER.
SO A FINE GENTLEMAN NAMED BOB RATCLIFFE WAS OUR DISTRICT ENGINEER FOR 16 YEARS.
THAT IS PRETTY MUCH UNHEARD OF.
DEEANN AND I WERE EITS, ENGINEERS IN TRAINING WHEN BOB CAME TO THE ATLANTA DISTRICT.
THAT GUY I LEARNED A TON FROM, MAN, ABOUT HOW TO ALWAYS BE RESPONSIVE, HAVING TOUGH CONVERSATIONS, HOW TO START SUPERVISING FOLKS AN A LOT OF TOOLS I USE TODAY.
HE SPENT A LOT OF TIME WORKING WITH HIS YOUNG FOLKS AND GIVING US LOTS OF HARD THINGS TO DO.
LASTLY, MINE AND DEEANN'S ORIGINAL YOUNG ENGINEERS GROUP FROM THE ATLANTA DISTRICT, WE STILL INTERACT WITH ALL THE TIME.
WE WERE THE LAST TWO TO RETIRE BUT THOSE FOLKS ARE STILL OUT IN VARIOUS ROLES LEADING AROUND THE STATE OF TEXAS.
MIKA LEE AND BUDDY WILLIAMS AND DARRELL GRUBBS AND MARK AND CHARLES RUSSELL, I STILL TALK TO THOSE FOLKS ALL THE TIME, LEAN ON THEM A TON.
IT WILL SURPRISE EVERYBODY, MOST OF THAT GROUP AND I ARE STILL IN THE SAME FANTASY FOOTBALL LEAGUE.
THIS YEAR WILL BE 29 YEARS THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT.
I HOPE EVERY YOUNG ENGINEER AT TXDOT GETS TO GROW UP WITH A GROUP LIKE I DID.
WAY TOO MANY OTHER FOLKS TO MENTION.
LOTS OF HARDWORKING FOLKS IN OUR FORMER TWO DISTRICTS.
BRIAN IS DOING WITH CHAD IN ATLANTA AND REBECCA WELLS, APPRECIATE THAT.
ALL THE INDUSTRY PARTNERS, SEVERAL HERE TODAY.
BUT IT HAS BEEN THOSE PARTNERSHIPS THAT MAKE TEXAS GREAT.
I'M JUST SO HONORED TO HAVE BEEN PART OF IT.
>> LANCE, THOSE WERE HEARTFELT WORKS AND WE APPRECIATE IT.
I'D LIKE TO OPEN IT UP TO MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS.
COMMISSIONER ALVIS, ANY COMMENTS YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE.
I THINK OF YOU, LANCE, ALL I CAN THINK OF IS A 10.
YOU'VE BEEN A JOY TO WORK WITH.
I KNOW EVERYBODY SHARES THAT SAME SENTIMENT.
IN FACT, BLAKE SPOKE WITH ME AND SAID WHEN I WAS AT GOVERNOR ABBOTT'S OFFICE, EVERY PROBLEM THAT GOT SENT TO THE GOVERNOR RELATIVE TO PRECIPITATION, YOU WERE HIS GUY.
HE SAID HE SOLVED EVERY ONE OF THEM.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR MENTORSHIP AND WHAT YOU'RE LEAVING BEHIND.
>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ALVIS.
[00:45:04]
TOSS, COMPETITION WE LOST TO THE DISTRICT ENGINEER OVER THERE.BUT I REALLY DID ENJOY TRAVELING THE STATE WITH YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPENDING SO MUCH TIME WITH ME AND REALLY EDUCATING ME ON ALL THINGS TXDOT.
I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU TAUGHT ME.
PLEASE DON'T BE A STRANGER TO TXDOT.
I KNOW WE'LL STILL SEE YOU AROUND.
AGAIN, I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH.
>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER MEADE.
I KNOW THE STATE OF TEXAS IS AWFULLY PROUD OF YOU AND APPRECIATE OF YOUR TIME AND EFFORTS AND PROBLEM SOLVING.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOUR FAMILY FOR SHARING YOU AND YOUR WIFE FOR THE STATE'S SERVICE OVER SO MANY DECADES.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER VAUGHN.
>> FOR ME, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE MY COMMENTS FOR ME.
YOU SAID SOMETHING ABOUT FOUR OF US IN CHARACTER AND INTEGRITY.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I NOTICE ABOUT YOU.
SO WHEN I FIRST NOTICED IT WAS IN YOUR OFFICE AND BRIAN WHEN I SAW THE WOODEN TOYS THAT YOU HAD COLLECTED.
SO INITIALLY I SAID TO YOU THAT'S INTERESTING YOU GOT LITTLE WOODEN TOY TRUCKS IN HERE.
SO I JUST WANT YOU TO TELL THAT STORY, BECAUSE THAT'S CHARACTER AND INTEGRITY.
BUT FOR THE RECORD, COMMISSIONER NEW ASKED ME TO TALK MORE.
THE DISTRICT ENGINEER'S OFFICE HAS A NICE WINDOW SILL WITH A FLAT LEDGE.
WHEN COMMISSIONER NEW CAME TO VISIT, HE DID COMMENT ON THIS COLLECTION OF WOODEN TOYS.
SO LOTS OF DISTRICTS AND LOTS OF DIVISION HAVE FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES FOR A GOOD CAUSE.
THE STATE EMPLOYEE CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION THING, LOTS OF FOLKS COME UP WITH GOOD IDEAS TO RAISE MONEY FOR GOOD CAUSES AND TXDOT EMPLOYEES HAVE BIG HEARTS.
AT LEAST IN THE BRYAN DISTRICT, WE HAD A RETIREE THAT WAS SUPER GOOD AT WOODWORKING, AND HE DECIDED HE WAS GOING TO DONATE FOR A SILENT AUCTION A CARVED WOODEN DUMPTRUCK.
EVERYTHING WORKED, AND IT WAS SUPER IMPRESSIVE.
ALL THESE THINGS SAT OUT IN THE HALLWAY ALL WEEK WITH A SHEET OF PAPER WHERE YOU CAN BID.
HE PUT A LOT OF WORK INTO THAT.
DISTRICT ENGINEERS NEED TO CONTRIBUTE, TOO, AND I DID.
THE SECOND YEAR HE CAME OUT WITH SOMETHING A LITTLE MORE ELABORATE.
ONCE AGAIN, I SAID I'M GOING TO WIN THIS AND DID.
THIRD YEAR CAME AROUND AND PEOPLE RECOGNIZED ILGT THESE SO IT COST ME MORE.
OTHERS RECOGNIZED LANCE IS GOING TO BUY THIS, LET'S DRIVE HIM UP A BIT, AND THEY DID.
A VETERAN SUPERVISOR I LEANED ON A LOT, LOVED, AND NOW HE'S JUST HAVING FUN WITH.
HE KNOWS NO MATTER WHAT HE BIDS, I'LL OUTBID HIM.
WE GO SECOND PAGE ON THIS THING TO WIN IT.
THIS GOES ON FIVE OR SIX YEARS THE WHOLE TIME I WAS THERE.
IT WAS SUPER EXPENSIVE IN THE ENDS.
A LOT OF FUN TO SEE HOW MUCH THIS REALLY IS GOING TO COST.
YES, A REALLY NICE COLLECTION.
IF YOU WONDER WHERE THEY ARE NOW, I DONATED THEM BACK WHEN I LEFT.
THEY ARE SITTING AROUND SOMEWHERE OR SOMEBODY SOLD THEM.
REALLY NEAT TXDOT EMPLOYEE ON HOW GOOD SOME OF OUR RETIREES ARE ON MAKING THINGS HAPPEN.
>> SO MISS SIMMONS, I JUST WANT TO SPEAK TO YOU.
I THINK TODAY YOU'VE HEARD ALL THESE COMMENTS FROM ALL THESE PEOPLE.
WE'RE GOING TO MISS YOU, LANCE.
YOU'RE A PROBLEM SOLVER WITH A COMPASSION ATE HEART IS WHAT I WOULD SAY IF I HAD TO BOIL IT DOWN REAL QUICK.
WE REALLY CARE A LOT ABOUT LANCE.
WE WISH YOU THE VERY, VERY BEST BECAUSE YOU DESERVE THE VERY, VERY BEST.
LET'S GO DOWN AND HAVE A PICTURE.
[00:52:13]
>> CHAIRMAN, COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR THAT WELL DESERVED RECOGNITION FOR LANCE AND HIS FAMILY.
[5.a. Highway Improvements and Other Transportation Facilities ]
[5.b. Routine Maintenance]
CHAIRMAN, I'D LIKE TO TURN TO ITEM 5 A, CONSIDERATION OF AWARD OF HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENTS AND TRANSPORTATION FACILITATORS CONTRACTS.OUR CONSTRUCTION DIVISION DIRECTOR DUANE MILLIGAN WILL PRESENT THIS ITEM.
JUNE 2025 CONTRACTS AND ROUTINE CONTRACTS ARE SEPARATED INTO TWO MINUTE ORDERS WITH A COMBINED LETTING TOTAL OF $751.83 MILLION.
PROJECTS WITH ACTUAL LET DATES FOR THE MONTH OF MAY INCLUDE LOCAL LET MAINTENANCE TOTALLING $23.66 MILLION AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT TOTALLING $71.8 MILLION.
THE TOTAL LETTING DOLLAR VOLUME FOR FISCAL YEAR-TO-DATE IS $10.77 BILLION OR 99.29% OF PLANNED 11.55 BILLION FOR THE PERIOD OF SEPTEMBER 2024 THROUGH JUNE OF 2025.
IN JUNE WE REPORT OUR ON TIME AND ON BUDGET PERFORMANCE FOR HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS COMPLETED THROUGH THE THIRD QUARTER OF THE FISCAL YEAR.
THE PROJECTS COMPLETED THROUGH THE THIRD QUARTER, 67% WERE ON TIME AS COMPARED TO 69% FOR THE SAME PERIOD IN FISCAL YEAR '24.
79% OF THE PROJECTS COMPLETED THROUGH THE THIRD QUARTER WERE CONSIDERED ON BUDGET.
NO CHANGE FROM THE SAME PERIOD IN FISCAL YEAR 2024.
WHEN WE CONSIDER THE IMPACT OF CHANGE ORDERS, 86% OF PROJECTS WERE COMPLETED ON TIME, DOWN FROM 87% AND FISCAL YEAR 20024 AND 96% OF PROJECTS COMPLETED ON BUDGET UP FROM 95% IN FISCAL YEAR '24.
THIS MOCHBLT I REPORT MAY 2025 HIGHWAY COST INDEX WITH VALUE OF 214.25.
ONE YEAR AGO IN MAY OF 2024 HCI WAS 129.29 REPRESENTING A 7.51% YEAR-OVER-YEAR INCREASE.
ITEM 5 A IS FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF THE AWARD OR REJECTION OF CONTRACTS FOR HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS LET ON JUNE 4TH AND 5TH, 2025.
WE PRESENT 66 PROJECTS WITH AN OVERALL AVERAGE OF 6.ON9 PER PROJECT LO BID $6.44 MILLION UNDERRUN OF 11.62%.
ONE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT IS CSJ 0909-36-198 IN CORRIAL COUNTY.
THE PROJECT IS LOCATED INSIDE FT. HOOD.
THIS IS THE FIRST PROJECT TXDOT IS CONSTRUCTING UNDER MILITARY INSTALLATION PROGRAM WHERE WE PARTNERED WITH MILITARY FACILITIES IN TEXAS TO DESIGN
[00:55:01]
AND CONSTRUCT ROADWAY PROJECTS.WE RECEIVED FOUR BIDS ON THIS PROJECT WITH A LOW BID 15.9% BELOW THE ENGINEER'S ESTIMATE.
ALL CONSTRUCTION AND OVERSIGHT COST FOR THIS PROJECT PAID BY THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.
NO STATE OR FUNDS ARE PARTICIPATING IN THIS PROJECT.
THE JUNE 2025 PROJECTS ARE CATEGORIZED UNDER THE FOLLOWING PERFORMANCE SEARS CONGESTION REDUCTION, PAVEMENT PRESERVATION, $175.4 MILLION, SAFETY AT $135.46 MILLION, ENHANCED CONNECTIVITY AT $60.73 MILLIMETER AND BRIDGE PRESERVATION AT 31.55 MILLION.
PEDESTRIAN ELEMENTS ACCOUNTED FOR 22.7 MILLION AND BICYCLE ELEMENTS ACCOUNTED FOR $696,000 IN THIS MONTH'S LETTING.
THERE ARE 11 PROJECTS WITH OUTSTANDING RIGHT-OF-WAY UTILITY ISSUES.
FOUR SHOULD BE CLEARED NEXT MONTH, THREE WILL BE CLEARED IN TWO MONTHS AND FOUR HAVE APPROVED MANAGEMENT PLANS.
STAFF RECOMMENDS AWARD OF 64 HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS AND THE REJECTION OF TWO.
FIRST REJECTION IS IN COUNTY STP 2025 (372) HES.
JOB NUMBER OUR FOUR BIDS SUBMITTED FOR THE PROJECT, LOW BID 41.02% $1,642,720.97 OVER THE ENGINEER'S ESTIMATE.
THIS PROJECT IS FOR CONSTRUCTING MEDIAN CROSSOVER IMPROVEMENTS ALONG 385 SOUTH OF ODESSA, INCLUDING NEW AND EXTENDED LEFT TURN LANES AND SAFETY LIGHTING.
UPON FURTHER REVIEW OF THE PLANS THE DISTRICT IDENTIFIED ERRORS IN THE QUANTITIES FOR MULTIPLE BID ITEMS THAT WOULD RESULT IN SIGNIFICANT CHANGE ORDERS IF AWARDED.
THE DISTRICT HAS REQUESTED THE OPPORTUNITY TO FURTHER REVIEW AND REVISE THE PLANS AND ESTIMATES IN AN EFFORT TO OBTAIN A BETTER VALUE FOR THE DEPARTMENT.
WE CONCUR AND THEREFORE RECOMMEND THE PROJECT BE REJECTED AND RELET LATER.
THE SECOND REJECTION IS IN VALVERDE COUNTY PROJECT NUMBER 2025 (881), 3238.
THE LOW BID WAS 53.7% $139610 UNDER THE ESTIMATE.
THIS IS FOR LIFTING PECOS BRIDGE TO RESET ROCKER BEARINGS AND PERFORM OTHER REPAIRS.
MULTIPLE BIDDERS SUBSTANTIALLY UNDERRAN THE BID AMOUNTS FOR ADJUSTING STEELE SHOES.
PORTABLE MESSAGE SIGNS AND MISCELLANEOUS STRUCTURAL STEEL.
DISTRICT BELIEVES MAY BE AMBIGUITY ON THE AMOUNT OF WORK REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THE REPAIRS.
AS REQUESTED, THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVISE THE PLANS TO CLARIFY THE PROJECT SCOPE AND REQUIREMENTS.
WE CONCUR AND REQUEST THE PROJECT BE REJECTED AND RELET LATER.
I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THE COMMISSION MAY HAVE AT THIS TIME.
>> COMMISSIONERS, ARE THERE ANY REMARKS OR QUESTIONS FOR DIRECTOR MILLIGAN?
>> THAT BRIDGE IS SPECTACULAR.
SO I AM SITTING HERE THINKING ABOUT HOW TO LIFT IT AND DO THAT WORK, AND IT'S JUST A TESTAMENT TO PEOPLE -- YOU GUYS AND THE - VALVERDE COUNTY THEY CAN GET THAT DONE AND THE CONTRACTORS.
THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT AND INTERESTING AND KIND OF WONDERFUL PROJECT.
SO I JUST WANTED TO TELL YOU I'M IMPRESSED.
>> I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION AS MUCH AS AN OBSERVATION FOR DIRECTOR MILLIGAN AND MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS.
AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TODAY, WE'RE ON TRACK FOR $12 BILLION 305 MILLION ON THESE CONTRACTS.
I WANT TO COMPLIMENT YOU AND YOUR STAFF FOR BASICALLY HELPING US WITH THE TRANSITION THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT MANY TIMES BEFORE.
WE ARE TRANSITIONING OUR BUSINESS MODEL, IF YOU WILL, FROM HAVING ABUNDANT DEPOSITS ON DEPOSIT AT THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE TO BASICALLY DEPLOYING ALL THAT CASH THAT THE TEXAS TAXPAYERS HAVE PAID IN.
WE ARE NOW OPERATING FULLY UNDER OUR CASH FLOW NEW BUSINESS MODEL.
I THINK WE'RE DOING THAT IN A VERY CONSTRUCTIVE WAY FOR OUR MISSION.
AS WE KNOW, WE HAVE OVER $60 BILLION.
BRIAN, I WANT TO THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM, BRANDY, YOUR TEAM.
WE HAVE OVER $60 BILLION IN PROJECTS UNDER CONSTRUCTION REALTIME THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE STATE OF TEXAS.
NO QUESTION AN ABSOLUTE RECORD FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS.
[01:00:02]
I WOULD SAY AN ABSOLUTE RECORD OF ANYBODY IN THE OTHER 49 MIGHT BE ABLE TO COME EVEN CLOSE.SO I'M VERY PROUD OF WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH ALL THE 13,000 MEN AND WOMEN OF TXDOT.
WE HAVE PROMISED THE TAXPAYERS WE WOULD GET THIS MONEY TO WORK.
THERE IS SO MANY PROJECTS, EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE 60 BILLION UNDER CONSTRUCTION, SO MANY PROJECTS NEEDED THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF TEXAS JUST TO KEEP UP WITH THE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS WITH OUR GROWTH, OUR POPULATION GROWTH THAT CONTINUES.
WE'RE NOT ONLY THE EIGHTH LARGEST ECONOMY IN THE WORLD BUT WE ARE GROWING THAT ECONOMIC OUTPUT AS WELL.
SO I WANT TO SHARE THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE ANNOUNCED THAT PUBLICLY.
I THINK WE'RE RIGHT ON TRACK WITH WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO, DIRECTOR MILLIGAN.
STEVEN, I SEE YOU OUT THERE, TOO.
I APPRECIATE YOU AS OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER IN WORKING WITH US ON TRANSITIONS TO THIS, BECAUSE THIS IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO FOR THE TEXAS TAXPAYERS.
WITH THE TWO OF YOU WORKING WITH THE COMMISSION AND YOUR LEADERSHIP, BRANDY AND BRIAN, I FEEL REAL GOOD WITH THE TRACK WE'RE ON.
I THINK THE GENERAL PUBLIC NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT ALONG TO KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING IN TRANSITIONING.
I THINK THE INDUSTRY, AGC AND MEMBERS OF THE INDUSTRY HAVE BEEN VERY COMPLIMENTARY OF WHAT WE'RE DOING.
THIS IS KIND OF A LONG-WINDED WAY TO ASK MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE? MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO AWARD OR REJECT HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT AND TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES CONTRACT AS LISTED EXHIBIT A TO THE MINUTE ORDER IN ACCORDANCE WITH STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS.
>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ALVIS.
MAY I HAVE A SECOND SFL COMMISSIONER MEADE.
ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
DIRECTOR MILLIGAN, PLEASE CONTINUE WITH ITEM 5 B.
THIS IS A CONSIDERATION OF ROUTINE MAINTENANCE CONTRACTS.
>> ITEM 5B IS CONSIDERATION OF AWASHED OR REJECTION OF CONTRACTS FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE PROJECTS LET ON JUNE 4TH AND 5TH, 2025.
WE PRESENT 24 PROJECTS WITH AN OVERALL AVERAGE OF 3.96 BIDS PER PROJECT.
LOW BID VALUE WAS APPROXIMATELY 58.39 MILLION WITH AN OVERALL UNDERRUN OF 11.27%.
STAFF RECOMMENDS AWARD OF ALL 24 ROUTINE MAINTENANCE PROJECTS.
I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THE COMMISSION MAY HAVE AT THIS TIME.
COMMISSIONERS, ARE THERE REMARKS OR QUESTIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION DIRECTOR MILLIGAN? OKAY.
IF NOT, MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO AWARD ROUTINE MAINTENANCE CONTRACTS AS LISTED IN EXHIBIT A TO THE MINUTE ORDER AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS.
>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER NEW.
MAY I HAVE A SECOND? THANK YOU COMMISSIONER VAUGHN? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
[5.c. Construction and Rehabilitation of Buildings ]
PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.>> ITEM 5C, THIS IS CONSIDERATION OF THE BUILDING CONTRACTS IN OUR FACILITIES.
PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT CONTRACTOR WARREN ROSE HERE TO PRESENT THIS ITEM.
>> PRESENTED FOR CONSIDERATION A SINGLE CONTRACT NOR THREE RADIO TOWERS LOCATED IN BAND RA, OASIS COUNTIES.
STAFF RECEIVED BIDS 211,000, 1.14% UNDER THE ENGINEER'S ESTIMATE OF $2.3,750,000.
STAFF RECEIVED A TOTAL OF TWO BIDS FOR THE PROJECT.
STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE BUILDING CONTRACT.
COMMISSIONERS, ARE THERE REMARKS OR QUESTIONS FOR SECTION DIRECTOR ROSE? HEARING NONE, MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO AWARD BUILDING CONTRACTS AS LISTED IN EXHIBIT A TO THE MINUTE ORDER IN ACCORDANCE WITH STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS.
>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER MEADE.
>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER NEW.
ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
[6. Discussion Item 2026 Unified Transportation Program]
NEXT IS ITEM 6.THIS IS A DISCUSSION ON 2026 UNIFIED TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM, PLANNING AND PROGRAM DIVISION DIRECTOR HUMBERTO GONZALEZ I GUESS HERE TO LEAD THIS DISCUSSION.
>> COMMISSIONERS, I WANT TO SAY BEFORE I GOT STARTED, WORKING WITH LANCE YOU NEVER WANT TO SPEAK AFTER HIM BUT I WANT TO TRY TO DO THAT TODAY SO WE'LL SEE HOW IT GOES.
MAIN FOCUS, PROVIDING AN UPDATE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE DRAFT 2026 UNIFIED TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM.
I'D LIKE TO START THE PRESENTATION REMINDING EVERYONE UTP IS NOT A DISTRICT BUDGET OR GUARANTEE IT WILL BE BUILT.
[01:05:01]
OVER OUR TEN-YEAR TIME FRAME.AS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED, TXDOT ANNUAL PLAN TO GET TRANSPORTATION DEVELOPMENT ACROSS THE STATE SO WITH THIS YEAR'S 2026 UTP, I WANT TO DISCUSS TODAY IT WILL COVER FISCAL YEAR 2026 THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 2035.
AUTHORIZE TXDOT AND LOCAL PLANNING PARTNERS TO PREPARE CONSTRUCTION BASED ON TEN-YEAR PLANNING CASH FORECAST.
THIS FORECAST IS DISTRIBUTED ACROSS ALL 12 FUNDING CATEGORIES, EACH COVERING A DIFFERENT TYPE OF WORK IN ORDER TO HELP OPTIMIZE INVESTMENTS WHICH WILL BEST ACHIEVE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM GOALS AND TARGET WHICH INCLUDE PROMOTING SAFETY, PRESERVING ASSETS AND OPTIMIZING OUR SYSTEMS IMPORTANCE.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THROUGHOUT THE DEVELOPMENT OF 2026 UTP, STAFF HAS CONTINUED TO COLLABORATE WITH OUR DISTRICTS, MPOS, LOCAL PLANNING PARTNERS TO HELP IDENTIFY PROJECTS AND NEEDS ACROSS THE STATE WHICH ARE NOW INCLUDED IN THE DRAFT RECOMMENDATIONS BEING BROUGHT TO THE COMMISSION TODAY FOR DISCUSSION.
UTP IS REQUIRED BY STATE LAW TO BE UPDATED AND APPROVED ANNUALLY BY TEXAS TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION BY AUGUST 31ST OF EACH YEAR H THE UTP DEVELOPMENT TIME LINE SEVERAL IMPORTANTER VENTS WHICH LED TO AUGUST COMMISSION VOTE ON FINAL 2026 UTP.
AS SHOWN, THIS ANNUAL PROCESS INVOLVES COORDINATION AND COLLABORATION WITH VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS ALONG THE WAY.
SUBJECT TO YOUR GUIDANCE, STAFF HOPES TO TAKE THE RESULTS OF TODAY'S DISCUSSION TO FINALIZE THE DRAFT 2026 UTP AND PROCEED WITH PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT EFFORTS BEGINNING AT THE END OF JUNE WITH A TARGET TO PRESENT THE FINAL 2026 UTP TO THE COMMISSION AT THE AUGUST 21ST COMMISSION MEETING FOR FINAL ADOPTION.
THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE IMPACT OF OUR 2026 FINANCIAL PLANNING FORECAST ON OUR DRAFT 2026 UTP.
AS SHOWN THE TABLE IN THE TOP, UPDATES FOR UTP FUNDING DISTRIBUTION BASED ON THE 2026 FINANCIAL FORECAST, UPDATES TO CATEGORY 3 NONTRADITIONAL FUNDING, THE DRAFT 2026 UTP FUNDING AMOUNT TOTAL IS NOW $101.6 BILLION.
A BREAKDOWN OF THESE UPDATES ARE SHOWN ON THE TABLE ON THE BOTTOM.
THIS SLIDE PROVIDES PROPOSED DISTRIBUTION OF THE 2026 UTP FORECAST.
AS YOU'LL SEE, PROPOSE 101.6 BILLION DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS ACROSS ALL 12 FUNDING CATEGORIES.
WE EXPECT TO HAVE $7.5 BILLION OF NEW AVAILABLE FUNDING FOR THE TEN-YEAR PERIOD THAT THE 2026 UTP COVERS.
THE COLUMN PROVIDES A BREAKDOWN OF MORE AVAILABLE FUNDING ACROSS ALL CATEGORIES.
THE DISTRIBUTION OF THESE UTP FUNDS WILL HELP CONTINUE TO GUIDE AND AUTHORIZE THE DEVELOPMENT OF PROJECTS, PLANS FOR CONSTRUCTION OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS.
WITH THESE DEVELOPMENT COSTS TOTALLING 33.9 BILLION.
AS A RESULT, THE TEN-YEAR ESTIMATED INVESTMENT IN PROJECTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE 2026 UTP ARE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE CONTRACTS WILL TOTAL $146.5 BILLION.
SO WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON THIS SLIDE.
THIS SLIDE'S PURPOSE IS TO SERVE AS A USEFUL GRAPHIC FOR THE RELATIONSHIP 2W PLANNING, LETTING FUNCTIONS WE PERFORM AT THE STATE AS THEY RELATE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE UTP EACH YEAR.
SO THE TOP SECTION REPRESENTS THE CORRIDORS AND PROJECTS THAT ARE ANALYZED AND PLANNED OUTSIDE UTP IN OUR LONG RANGE PLANS.
THOSE PROJECTS THEN GET PROGRAMMED INTO UTP BASED ON PROJECTED FUNDING FROM THE PLANNING FORECAST WHICH WE JUST DISCUSSED ON PREVIOUS SLIDES.
SHOWN HERE IN THE CENTER OF THIS GRAPHIC.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT WE ARE CONSTRAINED TO ONLY DEVELOP PROJECTS BASED ON FISCAL CONSTRAINT OF THE FINANCIAL FORECAST.
SO FOR THE 2026 UTP, THAT MEANS WE'RE CONSTRAINED TO THE $101.6 BILLION FIGURE I PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED.
COST ASSOCIATED WITH DEVELOPMENT OF PROJECTS, HELP PREPARE PROJECTS FOR LETTING AND FUNDED BY OTHER TXDOT BUDGET STRATEGIES THAT ARE MANAGED SEPARATELY FROM THE UTP BUT ARE NOTED HERE FOR REFERENCE.
THESE INCLUDE DEVELOPMENT COSTS SUCH AS RIGHT-OF-WAY, ENVIRONMENTAL AND PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES.
ON AN ANNUAL BASIS WE MANAGE POTENTIAL FLUCTUATIONS OF FORECAST AND FUNDING AS LIMITED
[01:10:01]
BY THE FUNNEL SHOWN TO THE RIGHT OF THIS GRAPHIC.WE MAKE NECESSARY ADJUSTMENTS TO EITHER ALLOW OTHER PROJECTS INTO UTP AS THE FORECAST INCREASES OR SLOW DEVELOPMENT AND POTENTIALLY SHIFT PROJECTS OUTFIT OF THE UTP AS THE FORECAST LEVELS DROP.
SIMILARLY, WE ALSO MONITOR THE AMOUNT OF UTP PROJECTS SCHEDULED FOR LETTING ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.
BASED ON OUR OPERATIONAL CASH FORECAST BALANCE.
WITH THE AMOUNT OF PROJECTS THAT ARE SCHEDULED AND AWARDED BEING INCREASED OR DECREASED DEPENDING ON CASH FLOW.
I ALSO WANTED TO NOTE AND THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THROUGH DEPARTMENT'S RACK AND STACK 'EM OUR UTP PORTFOLIO ALSO CONTAINS A HEALTHY AMOUNT OF PROJECTS AVAILABLE TO LET THERE BY ALLOWING US THE FLEXIBILITY TO ACCELERATE THESE PROJECTS SHOULD THE OPPORTUNITY AND FUNDING BECOME AVAILABLE.
STAFF HAS WORKED CLOSELY WITH DISTRICT'S, MPO PARTNERS, TXDOT ADMINISTRATION AND TEXAS TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION TO HELP SUMMARIZE PROJECT FOR THE DRAFT UTP BEING PRESENTED HERE TODAY.
THE HORIZONTAL GRAPHS SHOWN HERE SHOW A BREAKDOWN OF $41.5 BILLION IN PROJECTS CURRENTLY AUTHORIZED FOR FUNDING AS WELL AS THE NEW 34.5 BILLION OF PROPOSED FUNDING AUTHORIZATIONS BEING RECOMMENDED IN THE DRAFT 2026 UTP ASSOCIATED WITH CATEGORIES 2, 4, AND 12.
TAKE A MOMENT TO HIGHLIGHT BETWEEN IMPORTANT INITIATIVES FOR THE DEPARTMENT.
FIRST WE WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT TEXAS DREAMS INITIATIVE BEGAN IN 2015 IN RESPONSE TO GOVERNOR ABBOTT'S CHALLENGE FOR THE SYSTEM.
DRAFT UTP IS PROPOSING TO ADD ADDITIONAL $1.7 BILLION IN PROJECT FUNDING TO THIS INITIATIVE ADDING TO THE $33.9 BILLION OF FUNDING ALREADY INVESTED TO HELP PROVIDE FURTHER CONGESTION RELIEF IN THESE AREAS.
THE SECOND INITIATIVE WE'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT IS THE STATEWIDE RURAL CONNECTIVITY INITIATIVE.
THIS PROGRAM BEGAN IN 2018 AND HAS IDENTIFIED FIVE CORRIDORS AND 10 CORRIDORS OF INTEREST WITH THE GOAL OF UPDATING THESE TWO FOUR-WAY DIVIDED, INCREASE SACHT AND CONNECTIVITY ACROSS THE STATE.
THE DRAFT 2026 UTP IS PROPOSING TO ADD ADDITIONAL $669 MILLION TO THIS INITIATIVE ADDING TO $5.7 BILLION OF FUNDING ALREADY INVESTED TO FURTHER INCREASE SAFETY AND CONNECTIVITY ON THESE CORRIDORS.
FOLLOWING YOUR FEEDBACK TODAY OUR NEXT STEPS IN THE DOCUMENT OF 2026 UTP INCLUDE FIRST FINALING DRAFT UTP BASED ON COMMENTS RECEIVED TODAY.
SECOND, PROCEEDING WITH OUR PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT EFFORTS, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, AND I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT SOME KEY EVENTS FOLLOWING EVENTS THAT WILL BE OCCURRING WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH.
ON JUNE 25TH, HOLD PUBLIC UTP MEETING.
JUNE 27 OPEN 30-DAY UTP COMMENT PERIOD.
ON JULY 23RD, WE WILL HOLD OUR UTP VIRTUAL PUBLIC HEARING.
ON JULY 28TH, WE WILL CLOSE OUR 30-DAY UTP PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
THAT WILL ALLOW US TO GO TO STEP NUMBER THREE WHERE WE WILL THEN REVIEW ALL THE PUBLIC COMMENTS RECEIVED AND PREPARE THE FINAL 2026 UTP, WHICH WILL ALLOW US TO REQUEST COMMISSION TO CONSIDER FINAL ADOPTION OF THE 2026 UTP AT OUR AUGUST 21ST COMMISSION MEETING.
AS MENTIONED, THE DRAFT 2026 UTP DOCUMENT WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC REVIEW AND COMMENT ONLINE FROM JUNE THE 27TH THROUGH JULY THE 28TH.
WE'LL ENCOURAGE THE PUBLIC TO SUBMIT THEIR COMMENTS WHICH WILL BE PRESENTED ELECTRONICALLY THROUGH OUR TXDOT WEBSITE BY TOLL-FREE PHONE OR BY MAIL.
WITH THAT I AM HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS OR RECEIVE ANY COMMENTS THAT YOU MAY HAVE TODAY.
COMMISSIONERS, ARE THERE REMARKS OR QUESTIONS FOR DIRECTOR GONZALEZ? NO.
>> WITH THIS YEAR, THE EFFORT TO SPEND SOME NEW MONEY BECAUSE ONE YEAR FALLS OFF, ONE YEAR COMES ON SO YOU GET SOME NEW MONEY.
ALSO WITH THE TRANSITION THAT WAS DESCRIBED GOING FROM HAVING QUITE A LOT OF CASH, MOVING THAT DOWN, AND NOW MOVING INTO A NEW LOOK OF REALLY YOU HAVE CASH AND YOU HAVE INPUTS BUT YOU REALLY
[01:15:02]
ARE MOVING IT DOWN CLOSE -- FOR THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE'RE SPENDING, CLOSE TO THE BONE FOR THE END OF THE YEAR.PUTTING TOGETHER A UTP THAT HITS THE RIGHT NOTES, THAT'S A HARD JOB.
IT'S A HARD JOB FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED.
IT'S A HARD JOB OUT IN THE DISTRICTS TO GET THEIR PRIORITIES RIGHT, TO KEEP THEIR PROCESSES MOVING.
ALL OF THOSE FOLKS IN THEIR AREA, IT'S A HARD JOB FOR THE THREE FOLKS IN HERE AND THEIR TEAM, TITO AND MR. FORD.
BECAUSE I CAN REMEMBER LAST NAMES EASIER THAN I CAN FIRST NAMES FOR SOME REASON.
IF YOUR NAME IS FORD, IT'S PRETTY EASY TO GET THAT ONE.
BUT ANYWAY, SO HE IS -- THESE GUYS ARE ABLE TO DIG DATA, DIG INTO DATA AND, THANK YOU, DIG INTO DATA AND GET THINGS AND LOOK FOR WAYS TO MAKE MANIPULATIONS AND MANEUVERS AND GET THINGS DONE THAT TAKES CARE OF EVERYBODY IN THE WHOLE STATE OF TEXAS, SO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT'S A LOT OF WORK.
IT'S REALLY PEOPLE IN DIVISIONS, PEOPLE IN DISTRICTS, PEOPLE SPECIFICALLY THERE, BRANDY AND ALL THAT TIME, BRIAN AND ALL OF HIS TEAM.
THERE IS A LOT GOING ON RIGHT HERE.
MARC HAS A LOT GOING ON IN THIS WORLD.
THE CHAIR HAS A LOT GOING ON IN THIS WORLD.
I'M A HAPPY WARRIOR PUSHING FOR EVERYTHING THAT I THINK IS GOOD FOR THE THINGS I'M SUPPOSED TO TAKE CARE OF UP HERE.
SO IT'S A BIG DEAL, AND IT WAS HARD THIS YEAR BECAUSE OF THE TRANSITION AND THE WAY WE'RE DOING CASH.
SO I WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS YEAR AND YOU DID A GOOD JOB.
>> I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER NEW, THE TRANSITION, THAT'S WHY I WANT TO CONTINUE TO HIGHLIGHT AND SPEAK PUBLICLY ABOUT THE TRANSITION WE'RE MAKING.
BUT THIS COMMISSION AND OUR TEAM I KNOW ARE UP TO THE TASK.
THIS TRANSITION TO A CASH FLOW MODEL AS OPPOSED TO STACKING THE DOLLARS IN ANY COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE, THOSE DAYS ARE GONE.
THAT'S WHAT THE PUBLIC EXPECTS OF US, AND THAT'S WHAT I EXPECT OF MYSELF.
I KNOW YOU JOIN ME, EACH ONE OF YOU, EXPECT OF YOURSELF ON THE COMMISSION IN LURING THIS TRANSITION INTO A CASH FLOW MODEL.
SO TO THAT END, I'D LIKE TO GO BACK TO THAT ONE PAGE THAT IS ENTITLED "DRAFT 2026 UTP FUNDING DISTRIBUTION." THERE YOU GO.
DIRECTOR GONZALEZ, YOU HAD JUST RIGHT.
I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT WE HAVE IN YEARS PAST THE UTP DOES NOT REALLY CAPTURE THE ESTIMATED DEVELOPMENT COST, AND THE UTP DOES NOT REALLY CAPTURE OUR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE CONTRACTS.
SO WE ADD ALL THAT IN, OUR TEN-YEAR ESTIMATED INVESTMENT IN PROJECTS, ALL IN BECAUSE YOU CAN'T HAVE A PROJECT WITHOUT THE PROJECT BEING DEVELOPED, AND YOU CAN'T MAINTAIN EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING WITHOUT THE MAINTENANCE CONTRACTS.
WHEN YOU ADD THOSE TWO IN, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AT THE $146 BILLION RUN RATE FOR EVERYTHING THAT WE DO.
SINCE IT'S NOT HIGHLIGHTED AND PART OF THE UTP AND OUR RULES, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THE PUBLIC AND THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY UNDERSTANDS THIS.
I KNOW THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY UNDERSTANDS THIS.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS OUR CAPTURE RATE, IF YOU WILL, THE (NO AUDIO).
THIS IS VERY WELL PUT TOGETHER.
EVERY ONE OF THESE SAY THE VALUES SPEED UP OR SLOW DOWN ON THE NUMBER OF PROJECTS UNDER DEVELOPMENT BASED ON FUNDING.
THAT'S OUR NEW BUSINESS MODEL, BASED ON FUNDING.
SO COMMISSIONER NEW, I'M GLAD YOU HIGHLIGHTED.
I WANT TO COME BACK BEHIND YOU AND JUST SAY WE ARE REALLY IMPLEMENTING, BASED ON THE CASH FLOW MODEL.
I'M VERY PROUD OF THE WORK WE'RE
[01:20:01]
DOING.I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT.
OBVIOUSLY THERE'S NO VOTE TODAY.
BUT KEEP TAKING YOUR VITAMIN PILLS, AND THERE WILL BE A VOTE IN AUGUST.
WE NEED EVERYBODY, ALL HANDS ON DECK YOU MIGHT SAY.
VERY WELL PRESENTED AND A GREAT PRESENTATION.
BRANDY AND BRIAN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TEAM'S EFFORTS ON THIS.
STEVEN, APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING.
SO I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU.
>> I WANT TO HELP YOU REAL QUICK.
STEEFB, YOU'VE GOT TO SAY YES SOMETIMES, I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW.
THE GUY WITH THE MONEY OVER THERE.
THANK YOU TO YOUR TEAM AS WELL.
APPRECIATE THE RECOGNITION FROM THE COMMISSION.
THIS IS A VERY INVOLVED PROCESS.
IT'S NOT JUST A LIST OF PROJECTS.
THE COMMISSION GOES THROUGH AN SUBALLOCATES SO MUCH OF THE MONEY.
TO DO THAT EFFECTIVELY REQUIRES A LOT OF WORK BY THIS TEAM WORKING WITH OUR DISTRICTS, MPOS AROUND THE STATE.
THIS DOESN'T COME TOGETHER EASILY.
I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT.
WE'VE GOT BUSY TIMES STILL AVAILABLE AS WE NOW ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT FOR THE UTP.
WE CERTAINLY ENCOURAGE THE PUBLIC AND OTHERS TO GIVE US YOUR COMMENTS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THIS NEXT STEP IS, THAT PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT PROCESS.
[7. Aviation Various Counties]
THIS IS THE CONSIDERATION OF FEDERAL AND STATE AVIATION AWARDS.OUR AVIATION DIVISION DIRECTOR DAN HARMON IS HERE AND HE'S GOING TO PRESENT THIS ITEM.
THIS MINUTE ORDER CONTAINS A REQUEST FOR GRANT FUNDING APPROVAL FOR 14 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.
CITIES AND COUNTIES REQUESTING GRANTS, FUNDING SOURCES AND AMOUNTS REQUESTED ARE INCLUDED IN EXHIBIT A.
PUBLIC HEARING WAS HELD ON MAY 23RD OF THIS YEAR.
BARRING ANY QUESTIONS, STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL.
COMMISSIONERS, ARE THERE ANY REMARKS OR QUESTIONS FOR DIRECTOR HARMON? HEARING NONE, MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO AWARD THE FEDERAL AND STATE AVIATIONAFTER WARDS IN ACCORDANCE WITH STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS.
>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER VAUGHN.
>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ALVIS.
[8. Annual Grant Application for Highway Safety Various Counties]
.>> NEXT 8, APPROVAL OF FUNDING FOR ANNUAL GRANT APPLICATION TRAFFIC SAFETY DIVISION DEPUTY DIRECTOR CATHY KRATZ IS HERE AND SHE WILL PRESENT THIS ITEM.
TODAY I'LL BE DISCUSSING 2026 ANNUAL GRANT APPLICATION FOR AGA, FORMERLY KNOWN AS HIGHWAY SAFETY PLAN AND THIS APPLICATION IS DEVELOPED AND IMPLEMENTED BY THE DEPARTMENT.
SO PRIOR TO COVID CRASH TRENDS WERE MOVING DOWNWARD.
AS WE SHARED IN 20021 WE SAW AN INCREASE ON ROADWAYS PRIMARILY DUE TO CHANGE IN DRIVER BEHAVIOR.
SINCE THEN WE HAVE SEEN STEADY DECREASE ON ROADWAYS TO 4,000159 LIVES LOST IN 2024.
WHILE ANY LOSS IS TRAGIC, THIS IS A 3.2% DECREASE FROM 2023.
SO WE KNOW OUR SAFETY PROGRAM IS WORKING TO REDUCE FATALITIES AND SEVERE CRASHES BUT WE CONTINUE TO SEE RISKY DRIVING BEHAVIORS ON OUR ROADWAY WHICH IS WHY WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH EDUCATING THE COMMUNITY AND THE DANGERS OF DRIVING BEHIND THE WHEELGS.
WE DO THIS BECAUSE FATALITIES AREN'T JUST NUMBERS.
THEY ARE FAMILY MEMBERS, FRIENDS AND CO-WORKERS.
A DEATH OF ONE AFFECTS LIVES OF MANY.
SO WE USE THREE APPROACH TO IMPROVING SAFETY SAFETY, ENGINEERING, EDUCATION AND ENFORCEMENT.
OUR STRATEGIC HIGHWAY SAFETY PLAN IS OVERARCHING HIGHWAY SAFETY PLAN PROVIDING GOALS, STRATEGIES AND COUNTER-MEASURES TO ACHIEVE OUR TARGETS.
THE HIGHWAY SAFETY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM CORRELATES ENGINEERING PROJECTS USING CATEGORY 8 FUNDS BUT INCORPORATES ALL CATEGORIES IN UTP BECAUSE EVERY PROJECT IT'S A SAFETY PROJECT.
THE TRI-ANNUAL HIGHWAY SAFETY PLAN OR 3 HSP FUNDS GRANTS WE RECEIVE FROM NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC ADMINISTRATION OR NHTSA.
TODAY I'LL BE DISCUSSING ENFORCEMENT SHOWN IN LOWER RIGHT BOX TO ADDRESS HUMAN FACTORS AND INFLUENCE DRIVER BEHAVIOR.
SO TXDOT AWARDS SAFETY TO GRANT PROGRAMS. THESE ADDRESS WORK ZONE, PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE, MOTORCYCLE, DISTRACTED DRIVING AND DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DRUGS.
ONE PERFORMANCE MEASURE REPORTED TO NHTSA.
THESE INCLUDE CORE PERFORMANCE MEASURES SUCH AS THE NUMBER OF
[01:25:01]
FATALITIES, SERIOUS INJURIES, ALCOHOL RELATED FATALITIES, BOOIRKIST FATALITIES AMONG OTHERS.SO THIS IS A SIDE BY SIDE COMPARISON HOW FUNDING WAS DISTRIBUTED FROM 25 AGA TO WHAT'S PROPOSED FOR 2026.
THERE'S AN INCREASE OF APPROXIMATELY 13.5% IN FUNDING AND AN INCREASE IN 10% OF THE PROJECTS FOR PROPOSED PROGRAM IN 2026.
OUR SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN FUNDING IS OUR DRIVER EDUCATION BEHAVIOR PROGRAM AREA THROUGH OUR NEW DRIVER EDUCATION GRANT INITIATIVE.
THIS INITIATIVE PROVIDES FUNDS TO HIGH SCHOOLS TO CONDUCT DRIVER EDUCATION COURSES TO TEENS AGES 15 TO 18 IN A TRADITIONAL CLASSROOM SETTING AND BEHIND THE WHEEL PROVIDED BY CERTIFIED INSTRUCTORS.
WE PLAN TO PROVIDE FUNDING CROSS TEXAS AT 20,000 PER SCHOOL.
WE'VE ALSO HAD AN INCREASE IN POLICE TRAFFIC SERVICES PROGRAM AREA WHICH INCLUDES SELECTIVE TRAFFIC OR STEP PROJECTS.
WE CONTINUE TO ENHANCE OUR CAMPAIGNS TO MAKE SURE IT'S HITTING TARGET AREAS AS IDENTIFIED THROUGH CRASH FUNDING AND AS DATA ALLOWS.
THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE TOP CONTRIBUTING FACTORS FOR 2024 FATALITIES LET ALONE WITH GRANTS AND FUNDING FOR EACH CONTRIBUTING FACTOR PROPOSED FOR 2026.
AS WE SHARED BEFORE I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THE TOP THREE ARE DRIVEN BY THE HAGAR ALL THINGS A CHOICE WHEN PEOPLE GET BEHIND THE WHEEL AND SOMETHING WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO INFLUENCE.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO TAKE THAT MESSAGE BACK TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
WE NEED EVERYONE'S HELP TO DRIVE SOBER OR MAKE A PLAN FOR DRIVING HOME, DRIVE THE SPEED LIMIT OR CONDITIONS OF THE ROADWAY AND ALWAYS WEAR YOUR SEAT BELT.
EACH YEAR WE REVIEW OUR PROGRAM TO SEE IF ANY GRANTS ARE DUPLICATING EFFORTS OR ANY DEFICIENCIES FOUND BETWEEN THE VARIOUS SUBGRANTEES.
BY BEING SURE WE'RE EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT WITH OUR EFFORTS WE ARE SEEING IMPROVEMENT WITH FATALITY NUMBERS AND THIS WILL HELP US TO REACH ZERO.
WE CONTINUOUSLY WORK INDUSTRY DAILY DEATHS ON TEXAS ROADS AND EVERYTHING WE DO HERE AT THE EPT DID.
HOWEVER, AT LEAST ONE PERSON HAS DIED ON ROADWAYS EVERY DAY SINCE NOVEMBER 7, 2000.
SINCE THEN WE'VE HAD OVER 9 ON,394 LIVES LOST DUE TO CRASHES ON TEXAS ROADS.
THESE FUNDS WILL SUPPORT PROGRAMS THAT WORKS TO REDUCE CRASHES, FATALITIES AND INDUSTRIES AND INSTRUMENTAL IMPACTING OUR ROAD TO ZERO.
STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF 2026 GALLANT PLAX AND I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
>> COMMISSIONERS, ARE THERE ANY REMARKS FOR DEPUTY DIRECTOR KRATZ? OKAY.
HEARING NONE, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT.
PAGE 37 IS SHOWING THE COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF WHAT WE'RE INVESTING IN ALL OF THESE SAFETY PROGRAMS. NOTE TO THE FAR RIGHT-HAND COLUMN FISCAL YEAR 2026 INCREASES FROM 103 MILLION AND CHANGE TO $117 MILLION.
IF YOU LOOK AT EVERY ONE OF THESE ON THE COLUMNS GOING "ALL THE WAY" DOWN, GOING BACK TO WHAT COMMISSIONER NEW WAS TALKING ABOUT, THEN I WANTED TO FOLLOW UP WITH YOU, EVERY ONE OF THESE ULTIMATELY ARE IN THE HANDS OF SHARED RESPONSIBILITY THAT OUR DRIVERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR.
THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY TO SPEND, $1117 MILLION.
BUT IF IT HAS THE IMPACT YOU WANTED IT TO HAVE.
FOR EXAMPLE, 75 WAS THE RIGHT NUMBER AND YOU CAME BACK TO ZERO.
IT REQUIRES -- I FEEL LIKE WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN.
I'M CALLING ON THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO DO WHAT YOU CAN DO IN YOUR SHARED RESPONSIBILITY WITH THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO REALLY GET THESE NUMBERS DOWN WHERE THEY SHOULD BE AT ZERO.
SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT COMMENT.
AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE CYNTHIA JOSEPH.
PLEASE COME FORWARD, STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND THE ORGANIZATION YOU REPRESENT.
>> GOOD MORNING, MR. TO CHAIR, MEMBERS, I'M -- JOSEPH.
MR. CHAIR, YOU MAY REMEMBER I WAS HERE IN 2019 FOR UNIFIED TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM DISCUSSION.
I WANT TO MAKE YOU WEAR 275 NORTH MAR IS STILL UNFUNDED.
SO YES THERE IS ACTUALLY MORE THAT YOU CAN DO.
I WANT TO REMIND YOU ON MAY 15TH, 2020, THAT IS WHEN THERE WAS A PUBLIC HEARING SPECIFICALLY FOR THE BOULEVARD.
THE PUBLIC WAS ACTUALLY PROMISED
[01:30:02]
THAT CORRIDOR WOULD IMPROVE FROM US 183 TO HOWARD LANE.TODAY I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE WAS ACTUALLY A FATALITY ON OR ABOUT JANUARY 30, 2016.
MR. NORTON WAS KILLED IN HIS WHEELCHAIR AND HIS SERVICE DOG LIVED.
SO I WOULD JUST ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT WHILE YOU HAVE ABOUT $12 MILLION ALLOCATED BOTH IN FY25 AND 2026 FOR PEDESTRIANS AND BICYCLISTS, I WANTS TO RECOGNIZE TXDOT PRIORITIZED AIRPORT BOULEVARD, WHICH HAD ABOUT 20,000 BOULEVARD AS OPPOSED TO 37,500 PER DAY ON NORTH LAMAR.
SO THE FUNDING AND THE FOCUS IN AUSTIN HAS BEEN ON THE RAIL SYSTEM.
UNFORTUNATELY THE MINORITIES LIVE NORTH OF US 183.
SO TXDOT COULD DO A BETTER JOB OF LOOKING AT THE DATA AND ACTUALLY MAKING INFORMED DECISIONS.
I WOULD ACTUALLY ASK YOU TO REVIEW NORTH LAMAR ONCE AGAIN.
BECAUSE ROAD TO ZERO IS JUST NICE WORDS, JUST LIKE VISION ZERO IN AUSTIN, IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO LOOK AT THE DATA AND RECOGNIZE.
LASTLY, THERE WAS ACTUALLY A STUDY BY KVIEW CALLED DANGEROUS BY DESIGN WHERE 75 PEOPLE WERE HIT IN A THREE-MILE STRETCH ON NORTH LAMAR FROM NORTH LAMAR TRANSIT CENTER TO PEYTON GYM.
THAT AREA IS STILL NOT UP TO PAR.
NEITHER IS THE AREA BETWEEN NORTH LAMAR ALL THE WAY TO BREAKER.
SO I THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO MAKE MY COMMENTS.
I JUST WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT HOW QUICKLY YOU DO THE BRIDGE PROJECTS AND YOU SHOULD EXPEDITE NORTH LAMAR AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
WE HAVE NO OTHER COMMENT CARDS.
SO IF THERE ARE NO OTHER COMMENTS FROM FELLOW COMMISSIONERS, MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE FUNDING FOR THE ANNUAL GRANT APPLICATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS?
>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER NEW.
MAY I HAVE A SECOND? THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER MEADE.
ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
[9. State Infrastructure Bank Various Counties]
NXT IS ITEM 9 APPROVAL FOR STATE INFRASTRUCTURE BANK LOANS FOR VARIOUS APPLICANTS, SECTION DIRECTOR PATRICK MARR ODA AND WILL PRESENT THIS.WE'LL START WITH STATE INFRASTRUCTURE BANK.
WE HAVE $239 MILLION WITH WHICH TO MAKE LOANS.
IF THE COMMISSION APPROVES THE TWO APPLICATIONS THIS MONTH, THE BALANCE WILL DROP TO ABOUT $217 MILLION.
WE HAVE 60 OUTSTANDING LOANS WITH THE REMAINING PRINCIPLE BALANCE OF $259 MILLION.
OF THE SINCE 160 LOANS NO DEFAULTING TO DATE AND SAUL BAR WERS CURRENT ON OBLIGATION.
WITH THAT ITEM 9 IS TWO REQUESTS $21 MILLION, 948,000.
FROM THE WOODALL WATER PARK FOUNDATION AND RIO PARK.
THIS IS FIRST SIB LOAN FOR BOTH BORROWERS.
STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL AND WE ARE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO CALL DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BRIAN BARTH TO THE PODIUM.
WHILE YOU'RE COMING UP, I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY A COUPLE OF THINGS.
DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BARTH, THIS MONTH WE HAVE A SIB LOAN REQUEST FOR A DECK PARK EXTENSION IN THE DALLAS DISTRICT.
COULD YOU PLEASE ARTICULATE WHAT OUR TXDOT'S CURRENT DECK POLICY IS AS IT RELATES TO STATE INFRASTRUCTURE BANK LOANS KEEPING IN MIND THAT WE HAVE REMAINING CASH BALANCES DOWN TO $216 MILLION FOR THE ENTIRE STATE OF TEXAS.
>> COMMISSIONER, WE FEEL LIKE BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF POTENTIAL DECK PARK LOANS FROM SIB WE NEEDED TO PUT SOME GUARDRAILS ON IT.
CURRENTLY THOSE GUIDELINES SAY ANY ONE BORROWER CAN GET 10% OF SIB CASH BALANCE CALCULATED AT THE END OF THE PREVIOUS FISCAL YEAR FOR A SIB LOAN.
THEN WE'VE ALSO RECOGNIZED THERE COULD BE MORE THAN ONE ENTITY IN A DISTRICT SO WE'VE CAPPED THE DISTRICT TO 15% OF THAT PREVIOUS YEAR'S SIB CASH BALANCE.
>> REMIND US OF THE ORIGINAL SOURCES OF FUNDING THE STATE INFRASTRUCTURE BANK, IF YOU WOULD.
> SO BOTH STATE AND FEDERAL SOURCES TO THE ORIGINAL SIB
[01:35:02]
BANK.>> I JUST WANTED TO SAY COMMISSIONER IN THE BANKS WITH ME.
STATE FWLAS BANK A BANK AS THE TITLE INTENDS.
SO IN ORDER TO PROVIDE ALL THE TRADITIONAL SOURCES OF FUNDING FOR RURAL TOWNS AS WELL AS URBAN TOWNS AROUND THE STATE OF TEXAS, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE NOT DRAINING STATE INFRASTRUCTURE BANK WHERE PARTICULARLY RURAL TOWNS MAY NOT HAVE ANOTHER SOURCE TO GO TO BESIDES TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SIB LOAN.
SO I JUST WANT TO AGAIN MAKE THE PUBLIC AWARE WE'RE TRYING TO MANAGE THIS IN A VERY PRUDENT MANNER, AND WE WILL HAVE RESERVES FOR WHATEVER COMES UP.
THE SIB LOAN TRADITIONALLY IF YOU PAID ATTENTION TO WHAT WE FUND IS TYPICALLY TRYING TO RELOCATE UTILITIES AND THINGS MUNICIPALITIES COMMISSIONER MEADE BEING THE FORMER CITY MANAGER OF A MAJOR CITY IN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY KNOWS YOU HAVE TO COME -- MANY PEOPLE HAVE TO COME TO US AND TRY TO GET THAT FUNDED.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO DO A VERY CAREFUL BALANCE HERE.
THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT.
COMMISSIONERS, ARE THERE REMARKS OR QUESTIONS FOR SECTION DISROR MORE A-- DIRECTOR MORE ADD SARK WHO WILL COME BACK UP.
HEARING NONE MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE STATE INFRASTRUCTURE LOANS FOR VARIOUS APPLICANTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS? THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER VAUGHN.
MAY I HAVE A SECOND? THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER MEADE.
ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
ITEM 10 A IS THE CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSED NEW SECTIONS OF
[10.a. Chapter 7 - Rail Facilities]
CHAPTER 7 RULES RELATING TO FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR RAIL.RAIL DIVISION DIRECTOR JEFF DAVIS IS HERE, AND HE'S GOING TO PRESENT THAT ITEM.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON WE'RE SEEKING A REVISION TO CHAPTER 7 TO ALLOW DEPARTMENT TO DEVELOP A GRANT PROGRAM NOR OFF SYSTEM RAIL AUTHORIZED BY SIGNAL BILL 1855 OF LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> COMMISSIONERS, ANY REMARKS OR QUESTIONS FOR DIRECTOR DAVIS? HEARING NONE, MAY I INVITE NICOLE THOMPSON TO PLEASE COME FORWARD AND STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND THE ORGANIZATION YOU REPRESENT.
I'M NICOLE THOMPSON WITH THE CITY OF LEANDER.
AGAIN, MY NAME IS NICOLE THOMPSON, MAYOR PRO TEM FOR THE CITY OF LEANDER.
AS MANY OF YOU MAY KNOW OR MAY NOT KNOW THE CITY OF LEANDER IS A FAST GROWING CITY NORTH OF AUSTIN.
WE WERE RECENTLY RANKED NUMBER 8 BEST PLACE TO LIVE IN THE UNITE STATES BY "U.S. NEWS AND WORLD REPORT".
WE HAVE A POPULATION OF ABOUT 90,000 PEOPLE AND LEANDER'S BUILDOUT POPULATION IS EXPECTED TO GROW TO NEARLY 225,000 PEOPLE MAKING IT THE LARGEST CITY IN THE GREATER AUSTIN METROPLEX.
HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF LEANDER IN SUPPORT OF ALL STEM RADIO MAMBI GRADE STATE FUNDED PROGRAM AS AUTHORIZED BY SENATE BILL 15 5.
THE CITY OF LEANDER IS HERE TO, ONE, ISSUE ELIGIBILITY FOR THE PROGRAM AND, TWO, ENSURE ALL NECESSARY RAILROADS ARE INCLUDED AND CONSIDERED FOR THIS GRANT.
THE PACIFIC RAILROAD RUNS PARALLEL TO A MAJORITY OF U.S.
183 CORRIDOR LOCATED IN THE CITY OF LEANDER.
ALSO PROVIDES COMMUTER RAILS FROM CAP METRO.
THE CITY OF LEANDER HAS BEEN A MEMBER OF CAB METRO SINCE 1985 AND HAS A PARKING LOT STATION AT THE NORTHERNMOST STOP OF THE COMMUNITY RAIL.
IN LEANDER ON U.S. 183 WE HAVE SEVEN INTERSECTIONS WHERE THE RAILROAD LINES ARE LOCATED INCLUDE CRYSTAL FALLS PARKWAY AND U.S. 183.
ACCORDING TO STATEWIDE TRAFFIC MAP, 54 CUENTAS ENLA INTERSECCIÓN DE AT THE INTERSECTION OF CRYSTAL FALLS PARKWAY CRISTAL THAT RAIL LINE IS LOCATED.
OUR POLICE AND FIRE RESPONSE DATA SHOWS WE RESPONDED TO 96 CRASHES.
THOSE CALLS AT CRYSTAL FALLS INTERSECTION BETWEEN 2020 AND 2024.
NINE OF THOSE CALLS WERE FOR ACCIDENTS WITH INJURIES.
WE DEEPLY CARE ABOUT THE SAFETY OF OUR CITIZENS AND TRAVELING PUBLIC AND FIRMLY BELIEVE FUNDING TO THE RAILROAD GRADE SEPARATION FOR OUR CITY WILL IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY AND REDUCE TRAFFIC CONGESTION.
WE ARE ALSO CERTAIN THAT FUNDING FOR THE SEPARATION GRADE IN LEANDER WILL MAKE A POSITIVE
[01:40:02]
CONTRIBUTION TO THE WORKFORCE BY PROMOTING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THROUGH ENHANCED MOBILITY AND CURRENT AND FUTURE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTS FOR OUR CITIZENS ALIKE AND THOSE BUSINESSES.THE CITY OF LEANDER STRONGLY SUPPORTED SENATE BILL 1555 AND IS ADVOCATING TODAY TO ENSURE OUR ELIGIBILITY AND CONSIDERATION FOR THIS GRANT, IF AWARDED" BECAUSE ONE, IT WOULD INCREASE PUBLIC SAFETY IN OUR AREA.
IT WOULD ALSO ENHANCE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND IT WOULD REDUCE TRAFFIC AT THOSE RAILROAD INTERSECTIONS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, FOR YOUR COMMITMENT AND FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF THE SAFETY AND WELFARE OF OUR COMMUNITY.
THERE ARE NO OTHER COMMENT CARDS.
SO AT THP POINT MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PROPOSED NEW SECTIONS TO CHAPTER 7 RULES IN ACCORDANCE WITH STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ALVIS.
>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER MEADE.
ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
TURN IT BACK OVER TO OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
NEXT IS 10 B, CONSIDERATION OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO
[10.b. Chapter 25 - Traffic Operations]
CHAPTER 25 RULES CONCERNING UNIFORM TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES.TRAFFIC DEPUTY DIRECTOR CATHY KRATZ WILL PRESENT THIS.
35.4001 TEXAS TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION ADOPTED NUMBER DEVICES.
FHWA ADOPTED AND PUBLISHED NEW MANUAL OF DEVICES IN JANUARY OF 2024.
THE FEDERAL DEFINES USED BY ROAD MANAGERS STATEWIDE AND MAINTAIN TRAFFIC DEVICES ON ALL STREETS, HIMPS, PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE FACILITATORS AND SITE ROADS OPEN TO PUBLIC TRAVEL.
WE'RE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE IN ADOPTION OF TEXAS TCD TO MAINTAIN PERFORMANCE WITH MANUAL OF JANUARY 2026.
OUR STAFF WORKED TO UPDATE THIS MANUAL.
NEXT COMMENT PERIOD, PUBLIC MEETING AND ALONG WITH RETURNING IN NOVEMBER FOR COMMISSION ADOPTION OF OUR NEW MANUAL.
STAFF RECOMMENDS COMMISSION APPROVAL TO PUBLISH THE INTENT TO UPDATE "TEXAS REGISTER" AND START 60 DAY COMMENT PERIOD.
I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
COMMISSIONERS, ANY REMARKS OR QUESTIONS FOR DEPUTY DIRECTOR KRATZ? .
HEARING NONE MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 25 RULES IN ACCORDANCE WITH STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS?
MAY I HAVE A SECOND? THANK YOU, MR. MEADE.
ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
11, EMINENT DOMAIN PROCEEDINGS,
[11. Eminent Domain Proceedings Various Counties]
DIRECTOR KYLE MADSEN WILL BRENT THIS ITEM.>> THIS ITEM AUTHORIZES FILING OF CONDEMNATION PROCEEDINGS TO ACQUIRE 149 PARCELS THROUGH EMINENT DOMAIN.
TXDOT WILL CONTROL ACCESS TO 40 OF THE PARCELS AND WILL NOT CONTROL ACCESS TO 109 OF THE PARCELS.
STAFF RECOMMENDS YOUR APPROVAL OF THE MINUTE ORDER AND BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
>> COMMISSIONERS, ANY REMARKS OR QUESTIONS FOR DIRECTOR MADSEN? IF NOT, COMMISSIONER ALVIS, DO YOU HAVE A MOTION TO MAKE?
I MOVE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION AUTHORIZE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO USE POWER OF EMINENT DOMAIN TO ACQUIRE THE PROPERTIES DESCRIBED IN THE MINUTE ORDER SET FORTH IN THE AGENDA FOR THE CURRENT MONTH FOR CONSTRUCTION, RECONSTRUCTION, MAINTENANCE, WIDENING, STRAIGHTENING OR EXTENDING HIGHWAY FACILITIES IN THE MINUTE ORDER AS PART OF THE STATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM.
THAT THE FIRST RECORD VOTE APPLIES TO ALL UNITS OF PROPERTY TO BE CONDEMNED.
>> COMMISSIONER ALVIS HAS MOVED TO AUTHORIZE CONDEMNATION.
>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER MEADE.
ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY EYE ANY OP-ED? PASSES UNANIMOUSLY TURN BACK OVER TO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WILLIAMS.
>> 12, DONATIONS TO DEPARTMENT
[12. Routine Minute Orders and Reports]
REAL ESTATE, DISPOSITIONS, REPORTS, HIGHWAY DESIGNATIONS AND SPEED ZONES.STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE MINUTE ORDERS INCLUDED IN THESE ROUTINE AGENDA ITEMS. ITEMS THAT PERTAIN TO REPORTS TO THE COMMISSION ARE INCLUDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES AND DO NOT INVOLVE OR REQUIRE ACTION BY THE COMMISSION.
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR WILLIAMS. COMMISSIONERS, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS REGARDING ROUTINE MINUTE ORDERS? OKAY.
HEARING NONE, WE DO HAVE A COMMENT CARD.
I'D LIKE TO INVITE LANCE HAMM.
STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND THE ORGANIZATION YOU
[01:45:02]
REPRESENT.>> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONER, CHAIRMAN BUGG, COMMISSIONERS DIRECTOR WILLIAMS, TXDOT TEAM MEMBERS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE OF TEXAS AS THEY USE THE TEXAS TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS. I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT TRAFFIC SAFETY, SPEED ZONES IN PARTICULAR.
I'VE BEEN LOWER MANY TIMES TALKING ABOUT SPEED ZONES IN RUN DIVIDED ROADWAYS, PARTICULARLY THE 70 AND 75 MILES AN HOUR SPEED LIMIT ZONES ON THE UNDIVIDED ROADWAYS.
TODAY I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT -- I'LL GIVE YOU A HANDOUT.
PLEASE IF YOU WOULD REFER TO THE BACK SIDE, BACK PAGE IS WHAT I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT TODAY.
IN THE PAST I TALKED ABOUT THE UNDIVIDED ROADWAYS WERE BUMPED UP TO 70 AND 75 MILES PER HOUR BACK IN THE 2011 TIME FRAME.
THIS DOCUMENT WENT TO TXDOT TO TRY TO GIVE THE PUBLIC A NEED AND PURPOSE FOR AN OVERPASS ON A FOUR-LANE DIVIDED ROADWAY BUT DIDN'T HAVE ACCESS ROADS OR RAMPS, ON-RAMPS OR OFF-RAMPS.
CONSTRUCT OVERPASSES OVER DANGEROUS HIGH-SPEED INTERSECTIONS.
SO THIS IS WHAT THIS DOCUMENT TALKS ABOUT.
WHAT I REALLY WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS EARLIER WHEN YOU WERE MENTIONING SHARED RESPONSIBILITY, EDUCATION, AND I'LL TALK MORE LATER IN PUBLIC COMMENTS.
IF YOU LOOK AT THIS DOCUMENT, REALLY WHAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS THE FIRST BULLET POINT AFTER THE FIRST PARAGRAPH, INTERSECTIONS COMPROMISE SAFETY ON THIS HIGH-SPEED FACILITY.
IT WAS ABOUT 65 MILES PER HOUR AND IT WAS AT GRADE INTERSECTION BUILT ON AN OVERPASS TO GET RID OF THAT HIGH-SPEED INTERSECTION.
AND THEN AT THE BOTTOM -- I CAN'T BELIEVE I ONLY HAVE A MINUTE LEFT.
AS I TALK IN THE LAST MINUTE HERE ABOUT THIS, WHAT THIS IS IMPORTANT IS BECAUSE I'M TRYING TO ESTABLISH THE PROBLEM OF THE HIGH-SPEED VEHICLES IN TEXAS.
EARLIER IT WAS MENTIONED IT IS A BIG PROBLEM.
I THINK A LOT OF THE PROBLEM STEMS FROM THE POLICY OF TXDOT, NOT ONLY THE SPEED LIMITS BUT THE CONSTRUCTION OF THESE OVERPASSES, TRYING TO GET RID OF THESE HIGH-SPEED AT GRADE INTERSECTIONS, T-BONE CRASHES, THINGS LIKE THAT WHERE PEOPLE ARE KILLED QUITE OFTEN.
THAT SAME TIME FRAME, 2011, 2012 THEN YOU INCREASE THE SPEED LIMIT ON UNDIVIDED ROADWAYS TO 70, 57 MILES PER HOUR, YOU ADDED THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF INTERSECTIONS THAT ARE NOW HIGH-SPEED DANGEROUS THAT ACCORDING TO THIS DOCUMENT TXDOT WOULD BE TRYING TO PUT OVERPASS AT ALL THESE INTERSECTIONS.
THOUSANDS OF INTERSECTIONS BY ADDING 70, 75 MILES PER HOUR.
ANYWAY, I'LL TALK MORE LATER IN PUBLIC COMMENTS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, MR. HAMM.
DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER COMMENT CARDS? OKAY.
SO ITEM 12 IS THE CONSIDERATION ROUTINE MINUTE ORDERS.
ANY MORE QUESTIONS? IF NOT, MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ROUTINE MINUTE ORDERS?
>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER NEW.
MAY I HAVE A SECOND? THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER VAUGHN.
ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
WE WILL NOT MEET IN EXECUTIVE SESSION TODAY, AND ALL ITEMS ON TODAY'S AGENDA ARE COMPLETED.
IS THERE ANYONE SIGNED UP FOR OPEN COMMENT? I SEE WE DO HAVE A NUMBER OF
[OPEN COMMENT PERIOD]
PEOPLE SIGNED UP.SO AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE VANESSA PEREZ TO PLEASE COME FORWARD AND STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND THE ORGANIZATION YOU REPRESENT.
>> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.
MY NAME IS VANESSA PEREZ, MAYOR PRO TESTIMONY FOR CITY OF LAREDO, COUNCILMEMBER FOR DISTRICT 7.
I'M HERE TO THANK YOU FOR MOVING TEXAS FORWARD.
I WANTED TO CONGRATULATE CHIEF ENGINEER LANCE SIMMONS FOR HIS
[01:50:03]
32 YEARS OF SERVICE.ALWAYS A POSITIVE PERSON TO WORK WITH AND WILLING TO JUMP IN AND SOLVE PROBLEMS, AND HE WILL DEFINITELY BE MISSED.
I WANTED TO MENTION THAT THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE IN 2023 WAS TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP IN ENSURING STATE HIGHWAY 84 CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD, KNOWN LOCALLY AS THE -- ROAD.
THE PARTNER WITH TXDOT LAREDO DISTRICT WE WERE ABLE TO LEVERAGE CATEGORY 7 FUNDS AND PREVIOUS UNIFIED TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM TO HELP CONSTRUCT THE STATE HIGHWAY 84, WHICH IS A CRUCIAL CONNECTION BETWEEN FM 1472 AND I-35.
I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THIS PROJECT IS NOW 40% -- ALMOST 40% CONSTRUCTED WITH THE STRONG POSSIBILITY OF BEING COMPLETED A YEAR IN ADVANCE.
SO I'M REALLY EXCITED WE WERE ABLE TO GET THAT DONE BECAUSE THAT IS REALLY A CRUCIAL PROJECT.
I INVITE ALL OF YOU TO COME SEE THE PROJECT FIRSTHAND SINCE YOU ALL WERE ABLE TO SAVE IT FROM THE DREADED UNFUNDED TABLE.
ALSO WANTED TO SPECIFICALLY SPEAK TO YOU ALL ABOUT A FEASIBILITY STUDY THAT WAS CONDUCTED RECENTLY THE TXDOT LAREDO OFFICE.
I'M HERE TO EXPRESS THE URGENCY AND CRITICAL NEED FOR THE PROPOSED IMPROVEMENT MINERS ROAD, FEASIBILITY STUDY CSJ 2150-04-092 FROM I-69 WEST TO 2 MILES NORTH OF FOREIGN MINISTER 33 AND 38 OF WEBB COUNTY.
A WELCOME SURPRISE NOT ON UTP YET BUT DID WORK WITH DISTRICT ENGINEER ON THIS CRITICAL PROJECT TO CONTINUE TO ADDRESS CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE BETWEEN THE WORLD TRADE BRIDGE AND COLUMBIA BRIDGE.
I WAS VERY EXCITED TO SEE THAT AND I WANTED TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR THEIR HARD WORK.
AS BOTH A REPRESENTATIVE AND A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE FM 1472 CORRIDOR, I RECOGNIZE FIRSTHAND THE URGENCY AND CRITICAL NEED FOR THESE IMPROVEMENTS.
IT WILL PROVIDE INCREASED LEVEL OF SERVICE, PROVIDE BETTER SAFETY AND JUST HELP ALL AROUND.
GETTING GOODS IN AND OUT OF THE PORT.
I WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU ALL FOR THE SUCCESS OF LAREDO AS WELL.
SINCE THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE, WE'VE HAD FIVE MILE STORMS, THREE PRESIDENTIAL PERMIT APPLICATIONS HAVE BEEN APPROVED, COLUMBIA, WORLD TRADE EXPANSION, BRIDGE 45, CANADIAN PACIFIC KANSAS CITY RAIL BRIDGE THAT IS OPERATING, AND WE JUST GOT THE GREEN CORRIDOR INTELLIGENT FREIGHT BRIDGE APPLICATION APPROVAL AS WELL.
IF I COULD JUST FINISH REAL QUICK RESPECTFULLY 1472 CONTINUE TO BE RECOGNIZED AS STATEWIDE PRIORITY CORRIDOR BECAUSE OF THE CRITICAL LOCATION AND THE IMPORTANCE TO THE FREIGHT MOBILITY PLAN.
WE KNOW THAT FUNDING CONTINUES TO BE AN ISSUE BUT WE OFFER OUR PARTNERSHIP, ALL OF US, AT THE RMA, MPO, OUR COMMISSIONERS, OUR STATE REPS CONTINUE TO WORK WITH YOU ALL IN PARTNERSHIP TO HELP BRIDGE ANY FUNDING GAPS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ALL YOUR HARD WORK.
AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE JUAN MENDIVE TO COME FORWARD.
STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND THE ORGANIZATION YOU REPRESENT.
>> WEBB COUNTY AREA MPO, LOOK AT THE CLOCK.
LAST TIME I WAS HERE I BELIEVE I SAID MORNING AND IT WAS REALLY AFTERNOON SO I'LL CHECK NOW.
GOOD TO BE HERE AGAIN BEFORE YOU ALL.
I'M HERE TODAY WITH MAYOR PRO TEM VANESSA PEREZ, ALSO MPO POLICY BOARD MEMBER AS WELL AS ANOTHER POLICY BOARD MEMBER, ALSO CITY COUNCILMEMBER.
I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
ALSO I WANTED TO MENTION ON BEHALF OF THEM AN MPO POLICY BOARD DO WANT TO THANK TXDOT FOR CONTINUED COMMITMENT HELPING US COLLABORATE WITH A LOT OF THE PROJECTS WE'RE DOING.
DEFINITELY WANT TO THANK DISTRICT ENGINEER, EVERYONE DOING A GREAT JOB IN LAREDO.
AS MAYOR PRO TEM PEREZ MENTIONED WE'RE SUPPORTING FM 14 2 STUDY.
THERE WAS A VERY WELL WELL ATTENDED PUBLIC MEETING.
WE HAD CONGRESSMAN, STATE ROMANTIC THERE AS WELL.
WITH THAT WE PASSED A RESOLUTION FOR MPOS SUPPORTING THAT STUDY, FM 1472 STUDY AND WE ARE ALSO HOPING THAT -- ACTUALLY WE ARE SUPPORTING THE RECOMMENDED ALTERNATIVE THAT WAS FOUND IN THE PRELIMINARY FINDINGS TO BE THE BEST ALTERNATIVE.
[01:55:01]
RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR STATEWIDE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PLAN THE TXDOT IS DOING.WE'RE ALSO SUPPORTING THAT EFFORT.
I WANTED TO MENTION THAT TODAY.
ALSO, WANT TO MENTION THAT WE'RE SUPPORTING THE DRAFT UTP, FYDRAFT 2026.
YOU MENTIONED IT'S HARD WORK WITH THE MPOS WE WORK WELL WITH THE COMMISSION AND TXDOT.
WE RECOGNIZE UTP IS GOING TO HELP SUPPORT THE CRITICAL ROLE IN THE STATE'S ECONOMY AND LAREDO AS NUMBER ONE PORT.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO A RELATIONSHIP WITH TXDOT.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
AT THIS TIME I'D LIKE TO INVITE LANCE HAMM.
PLEASE COME FORWARD, STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND THE ORGANIZATION YOU REPRESENT.
>> GOOD MORNING AGAIN, CHAIRMAN I FORGOT TO MENTION EARLIER LANCE HAMM VISION ZERO SOUTH TEXAS.
THE MANY TIMES I'VE BEEN HERE TALKING IT WAS MOSTLY ABOUT THE PROBLEM.
THAT'S WHAT I DID THREE MINUTES AGO ABOUT THE PROBLEM.
FOR THESE THREE MINUTES I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE SOLUTION.
THIS HANDOUT AND THE WEBSITE ASSOCIATED WITH IT HAS PLENTY, PLENTY OF SOLUTIONS.
WHAT I'M TLIG TO FIND THE SOLUTION TO IS THE ROADWAY DEATHS.
EARLIER WE TALKED ABOUT EDUCATION.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT WHAT EVERYBODY IS DOING IN TXDOT TO MAINTAIN HOPEFULLY LESS THAN 04,000 PEOPLE DYING EVERY YEAR.
I THINK EDUCATION IS KEEPING US AT THAT, NOT BRINGING US TO 05,000 OR 6,000.
EDUCATION IS KEEPING US WHERE WE ARE.
WE CAN'T KEEP SAYING EDUCATION IS GOING TO DO IT WITH A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY.
WE NEED A TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE OF THIS ORGANIZATION TO BRING THE DEATHS DOWN TO 3,000 PRIOR TO 2008 OR HOPEFULLY LOWER, TO ZERO.
IN SOLUTIONS TO REMOVE YOUR SAFETY DIVISION UP TO THE TOP, HIGH VISIBILITY.
EVERYBODY COMING INTO TXDOT GOES INTO SAFETY FIRST.
IDEALLY BEING AN AIRLINE GUY INCORPORATING THREAT AND MANAGEMENT.
DEALING WITH THE THREATS THAT NOT ONLY YOUR DEVICES HAVE, YOUR SAFETY DEVICES HAVE BUT WHAT ARE THE THREATS ONCE YOU INCORPORATE THEM.
SO ONCE WE GET INTO THE THREAT AND AIR MANAGEMENT LIKE THE AIRLINES DO, LIKE THE MILITARY DOES, I THINK WE CAN BRING FATALITIES DOWN BELOW 3,000.
THE OTHER THING IS, YOU KNOW, 11 PEOPLE A DAY ARE DYING ON █TEXA ROADS, 300 A MONTH.
THAT'S AN AIRLINE WIDE BEODY CRASHING FOREVER IN THE PAST.
WHEN THAT HAPPENED TO OUR COUNTRY WITH 9/11, OVER 3,000 PEOPLE DIED, THERE WAS A TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE IN HOW WE DID BUSINESS.
WE CAN'T HAVE 3,000 PEOPLE DYING IN AMERICA.
WHY ARE WE ALLOWING 3,000 PEOPLE, 4,000 DEATHS ON OUR ROADS YEAR AFTER YEAR WITHOUT A BIG, HUGE TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE SAYING ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC AND SHARED, THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE HUMAN ERROR.
IT'S ALLEGES GOING TO BE THERE NO MATTER HOW MUCH EDUCATION YOU HAVE.
WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE IS THIS ORGANIZATION AS A WHOLE BRINGING SAFETY UP TO THE FOREFRONT ON YOUR ORGANIZATIONAL CHART, INCORPORATING THREAT AND ERROR MANAGEMENT AND HOPEFULLY YOU'LL CONSIDER THAT.
THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN, FOR YOUR TIME.
AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE ZIMMIA JOSEPH.
COME FORWARD AND STATE YOUR NAME FR THE RECORD AND THE ORGANIZATION YOU REPRESENT.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR, MEMBERS I'M REPRESENTING MYSELF.
I WANTED TO MAKE MY COMMENTS IN THE CONTEXT OF TITLE 6 OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964 WHICH PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION BASED ON RACE, COLOR, NATIONAL ORIGIN.
ON APRIL 24TH, 2025, SECRETARY DUFFY ACTUALLY SENT OUT A LETTER THAT SPECIFIES FOLLOW THE LAW.
ON PAGE 205 OF THAT DOCUMENT WAS TITLE 6.
I JUST WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANT OF NORTH LAMAR TRANSIT CENTER ON TEXAS RIGHT-OF-WAY.
YOU MAY BE AWARE METRO PUSHING PROJECT CONNECT, THE LIGHT RAIL SYSTEM.
HOWEVER, WHAT THEY HAVE NOT DONE IS COLLABORATED WITH TXDOT FOR
[02:00:02]
THIS EQUATORIAL TRANSMIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT AND SMALL AREA PLANNING ON THEIR WEB PAGE OF CAPITAL METRO.I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT ON DECEMBER 17TH, 2018 WHEN CAPITAL METRO ACTUALLY APPROVED THAT PLAN, RAIL STARTED SOUTH OF U.S.
WHEN THEY REVISED THE PLAN JUNE 6TH, 2023, IT AGAIN STARTED SOUTH OF U.S. 183.
THIS IS A SMOKE SCREEN, DISCRIMINATORY AND SIMPLY USING THE RIDERSHIP IN THAT AREA BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE MINORITY TRANSIT RIDERS BOARD THE BUS.
ACCORDING TO CAPITAL METRO'S OWN DATA IN 2015, 70% OF THE METRO RIDERS ARE WHITE.
I WANT YOU TO ASK TXDOT TO PLEASE LOOK AT THE PROJECTS CAPITAL MET ONRO HAS IN TRANSIT PLAN OF 2023.
THEY HAVE APPROVED, FOR EXAMPLE, SHADY AND 7TH STREET BUT NO ONE IS DYING THERE.
BUT THEY ARE DESIGNING THAT FOR MULTIMODAL WITH TXDOT.
$120 MILLION BOND NOVEMBER 8TH, 2016 BY THE CITY OF USA US CONTINUE AND THEY SAID THEY ALLOCATED $218 MILLION FOR NORTH LAMAR.
TODAY IT IS STILL NOT TAKEN CARE OF.
I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND SPECIFICALLY THAT IT IS, IN FACT, DISCRIMINATORY AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN IN THEIR AUSTIN STRATEGIC MOBILITY PLAN ACTUALLY HAD ACKNOWLEDGED THEIR DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES IN UPDATE.
I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND SPECIFICALLY MORE CAN BE DONE AND I WOULD ASK YOU TO LOOK AT THESE PROJECTS AND RECOGNIZE SIMPLY INFLATING THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT GRANTS TO GET $7.1 BILLION BUT HALF OF THAT MONEY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS NOT THE APPROPRIATE THING TO DO.
I WOULD ASK TXDOT TO PLEASE NOT BE COMPLICIT IN THE DISCRIMINATION OCCURRING IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
THERE'S ACTUALLY A 2015 STUDY THAT SAYS AUSTIN IS THE MOST ECONOMICALLY SEGREGATED METRO AREA.
THE DECISIONS BY OUR COUNCIL APPROVE THAT $3.8 MILLION FOR DETENTION POND WHERE LIGHT RAIL WOULD TERMINATE IN HYDE PARK.
THAT SPECIFIC AREA WAS DEVELOPED EXCLUSIVELY FOR WHITE PEOPLE BY COLONEL MONROE.
THEY HAVE CHOSEN NOT TO PUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON THE LINE.
I WOULD ASK YOU NOT TO BE COMPLICIT.
I KNOW YOU CAN'T ASK ME MY QUESTIONS BUT IF THERE'S A STAFF MEMBER THAT COULD SPEAK WITH ME ON THAT I WOULD APPRECIATE IT.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE BENEFIT OF YOUR KNOTS? IS THERE ANY MORE BUSINESS BEFORE THE COMMISSION? THERE BEING NONE, MOTION TO ADJOURN?
>> CONCERN MEADE MOTION TO ADJOURN.
>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ALVIS.
ANY OPPOSED? WE STAND ADJOURNED.
THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.