[10:00 A.M. CONVENE MEETING ]
[00:00:21]
>> CALL TO ORDER THE AUGUST 21ST, 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 3:41 P.M. ON AUGUST 13TH, 2025, WHICH IS AT LEAST SEVEN DAYS PRIOR TO THE MEETING AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH GOVERNMENT CODE 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. TO COMMENT OR REGISTER YOUR OPINION ON AN AGENDA ITEM, PLEASE COMPLETE A YELLOW CARD AND IDENTIFY THE AGENDA ITEM. BRING THAT CARD UP TO OUR CLERK, MISS BROWN, HERE AT THE DAIS. WHEN WE GET TO THAT ITEM AND AFTER STAFF HAS PRESENTED THE AGENDA ITEM, I WILL CALL YOUR NAME TO COME TO THE PODIUM. WHEN YOU COME TO THE PODIUM TO SPEAK, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND 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 PERIOD AT THE END OF THE MEETING. FOR THOSE COMMENTS, PLEASE COMPLETE A BLUE CARD. AGAIN, BRING THAT CARD UP TO OUR CLERK, MISS BROWN, HERE AT THE DAIS. WHEN YOU COME UP TO THE PODIUM TO SPEAK, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME. AND IF YOU ARE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF AN ORGANIZATION, PLEASE LET US KNOW THE NAME OF THAT ORGANIZATION. PLEASE NOTE THAT DURING OPEN COMMENT, THE COMMISSION IS PROHIBITED BY LAW FROM ANSWERING QUESTIONS OR ENGAGING IN DIALOGUE WITH YOU 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 WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO PROVIDE YOUR REMARKS. WHEN 60 SECONDS REMAIN, THE YELLOW LIGHT ON THE PODIUM TIMER
[1. Safety Briefing ]
WILL FLASH MEANING YOU SHOULD START WRAPPING UP YOUR COMMENTS. WHEN THE RED LIGHT FLASHES, YOUR THREE MINUTES HAVE EXPIRED. BEFORE WE BEGIN, I'M GOING TO TURN THE MEETING OVER TO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MARC WILLIAMS.>> THANK YOU, ACTING CHAIRM. AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK EVERYONE'S FULL ATTENTION TO BE DIRECTED TO THE SCREENS AS WE SHOW GREER BUILDING SAFETY VIDEO AS WE SHOW EMERGENCY EXITS AND OTHER EMERGENCY PROCEDURES.
>> ATTENTION, 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, FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEM AND ON SITE SECURITY PERSONNEL FOR MORE DETAILS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
[ 2. Opening Comments from Commissioners and Executive Director ]
HAVE A SAFE AND PRODUCTIVE MEETING.>> THIS CONCLUDES OUR SAFETY BRIEFING. THANK YOU.
>> WELL, TO START, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ATTENDED THE MEMORIAL OF CHAIRMAN BUGG'S LIFE YESTERDAY, YOU KNOW HE WAS A GREAT MAN, DOING MUCH FOR SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, AND FOR HIS FAMILY. BEFORE WE START OUR MEETING TODAY, I WANT TO ASK YOU TO JOIN ME IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE AND PRAYER FOR CHAIRMAN BUGG AND FOR HIS FAMILY AND FOR THE TXDOT FAMILY.
[00:05:15]
AT THIS TIME WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS ACKNOWLEDGE MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS TO SEE IF THEY HAVE THOUGHTS OR WORDS RELATED TO CHAIRMAN BUGG AND HIS MEMORIAL AND OUR CELEBRATION HERE WITH THE TXDOT FAMILY OF HIS LIFE. SO COMMISSIONER ALVIS.>> THANK YOU, ACTING CHAIR NEW. THE START OF THIS COMMISSION, IT WASN'T YOUR STANDARD ISSUE PUBLIC SERVICE ASSIGNMENT, THE ARTERIES OF OUR STATE FLOW NONSTOP THROUGH GOOD TIMES AND BAD, AND THE WHEELS OF COMMERCE NEVER STOP TURNING. IN MY TIME ON THE COMMISSION, I'M ALSO REMINDED DAILY THAT NO TWO DAYS ARE EVER THE SAME. THERE ARE THE HIGHEST HIGHS AND SOME PRETTY UNEXPECTED LOWS. LESS THAN SEVEN WEEKS AGO ON JULY 4TH, TEXAS WAS HIT WITH TRAGIC AND HISTORIC FLOODING. THE MEN AND WOMEN OF TXDOTER MERGED FROM THE LOWEST OF THE LOWS, AS THEY ALWAYS DO ADMIRABLY SERVING THE STATE AND FULFILLING THEIR DUTIES. THEN ON JULY 25TH, WE TRAGICALLY LOST REBECCA WELLS, OUR ATLANTIC DISTRICT ENGINEER. LESS THAN TWO WEEKS LATER ON AUGUST 6TH, BEFORE ANYONE COULD GET BACK TO BUSINESS AS USUAL, WE LEARNED THAT WE TRAGICALLY LOST A TIRELESS, PERSISTENT AND PATIENT PUBLIC SERVICE SERVANT, OUR CHAIRMAN BRUCE BUGG. AGAIN THE TXDOT FAMILY WAS CALLED TO BEAR THE DUAL BURDEN OF GRIEF AND RESPONSIBILITY. ONCE AGAIN, THE SAME MEN AND WOMEN ROSE TO THE TASK. GOVERNOR ABBOTT MADE IT OUT TO OPEN AND SHOWCASE A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THEIR HARD WORK ON TUESDAY, THE BRIDGE OVER THE CREEK AT FM 1431 CONNECTING ALTAVISTA TO FALLS. ORIGINAL BRIDGE WASHED AWAY FROM THE FLOOD AND THIS REPLACEMENT WAS DESIGN, DELIVER, AND OPEN TRAFFIC IN UNDER ONE MONTH. THIS COLLABORATION WITH OUR CONSTRUCTION PARTNERS CAUGHT NATIONWIDE ATTENTION. YESTERDAY MANY OF YOU TOOK TIME OUT OF YOUR DAY TO SHARE IN SOME SOLEMN FELLOWSHIP IN HONOR OF OUR CHAIRMAN BRUCE BUGG. HIS SONS, JIM AND TOM, AND A NUMBER OF HIS FRIEND DELIVERED MOVING REMARKS AND TOLD STORIES, WHICH REALLY MADE US FEEL HIS PRESENCE, NOW ONE OF HIS FRIENDS IN PARTICULAR REALLY HIT THE MARK. SO I'M GOING TO TRY AND QUOTE A BRIEF EXCERPT FROM GOVERNOR ABBOTT. QUOTE, ROADS ARE ENGINES OF COMMERCE. THEY CONNECT PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES. THEY ARE THE BEDROCK OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE. THAT DESCRIBES BRUCE. HE WAS ONE OF OUR BEST ENGINES OF COMMERCE FROM BANKING TO BUSINESS TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. HIS LIFE WAS A PERPETUAL PROCESS OF CONNECTING PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES. HE WAS A CONNECTIVE TISSUE AND ENCAPSULATES WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A TEXAN, END QUOTE. SINCE I'M NOT SURE I HAVE THE WORDS TO SUM UP THE IMPACT ON THE STATE ANY BETTER THAN THAT, I WILL SIMPLY COMMIT, AS I'M SURE MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS WOULD, TOO. BRUCE, I WILL DO EVERYTHING IN MY POWER TO BE A GOOD STEWARD OF EVERYTHING YOU LEFT US, FOLLOW YOUR EXAMPLE OF PUBLIC SERVICE AND WORK WITH YOUR TXDOT FAMILY TO FINISH THE PROJECT YOU STARTED BUT DIDN'T GET TO COMPLETE. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU GAVE TO THE STATE. TEXAS WILL NOT BE THE SAME WITHOUT YOU.
>> THANK YOU, ACTING CHAIR NEW. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. CHAIRMAN BUGG AS WE ALL KNOW WAS A REMARKABLE MAN AND SOMEONE I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH ACTUALLY MANY YEARS BEFORE I JOINED TXDOT. AS YOU ALL KNOW, I'M FROM THE VALLEY. FOR MANY YEARS, HE WAS THE CHAMPION FOR THE VALLEY. HE WAS THE GUY WE WOULD CALL UPON TO HELP US THROUGH -- YOU KNOW, TO ADVOCATE FOR THE VALLEY. AS THE CITY MANAGER, I GOT TO HOST HIM SEVERAL TIMES. WHEN I WOULD GET TO VISIT WITH HIM INDIVIDUALLY, HE WAS REMIND ME HAD YOU HE CAME TO VISIT THE CITY AND EVERYTHING. IT WAS REALLY NICE TO SEE I GOT TO WORK WITH HIM BEFORE AND THEN I GOT TO JOIN HIM HERE ON TXDOT, AN ENTITY I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD BE JOINING PART OF THE TEAM. ONE OF THE NEAT THINGS HE HELPED
[00:10:04]
THAT WILL FOREVER CHANGE THE VALLEY. FOR YEARS, AS MANY COMMUNITIES, YOU TRY TO BUILD CONSENSUS. WE HAD THREE MPOS. CHAIRMAN BUGG WOULD ALWAYS SAY, IF YOU CAN MERGE THE THREE, YOU GUYS WOULD ELEVATE TO A HIGHER STATUS TO TO MAKE IT EASIER TO SUPPORT YOUR REGION BECAUSE WE KNOW YOU GUYS ARE WORKING TOGETHER. IT WAS THROUGH HIS GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT THAT ME AS CITY MANAGER, I GOT TO PLAY A ROLE IN MERGING THOSE 47 CITIES TO WORK TOGETHER TO FORM THE ORGANIZATION VALLEY MPO. I REMEMBER COMING HERE ON THIS DAIS WITH THE MAYOR I WORKED FOR TO REPORT TO HIM WE HAD MERGED THE MPOS. NEVER DID I THINK WOULD I COME BACK TO LOCAL POLITICS AFTER I LEFT THE CITY. I JOINED THE BANK AND THOUGHT I WOULD BECOME THE BANKER. LIKE STEVE AND MANY OTHERS, WE GOT A CALL FROM THE GOVERNOR ASKING US TO SERVE ON TXDOT. IT WAS NICE TO COME BACK AND SEE CHAIRMAN BUGG AND NOW GET TO SEE ALL THE THINGS HE PLACED IN THE VALLEY AND HOW THEY WERE COMING TO FRUITION. HE WILL SURELY BE MISSED. THE VALLEY AND MYSELF WILL BE ETERNALLY GRATEFUL TO HIM AND I'M HOPEFUL WE CAN LIVE UP TO HIS EXPECTATIONS.>> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER VAUGHN.
>> YES. I DO HAVE A FEWMENTS ABOUT CHAIRMAN BUGG. FIRST OF ALL, I DID NOT KNOW BRUCE AS A BUSINESSMAN. WE HAD NEVER BEEN PARTNERS IN ANY ENTERPRISE. HOUFRS, HE TOLD ME A LOT ABOUT HIS EARLY BUSINESS CAREER AND WE SHARED A LOT OF WAR STORIES WITH SOME LAUGHTER AND COMMISERATION. S.E.C., IN MY ESTIMATION, BRUCE WAS THE QUINTESSENTIAL CHAIRMAN OF THE TEXAS TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION. GREAT LEADERSHIP, COMMUNICATION SKILLS, ENERGETIC, PERSONABLE, TREMENDOUS SENSE OF HUMOR AND ALWAYS HAVING A SOLUTION TO THE MOST DIFFICULT OF CONUNDRUMS. NEVER ONCE DID I DID HIM NOT MAKE THE ABSOLUTE BEST DECISION FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. THIRD, I ALWAYS THOUGHT YOU MADE YOUR BEST FRIENDS GROWING UP AT A YOUNG AGE. CERTAINLY WE'VE ALL BEEN, AND CERTAINLY WE'VE ALL BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO MAKE GREAT FRIENDS ALONG THE WAY. BRUCE AND I SHARED STORIES AND EXPERIENCES FAR AND WIDE. WE DINED TOGETHER ABOUT EVERY OTHER MONTH, JUST HE AND I. WE HAD A LOT IN COMMON. HOWEVER, HE ENJOYED HIS PREDINNER ROUTINE WITH A GLASS OF CHAMPAIGN, AND I PREFERRED A COLD BEER. HIS WINE OF CHOICE WAS WHITE AND MINE WAS RED. HE WELCOMED INDIVIDUAL CHOICE, SO WE LEFT A LOT OF HALF BOTTLES FOR THE WAIT STAFF. BRUCE'S MEMORY WAS SO GOOD, HE COULD RECOUNT STORIES IN INCREDIBLE BUT ENTERTAINING DETAIL. SOMETIMES 30 MINUTES OR LONGER, UNLESS WE HAD TO ORDER DINNER. SO IT NEVER OCCURRED TO ME, AND I NOW REALIZE, BRUCE AND I KNEW EACH OTHER FOR SEVEN YEARS. I CAN HONESTLY SAY BRUCE BUGG WAS ON OF MY BEST FRIENDS. I FELT PRETTY SPECIAL UNTIL YESTERDAYED TESTIMONIALS WHEN I FOUND OUT EVERYBODY'S BEST FRIEND WAS BRUCE BUGG. SO CHAIRMAN BUGG, GOD BLESS YOU AND MAY YOU REST IN PEACE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. SO I WANT TO SHARE SOME OF HIS DIRECT IMPACT ON TXDOT THROUGH CHAIRING THE COMMISSION. HE CAME ON IN 2015, AND THE CHAIR FOR THE FIRST THREE YEARS WAS WHO I REPLACED MIDTERM. SO I CAME ON IN 2018, AND HE HAD JUST BEEN NAMED CHAIRMAN. SO I'VE BEEN HERE WITH HIM BASICALLY ALL OF HIS CHAIRMANSHIP ANYWAY. SO HE'S -- I'LL NOT GO TOO FAR INTO STORIES BUT LET'S THINK ABOUT HARBOR BRIDGE IN CORPUS CHRISTI AND SERIOUS NEGOTIATIONS
[00:15:04]
AND SERIOUS INVOLVEMENT WITH CONTRACTORS, WITH LAWYERS, WITH OUR LAWYERS AND OTHERS AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS. HE WAS PUT ON THIS EARTH TO HANDLE THOSE THINGS BECAUSE HE'S A LAWYER, AND HE'S A BANKER, AND HE'S BEEN A VERY SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSMAN AND BEEN INVOLVED WITH A LOT. BUT HE ALSO DID THING I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN PRIVATE BOARDS AND IN PRIVATE BUSINESSES AND HAVE RUN SOME OF THOSE AND PARTNERED ON SOME. SO YOU SEE A LOT OF DIFFERENT STYLES. HIS STYLE IS A CONSENSUS ORIENTED. HE LISTENS TO PEOPLE AND HE ASKS FOR INPUT. THAT'S NOT EVERY LEADER'S STYLE. SO WHEN WE WOULD HAVE THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETINGS ABOUT THOSE ISSUES LIKE 288 MOST RECENTLY, BRUCE WAS SOMEONE WHO KNEW WHAT HE THOUGHT, KNEW WHAT SOME LEGAL THOUGHTS SHOULD BE, KNEW WHAT SOME BUSINESS SHOTS SHOULD BE. STILL, HE HAD GREAT CONFIDENCE IN THE PEOPLE AT THIS DAIS AND THEIR THOUGHTS AND THEIR BACKGROUND AND WHAT THEY MIGHT BRING TO THAT DISCUSSION. AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING TO REALLY APPRECIATE ABOUT A LEADER. I THINK PROBABLY YOU ALL SAW THAT IN YOUR DISCUSSIONS AND YOUR MEETINGS AS THE TXDOT TEAM LEADERSHIP. HE'S SOMEBODY THAT LOOKS FOR THE WAY TO HAVE ALL THE INPUTS. AT THE END OF THE DAY, HE'S ALSO ABLE TO MAKE A DECISION. YOU HAVE TO HAVE THAT IN THE LEADER. SO I REALLY APPRECIATED THOSE THINGS. THE OTHER THING IS, BRUCE IS A DATA ORIENTED PERSON. I DON'T KNOW, I WOULD SUGGEST I'M ONE OF THE DATA ORIENTED PEOPLE IN THE WORLD. WE WERE KINDRED SPIRITS IN THAT PART. HE WAS BETTER AT DASHBOARDS. I'M BETTER AT SHOWING YOU THE ACTUAL DATA AND THE GRAPH AND SAYING HERE IS WHAT THIS SAYS AND THIS IS WHAT I THINK AND WHY WE OUGHT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT. HE WAS MUCH BETTER AT TAKING IT INTO BULLET POINTS AND CONCISE HANDOUTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. AND EVEN NOW I SUGGEST THAT YOU MIGHT LOOK FOR ONE OF THESE HERE AT THE TXDOT GREER BUILDING. BUT YOU KNOW, TEXAS IS THE TOP STATE FOR POPULATION GROWTH, EIGHTH LARGEST ECONOMY WORLDWIDE. HE'S AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LEADER LIKE HERE AT THE DAIS. HE WANTS THAT KIND OF STUFF IN FRONT OF YOU, SO YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING. YOU KNOW, 5 OF THE 12 MOST POPULOUS CITIES BUT ALL KINDS OF INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT OUR STEWARDSHIP SHOULD BE, WHAT THE RECORD INVESTMENTS IN DRIVING THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HAVE BEEN, WHAT WE'VE DONE ON SAFETY, DELIVERING TXDOT'S TRANSPORTATION PROGRAMS, THE CLEAR LANES PROJECTS, STATEWIDE AND RURAL CONNECTIVITY AND KEY CORRIDORS AND THE ENERGY SECTOR AND WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING THERE AS WELL AS THE BORDER REGION AND ON TOP OF THAT $1.8 BILLION IN HIS URBAN TRANSIT SYSTEMS, 578 MILLION FOR GENERAL AVIATION, $295 MILLION FOR REPAIRS AND IMPROVEMENTS AT HIGHWAY RAIL CROSSINGS. SO HE WAS LOOKING AT ALL OF WHAT WE TOUCH AND TAKING CARE OF THOSE KINDS OF THINGS. THAT TAKES A SPECIAL LEADER. AT THAT TIME, I ALSO WANT YOU TO HEAR SOME OF THESE KINDS OF THINGS. TXDOT'S UNIFIED TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM THAT WE'LL VOTE ON FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS, 2026 YOU 2035 WILL HAPPEN TODAY. IT'S ON TODAY'S AGENDA. WHEN BRUCE GOT INVOLVED HERE AT TXDOT, THAT PROGRAM WAS RUNNING AROUND $34 BILLION FOR 10 YEARS, SO ROUGHLY $3.4 BILLION A YEAR. HE OVERSAW THE GROWTH OF THAT TO $100 BILLION OVER 10 YEARS. YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THAT, I THINK THE MOST RECENT TIME HE TALKED ABOUT THAT $60 BILLION OF PROJECTS UNDER CONSTRUCTION CURRENTLY ON THE 200,000 PLUS LANE MILES ON THE SYSTEM. NOT ON COUNTY ROADS, NOT ON CITY ROADS, BUT ON THE TXDOT SYSTEM ROADS. 200,000 OF THOSE MAINTAINED AND BUILT AND THOSE INITIATIVES. BRUCE OVERSAW THAT GROWTH TO $100 BILLION AND 10 TO $11 TO $12 BILLION A YEAR AND EVEN LARGER THAN THAT. WE WILL HAVE A BIG UTP TO VOTE ON TODAY. HIS LEADERSHIP HAS BROUGHT US THERE. HIS GUIDING PRINCIPLES. ONE, HE SHARED BASED ON CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR GOVERNOR,[00:20:01]
GOVERNOR ABBOTT, WAS THAT HE WOULD LEAD AN EFFORT TO TURN DIRT. SO BRUCE CERTAINLY LED THAT EFFORT. HIS GUIDING PRINCIPLE ALSO WAS TO SAY CONSTANTLY AROUND HERE, EXECUTE, EXECUTE, EXECUTE TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN. DON'T JUST TALK ABOUT THINGS. LET'S GET STUFF DONE. HE LAUNCHED THE TEXAS CLEAR LANES INITIATIVE. WE ALL CAN REMEMBER PROBABLY THE GOVERNOR BEING IN HIS WHEELCHAIR ON AN OVERPASS SAYING HE COULD GO FASTER IN HIS WHEELCHAIR THAN TRAFFIC ON THE OVERPASS. THE POINT OF HOW THAT WORKED TO DRIVE HOME THAT WE HAD TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT CONGESTION IN OUR CITIES. IF YOU HAD FIVE OF THE TOP 12 CITIES SIZEWISE IN THE NATION, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO SOMETHING IF YOU WANT GROWTH AND QUALITY OF LIFE. BRUCE CREATED THAT INITIATIVE, THE TEXAS CLEAR LANES PROJECT. IT'S A STRATEGIC STATEWIDE PLAN FOCUSED ON CONGESTION. OVER HIS YEARS OF SERVICE, CLEAR LANES DEDICATED $80 BILLION FOR NONTOLL PROJECTS. CHAIRMAN BUGG WAS ALSO AN ADVOCATE FOR RURAL TEXAS. UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP TXDOT INCREASED RURAL INVESTMENTS BY 800%, HELPING IMPROVE CONNECTIVITY AROUND THE STATE. WHEN HE STARTED THAT NUMBER WAS AROUND $2 BILLION. AT THE END, THE RURAL DISTRICTS, AS DESIGNATED BY OUR SYSTEM, THOSE SAME DISTRICTS WERE RECEIVING $18 BILLION. SO DEDICATING $16 BILLION OVER HIS TIME AS CHAIR TO THE RURAL DISTRICTS. FROM THERE, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT I THINK IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THAT. TO THIS COMMISSION, HE ADDED TRANSPARENCY. THIS IS A VERY CHAIR CENTRIC PROCESS. IT CAN BE VERY EXCLUSIONARY OF PEOPLE IN A PROCESS, HAS BEEN SOMETIMES IN THE PAST AS A COMMISSION. BRUCE HAS MADE A HUGE IMPACT ON SOMETHING THERE. BECAUSE HE WAS ABLE TO BE CHAIR FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AND BECAUSE OF WHO HE IS, HE HAS CHANGED THAT AND HE'S ALLOWED A LOT OF TRANSPARENCY AND A LARGER LEVEL OF INVOLVEMENT FOR COMMISSIONERS ALLOWING US TO GET SOME THINGS DONE THAT ARE IMPORTANT FOR OUR SERVICE TO THE STATE OF TEXAS. HE FOCUSED ON ITEMS IMPORTANT TO OUR POLITICAL LEADERS, TO OUR COMMISSION. HE ALSO HAD THE HEART AND VISION, AS COMMISSIONER MEADE TALKED ABOUT, BUT THERE WOULD BE OTHERS FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE THAT COULD SAY THE SAME THING. HE HAD THE HEART AND THE VISION TO SEEK OUTCOMES FOR ALL TEXANS. OKAY. LASTLY, WHEN YOU LOSE A LEADER IN YOUR FAMILY, YOU RALLY AS A FAMILY. WE HAVE PLENTY OF EXCELLENT LEADERS HERE AT TXDOT. CHANGE CAN BE UPSETTING FOR SOME. WE'VE LOST A COMMISSION LEADER AND SOME OTHER LEADERS WITHIN OUR ORGANIZATION, AND WE'VE MADE SOME OTHER CHANGES IN POSITIONS, PROMOTIONS AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS. CHANGE CAN BE UPSETTING FOR SOME. NOW IS A GOOD TIME FOR OUR LEADERS AND OUR LEADERS OF OUR TEAMS TO FOCUS ON LEADING THOSE TEAMS. NO MANAGING THOSE TEAMS. THOSE ARE NOT THE SAME THING. OKAY? NOT MANAGING THOSE TEAMS, LEADING THOSE TEAMS. RIGHT NOW IS A GOOD TIME TO TAKE TIME TO COMMUNICATE AND STAY IN TOUCH WITH THOSE YOU AFFECT. OKAY. WHO IS BEHIND YOU AFFECTING YOU, GOOD COMMUNICATION. WHO YOU ARE NEXT TO THAT YOU AFFECT, GOOD COMMUNICATION. THAT'S HOW YOU RALLY AS A FAMILY. MAY GOD'S PEACE BE WITH BRUCE BUGG, BE WITH HIS FAMILY AND WITH OUR TXDOT FAMILY. MR. WILLIAMS, YOUR REMARKS.>> THANK YOU, ACTING CHAIR NEW. COMMISSIONERS, APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY JUST TO SHARE WHAT I HOPE IS NOT ONLY JUST MY PERSPECTIVE BUT WHAT I HOPE AND I FEEL LIKE IS THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE STAFF AT THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION WHO REALLY HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE AND THE HONOR TO WORK WITH CHAIRMAN BUG FOR THE TIME THAT HE WAS ON THE COMMISSION AND THE TIME THAT HE SERVED IN THE ROLE AS CHAIRMAN. COMMISSIONER NEW, YOU MENTIONED A CHAIR CENTRIC ORGANIZATION. I LOOK ACROSS THE ROOM, I SEE MY PREDECESSOR JAMES BASS IN THE BACK. I ALSO SAW DAVE FULTON SLIP IN. IT'S GREAT TO HAVE SOME OF THE PAST INDIVIDUAL LEADERS WITHIN
[00:25:01]
THE DEPARTMENT THAT WORKED WITH CHAIRMAN BUGG. THERE WAS A BIT OF BUSINESS DOM YEARS AGO WRITTEN ON A CHALKBOARD SOMEWHERE IN THE GREER BUILDING. A LIST OF ITEMS ON THERE. ONE OF THOSE WAS WHEN IN DOUBT, GO WITH THE CHAIRMAN. I THINK MR. BASS AND ANYBODY IN THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ROLE WHO WANTED TO STAY IN THIS ROLE FOR MORE THAN A MONTH WOULD HAVE COME TO APPRECIATE THAT. I CERTAINLY DID. BUT WITH CHAIRMAN BUGG, THAT WAS EASY. THAT WAS EASY TO DO. HE WAS TO ME A REMARKABLE PUBLIC SERVANT. HE WAS A REMARKABLE MAN. HE WAS SOMEONE THAT I SAW AS A VISIONARY LEADER AND REALLY A TRUE CHAMPION FOR THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. TO ME HE WAS A FRIEND AND A MENTOR WHO I WAS BLESSED TO KNOW AND TO HAVE THE TIME TO WORK FOR. CHAIRMAN BUGG'S IMPACT ON TRANSPORTATION IN OUR STATE, AS YOU ALL HAVE ARTICULATED IN YOUR COMMENTS, WAS PROFOUND. AS THE GOVERNOR SPOKE TO YESTERDAY WAS PROFOUND, AND ENDURING. HIS LEADERSHIP WITH THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION DIVISION TO ME STABILITY, STRENGTHENING INFRASTRUCTURE THAT DRIVES OUR ECONOMY AND CONNECTS OUR COMMUNITIES. WE TALKED ABOUT MANY OF HIS INITIATIVES. THE CLEAR LANES INITIATIVE, PERMIAN PROMISE, DRAMATIC INVESTMENT TO RURAL AREAS IN OUR STATE, OUR UTP WILL BE HONORING HIS LEGACY THROUGH A LOT OF THE ACTIONS THAT WE DO THROUGHOUT THE REMAINDER OF THE MEETING HERE TODAY. BUT WITH ALL THOSE DIFFERENT INITIATIVES AND PRIORITIES HE HAD, HE NEVER LOST SIGHT ON WHAT WAS OUR WHIGS AS THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. THAT WAS CONNECTING YOU WITH TEXAS. YOU KNOW, BEYOND THE POLICIES AND THE PROGRAMS AS WE'VE MENTIONED, BRUCE WAS A MAN OF INTEGRITY AND COMPASSION AND DEEP COMMITMENT. TO ME HE ALWAYS LISTENED INTENTLY. HE LED DECISIVELY AND ALWAYS PLACED THE NEEDS OF TEXANS AT THE FOREFRONT. WHILE HE WORE MANY HELPS IN HIS PROFESSIONAL, PHILANTHROPIC AND PUBLIC ROLES, COMMISSIONER NEW, AS YOU ACKNOWLEDGED, CHAIRMAN BUGG BROUGHT CLARITY AND PURPOSE INTO THE DRIVE TO EXECUTE, EXECUTE, EXECUTE AND TURN DIRT. WHILE HE WAS TIRELESS IN HIS SERVICE, THOUGH, BRUCE BROUGHT A JOY TO HIS WORK. AND YOU KNOW, WE'LL BE REMINDED OF THAT AS YOU GO THROUGH SOME OF THE PRESENTATIONS TODAY. THE TITLE, ONE OF THE OPENING SLIDES IS THIS. SHOT OF THE COMMISSION, BRUCE LAUGHING, HAVING A GREAT TIME. THAT'S JUST A REFLECTION OF THE JOY HE BROUGHT TO WHAT HE DID. HE ALSO CARED VERY DEEPLY ABOUT THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO WORKED FOR TXDOT. HE BELIEVED IN THE POWER OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO KBROOCH LIVES OF T -- IMPROVE THE LIVES OF TEXANS AS WELL. HE VERY MUCH WANTED TO HONOR THAT RESPONSIBILITY. HIS LEGACY STRETCHES FAR BEYOND JUST THE HIGHWAYS AND BRIDGES, IT IS THE CULTURE OF EXCELLENCE AND LEADERSHIP THAT HE HELPED TO FOSTER HERE AND IN THE COUNTLESS LIVES HE'S TOUCHED ACROSS OUR STATE. TO HIS WIFE ALETHIA SATYA NADELLA SONS BRUCE AND TOM, WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR SHARING HIM WITH US. WE'RE BETTER HAVING KNOWN HIM. TEXAS IS A BETTER STATE BECAUSE OF HIS VISION AND LEADERSHIP. SO I, ALONG WITH THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, WILL STRIVE TO CARRY FORWARD HIS LEGACY WITH PRIDE AND PURPOSE AND GRATITUDE. WE VERY MUCH DO APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CARRY THAT FORWARD. SO THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.[3. Consider the approval of the Minutes ]
NOW WE RALLY AS A FAMILY AND CARRY ON, OKAY. WE WILL NOW CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF THEMENTS FROM THE JULY 31ST, 2025 REGULAR MEETING OF THE TEXAS TRANSPORTATION[00:30:01]
COMMISSION. MEMBERS, THE DRAFT MINUTES HAVE BEEN PROVIDED TO YOU. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE JULY 31ST, 2025 REGULAR MEETING OF THE TEXAS TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION.>> I HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER VAUGHN. MAY I HAVE A SECOND.
>> I HAVE A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER MEADE. CALL FOR THE VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
>> ACTING CHAIR NEW, I WOULD LIKE TO, WITH YOUR PERMISSION, JUMP TO AN ADDITIONAL COMMENT I WANTED TO MAKE.
>> IF WE CAN GO BACK TO THE PREVIOUS SLIDE. WE'RE ONE AHEAD HERE. THERE WE GO. WE MENTIONED, GOVERNOR ABBOTT MENTIONED WHAT WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE LAST LEGACIES -- THERE WILL BE MANY LEGACIES OF CHAIRMAN BUGG BUT ONE OF THE PROJECTS HE WAS VERY FOCUSED ON AND ENGAGED WITH FOLLOWED THE DEVASTATING FLOODING EXPERIENCE WE HAD BACK ON JULY 5TH. THAT FLOODING IMPACTED AND COMPLETELY DESTROYED THE BRIDGE AT CAL CREEK ON 1431. I HAD THE COMMUNITY TO UPDATE CHAIRMAN BUGG A NUMBER OF TIMES. THE GOVERNOR EMPHASIZED DIRECTLY TO ME AND TO CHAIRMAN BUGG HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS TO EXPEDITE THE DELIVERY AND RECONSTRUCTION OF THE BRIDGE. WE HAVE A PICTURE OF WHAT THAT BRIDGE LOOKED LIKE ON JULY 5TH OF THIS LAST MONTH. YOU CAN SEE THE PICTURE ON THE RIGHT WITH GOVERNOR ABBOTT TEAM IN THE MIDDLE. INDIVIDUALS PART OF THAT. CHAIR NEW, YOU'RE RIGHT THERE NEXT TO THE GOVERNOR ALONG WITH COMMISSIONER ALVIS AND MANY OTHERS. WE WERE ABLE TO CUT THE RIBBON ON THAT BRIDGE 45 DAYS AFTER IT WAS DESTROYED. OUR CONTRACTOR, HUNTER INDUSTRIES, JOHNNY WISE IS HERE IN THE ROOM. HE SECURED THAT CONTRACT AND DELIVERED THAT PROJECT IN 28 DAYS, WHICH IS REMARKABLE. WE HAVE A RUBBON CUTTING. WE SHOWED A SHOT OF THE RIBBON CUTTING BUT I WANTED TO GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE HERE TO REALLY GIVE YOU AN APPRECIATION FOR THE SIZE OF THIS BRIDGE. THIS WAS NOT A BOX CULVERT. THIS WAS A VERY SIGNIFICANT BRIDGE. WE BUILT IT BACK BIGGER AND BETTER THAN IT WAS BEFORE IN THAT 28-DAY TIME PERIOD. GETTING IT READY FOR THAT REQUIRED THE EFFORT OF OUR DESIGN TEAMS AND IT WAS FOLK UFL -- FOCUSED, THEY CARRIED THE LARGE PART OF THE LOAD ON THAT, BRIDGE DIVISION AND OTHERS CONSTRUCTION DIVISION WERE ALSO PART OF HELPING TO SUPPORT THAT. BUT I ASKED TUCKER IF HE COULD BRING SOME OF HIS TEAM. AS TUCKER WOULD PROBABLY ACKNOWLEDGE, THIS IS JUST A SNAPSHOT OF MANY INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE PART OF THIS EFFORT. WE SAW MANY IN THAT PICTURE TODAY. TUCKER IS HERE TODAY WITH MIKE ARELLANO, TPD DIRECTOR, MARSHALL, WP DISCHLT, DISTRICT PORTFOLIO DESIGN SUPERVISOR, THE DISTRICT BRIDGE ENGINEER AND KYLE, AREA ENGINEER UNDER WHOSE RESPONSIBILITY THIS CONSTRUCTION -- RECONSTRUCTION PROGRAM FELL. TUCKER, COULD YOU AND YOUR TEAM PLEASE STAND UP? I THINK THE COMMISSIONERS AND MYSELF WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE YOU ALL. WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THIS BRIDGE PROJECT FOR MANY YEARS TO COME. IT'S BEEN TALKED ABOUT QUITE A BIT. IT HAS BEEN ACKNOWLEDGED BY THE GOVERNOR, BY THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION, SECRETARY DUFFY AND OTHERS. IT WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT THIS TEAM AND THEIR COUNTERPARTS WITH THE AUSTIN DISTRICTS. SO COMMISSIONER, WE THANK YOU
[00:35:01]
FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THAT.>> I'D LIKE TO ADD TO OR SHIRT TAIL YOU A LITTLE BIT ALSO. SO MR. WISEMAN, WILL YOU PLEASE COME UP? I WANT YOU TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE TWO FOLKS. GO BACK TO THE PHOTO WITH THE OTHER AND EVERYONE STANDING BEHIND HIM. COME IN AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE TWO GUYS IN THE BROWN HATS, OKAY. I REMEMBER ONE SCOTT BUT I CAN'T REMEMBER THE OTHER NAME.
>> ONE WAS SCOTT MCCARTY AND THE OTHER BRUCE ANDERSON.
>> SCOTT MCCARTHY, MY PROJECT MANAGER AND THE OTHER WAS BUTCH ANDERSON THAT LED THE TEAM TO GET IT DONE.
>> WHEN YOU LOOK HERE, THAT'S COMMISSIONER -- THAT'S YOU STANDING THERE IN YOUR BLUE SPORTS COAT -- LIGHT BLUE SPORTS COAT, AND THEY ARE RIGHT BESIDE YOU IN THE KIND OF BROWN HATS.
>> WHO WAS THE BRIDGE ENGINEER? STAND UP FOR ME. YOU HAD ONE COMPADRE WITH YOU THERE, ANOTHER BRIDGE ENGINEER. WHAT WAS HIS NAME.
>> GLEN, COME UP HERE. LET'S GIVE HIM A SHOUT OUT. OKAY? MR. WISEMAN, I JUST WANT TO HELP HIM ACKNOWLEDGE THE TEAMS. OKAY. WHAT WAS HIS NAME AGAIN?
>> GREG SANDERS. HOW OLD IS GREG?
>> LOOKS ABOUT 20 BUT I KNOW HE'S PROBABLY 30 OR SOME NUMBER LIKE THAT, RIGHT? I'M TELLING YOU WHAT, WE HAD SOME SMART PEOPLE WORKING HERE, AND WE HAD SOME HARDWORKING PEOPLE. 12 HOUR SHIFT, 24 HOURS A DAY, DAYS IN A ROW.
>> WE WERE PLEASED TO BUILD A BRIDGE AND REALLY GOT OUR PEOPLE TO RISE UP. WE TOOK OUR TWO BEST BRIDGE CREWS OUT THERE, PUT IT TOGETHER. EVERYBODY WAS INCLUDED IN THE PROJECT. TXDOT AND EVERYONE, OUR MATERIAL SUPPLIERS, OUR SUBCONTRACTORS, THEY WERE ALL IN TO GET IT DONE.
>> TUCKER, WOULD YOU COME UP FOR ME? GOING TO HAVE A KUMBAYA. OKAY. SO YOU ALSO HAD HELP FROM ANOTHER DISTRICT TO HELP MAKE THIS HAPPEN. HOW DID THAT WORK OUT?
>> WE DID. ONE OF THE CRITICAL ELEMENTS AND REALLY WHEN MADE IT SUCCESSFUL TO HIT THIS TIME LINE WAS THE ABILITY TO ACQUIRE SOME BEAMS FROM ANOTHER DISTRICT. TYPICALLY THE BEAMS ON A NORMAL PROJECT WOULD TAKE FOUR TO SIX MONTHS TO GET THEM FABRICATED AND DELIVERED. JUST IN THE TIME FRAME WE DID, THERE'S NO WAY WE COULD HAVE BUILT THIS BRIDGE IN 28 DAYS WITHOUT FINDING A BEAM SOMEWHERE ELSE. I'LL GIVE DIRECTOR OF CONSTRUCTION WHO WASN'T ABLE TO BRING TODAY, JULY 5TH, JULY 6TH STARTED MAKING PHONE CALLS AROUND THE STATE AND FOUND YOAKUM DISTRICT HAD BRIDGE BEAMS SIMILAR IN LENGTH AND THE DESIGN TEAM DESIGNED THE BRIDGE AROUND THOSE BEAMS, THE SIZE OF THOSE BEAMS, TO GET IT INTO THE HANDS OF THE KRAR WITHIN 9 TO 13 DAYS. THINGS LINED UP FOR US AND FELL INTO PLACE FOR THIS TIME LINE. IT WAS ALL HANDS ON DECK. THESE ARE A GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS REPRESENTING DOZENS OF FOLKS IN OUR DISTRICT THAT MADE THIS A TOP PRIORITY FOR US TO DELIVER.
>> IT TAKES LEADERSHIP AND SMART PEOPLE DOING THINGS. YOU GUYS DIDN'T REPLACE THE BRIDGE LIKE IT WAS BEFORE IT WASHED OUT, RIGHT? YOU HAD ALL THAT DEBRIS THAT YOU HAD TO CLEAR AND THEN BUILD THE BRIDGE. THE DEBRIS SHOWS UP IN THE COW CREEK PICTURE. WHAT DID YOU DO? YOU MADE THE CHOICE TO BUILD A NEW BRIDGE, A BIGGER, BETTER BRIDGE AND YOU STILL GOT IT BUILT IN THAT TIME FRAME. WE'RE DOING A RIBBON CUTTING 45 DAYS FROM THE TIME IT WASHED OUT. WERE YOU GUYS THE ONES THAT STARTED WITH THAT NEW CONCEPT? HOW DID THAT WORK OUT?
>> YES. KNOWS THE EXPANSE OF THE BRIDGE, THE BEAMS WE GOT FROM THE YOAKUM DISTRICT, WE WERE ABLE TO DESIGN IT AROUND THAT. WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE IT'S HIGHER. SO RIGHT NOW IT'S ABOUT 5 FEET HIGHER THAN THE PREVIOUS BRIDGE. IT'S WIDER AS WELL TO ACCOUNT NOR A LITTLE MORE TRAFFIC. AND THEN WE ADDED ADDITIONAL STRUCTURE COMPONENT TO MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T GET WASHED OUT AGAIN. SO IT'S VERY STRONG. THAT BRIDGE IS NOT GOING ANYWHERE. I PROMISE THAT.
>> CAREFUL, THAT'S WHAT THEY SAID ABOUT THE "TITANIC". BUT I DO NOW WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE ONE THING. I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY FOLKS WEAR HARD HATS AND YELLOW AND ORANGE
[00:40:01]
VESTS AND YELLOW VESTS AND THAT KIND OF THINGS BUT HUNTER INDUSTRY IS WORKING PEOPLE AND TXDOT'S WORKING PEOPLE MADE THIS HAPPEN. IT TAKES LEADERS, IT TAKES DIRECTION, IT TAKES SUPERVISION, SCOTT, SCOTT AND BUTCH -- WHY CAN I NOT GET BUTCH'S NAME -- SCOTT AND BUTCH DOING THEIR PART, LEADERS DOING THEIR PART, AREA ENGINEERS AND ALL THOSE FOLKS, VERY PROUD OF YOU GUYS. WHAT SUPER THING. WHAT DOES IT DO, IT MAKES YOU FEEL SO GOOD ABOUT BEING A TEXAN, BECAUSE TEXANS GET THINGS DONE. OKAY? ONE OF THE DISTRICT ENGINEERS SAID ONE OF HIS FAVORITE PHILOSOPHER, LARRY THE CABLE GUY, THE PHILOSOPHY, GET ER DONE. THANK YOU.[4.a. Highway Improvements and Other Transportation Facilities (MO) ]
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, ACTING CHAIR NEW. WE ARE READY TO BEGIN WITH ITEM 4A, AND THIS IS THE CONSIDERATION OF THE AWARD OF HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT AND TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES CONTRACTS. OUR CONSTRUCTION DIVISION DIRECTOR DUANE MILLIGAN IS HERE TO PRESENT THIS ITEM. DUANE.
>> GOOD MORNING. AUGUST 2025 HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT CONTRACTS AND ROUTINE CONTRACTS ARE SEPARATED INTO TWO MINUTE ORDERS WITH A COMBINED LETTING TOTAL OF $473 MILLION. PROJECTS WITH ACTUAL LET DATES FOR THE MONTH OF JUMMY INCLUDE LOCAL LET MAINTENANCE TOTALLING $26.29 MILLION AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT TOTALLING $48.56 MILLION. THE TOTAL LETTING DOLLAR VOLUME FOR FISCAL YEAR-TO-DATE $11.9 BILLION OR 95.18% OF THE PLANNED $12.58 BILLION FOR THE PERIOD OF SEPTEMBER 2024 THROUGH AUGUST 2025. THIS MONTH I REPORT THE JULY 2025 HIGHWAY COST INDEX WITH VALUE OF 213.16. ONE YEAR AGO IN JULY OF 2024 THE HCI WAS 203.01 REPRESENTING A 5% YEAR-OVER-YEAR INCREASE. THE HCI COST INDEX IN SEPTEMBER 2024 WAS 209.86 REPRESENTING A 1.57 INCREASE IN JULY OF THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR. ITEM 4A IS FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF THE AWARD OR REJECTION OF CONTRACTS FOR HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT CONTRACTS LET ON AUGUST 7TH AND 8TH, 2025. WE PRESENT 56 PROJECTS WITH AN OVERALL AVERAGE OF 6.23 BIDS PER PROJECT. THE LOW BID VALUE WAS APPROXIMATELY $378.32 MILLION WITH AN OVERALL UNDERRUN OF 16.91%. WE ALSO PRESENT ONE PROJECT THAT WAS DEFERRED FROM LAST MONTH IN GALVESTON COUNTY WHICH LET ON JULY 2ND, 2025. THE AUGUST 2025 PROJECTS ARE CATEGORIZED UNDER FOLLOWING PERFORMANCE AREAS, CONGESTION REDUCTION 124.43 MILLION. SAFETY AT 105.4 MILLION. PAVEMENT PRESERVATION AT 87.29 MILLION. ENHANCED CONNECTIVITY AT 36.48 MILLION. BRIDGE PRESERVATION AND 24.71 MILLION. PEDESTRIAN ELEMENTS ACCOUNTED FOR 20.8 MILLION AND BICYCLE ELEMENTS ACCOUNTED FOR $9.1 MILLION IN THIS MONTH'S LETTING. THERE ARE 14 PROJECTS WITH OUTSTANDING RIGHT-OF-WAY, UTILITY AND/OR RAILROAD ISSUES. SIX SHOULD BE CLEARED NEXT MONTH. SEVEN WILL BE CLEARED IN TWO MONTHS AND ONE HAS AN APPROVED MANAGEMENT PLAN. STAFF RECOMMENDS AWARD OF ALL 56 HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS LET IN AUGUST AND WE RECOMMEND REJECTION OF THE ONE PROJECT DEFERRED FROM JULY. THAT PROJECT IS IN GALVESTON COUNTY. PROJECT NUMBER F2025 (218) JOB NUMBER 3201. ONE BID WAS SUBMITTED FOR THIS PROJECT, WHICH WAS 42.07% OR $21,429,054 AND NO CENTS OVER THE ENGINEER'S ESTIMATE. THIS PROJECT IS FOR CONSTRUCTING A NEW FERRY BODY TO REPLACE AN AGING VESSEL FROM GALVESTON AND PORT BOLIVAR. AWARD THIS PROJECT JULY 31TH, 2025 MEETING TO ALLOW THE DISTRICT TO RECREATIONAL WRALT REASONABLENESS OF LOW BID AND FACTORS IMPACTING LACK OF COMPETITION. AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVISE THE PLANS IN AN EFFORT TO ACONTRACT MORE BIDDERS AND OBTAIN A BETTER VALUE FOR THE DEPARTMENT. WE CONCUR AND THEREFORE RECOMMEND 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? MR. VAUGHN.
>> PLEASE. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO TAKE THIS
[00:45:03]
OPPORTUNITY TO LET THE PUBLIC KNOW, AND REMIND THE PUBLIC, THAT TXDOT HAS SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN THE LAST FIVE PLUS YEARS FOCUSING MORE AND MORE ON PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE ATTRIBUTES IN AND AROUND OUR ROADWAYS. JUST AS AN EXAMPLE, DIRECTOR MILLIGAN HAD JUST MENTIONED THE $21 MILLION FOR PEDESTRIAN ELEMENTS AND $9.1 MILLION FOR BICYCLE ELEMENTS THIS MONTH. FOR THE ENTIRE PREVIOUS FISCAL YEAR, GOING BACK TO SEPTEMBER 1, 2024, THROUGH THIS MONTH, WE HAVE INVESTED, TXDOT HAS INVESTED $245 MILLION OVER 280 MILES FOR PEDESTRIAN ELEMENTS AND 66 IN MAY AND 126 MILES FOR BICYCLE ELEMENTS. SO IT'S PRETTY IMPRESSIVE WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT HOW FAR WE'VE COME AND WHAT'S GETTING DONE TODAY OVER A YEAR'S EXPANSE. HOPE TO CONTINUE TO BE ABLE TO REPORT THAT EACH YEAR AS WELL. THANK YOU.>> COMMISSIONERS, ANY OTHER REMARKS OR QUESTIONS. OKAY. DO I HAVE ANY YELLOW CARDS? ON THIS DISBEND ITEM? OKAY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO AWARD OR REJECT THE HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT AND TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES CONTRACTS AS LISTED IN EXHIBIT A TO THE MINUTE ORDER IN ACCORDANCE WITH STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION.
>> COMMISSIONER ALVIS MOVED APPROVAL.
>> COMMISSIONER KNEAD SECTED THE
[4.b. Routine Maintenance (MO) ]
MOTION. AT THIS TIME I'D LIKE TO CALL FOR THE VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR MILLIGAN, PLEASE CONTINUE WITH ITEM 4B. THIS IS THE CONSIDERATION OF THE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE CONTRACTS.
>> ITEM 4B FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF AWARD OR REJECTION OF CONTRACTS FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE PROJECTS LET ON AUGUST 7TH AND 8TH, 2025. WE PRESENT 3-OF-22 PROJECTS WITH OVERALL AVERAGE OF 3.19 BIDS PER PROJECT. LOW BID WAS $94.68 MILLION OVERALL UNDERRUN 22.11%. STAFF RECOMMENDS AWARD OF ALL 32 ROUTINE MAINTENANCE PROJECTS. I'LL BE HAPD HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE AT THIS TIME.
>> COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS OR REMARKS FOR THE GENTLEMAN? OKAY. WE HAVE NO CARDS AT THIS TIME SO I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A MOTION TO AWARD ROUTINE MAINTENANCE CONTRACTS AS LISTED IN EXHIBIT A TO THE MINUTE ORDER IN ACCORDANCE WITH STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION. COMMISSIONER MEADE HAS MOVED APPROVAL. SECOND?
>> I THINK COMMISSIONER VAUGHN NOSED YOU BY THAT MUCH. COMMISSIONER VAUGHN SECONDED THE 340X. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY
[4.c. Construction and Rehabilitation of Buildings (MO)]
AYE. ANY OPPOSED? OKAY. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. AT THIS TIME -->> THANK YOU, NEXT IS ITEM 4C. THIS IS THE CONSIDERATION OF THE BUILDING CONTRACTS FACILITIES PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT SECTION DIRECTOR WARREN ROSE IS HERE, AND HE WILL PRESENT THIS ITEM.
>> THANK YOU. PRESENTED FOR CONSIDERATION IS A BUILDING CONTRACT WITH SECURITY UPGRADES TO FACILITIES IN FANNON, FRANKLIN, GRAYSON, HOPKINS, HUNT, LAMAR, RAINS AND RED RIVER COUNTIES. STAFF RECEIVED BIDS TOTALLING $3,219,608, WHICH IS 25% OVER THE ENGINEER'S ESTIMATES OF $2,575,000. STAFF RECEIVED A TOTAL OF TWO BIDS FOR THE PROJECT. STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE PROJECT. I'M AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> YES, SIR. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM COMMISSIONERS? OKAY. NO CARDS. MAY I HAVE A MOTION A WARD THE BUILDING CONTRACTS AS LISTED IN EXHIBIT A TO THE MINUTE ORDER IN ACCORDANCE WITH STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION.
>> COMMISSIONER VAUGHN MOVED APPROVAL.
>> COMMISSIONER MEADE SECONDED THE MOTION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY
[5. Unified Transportation Program]
AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU. WE MOVE FORWARD TO THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM.>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. ITEM 5 IS THE CONSIDERATION OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 UNIFIED TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM. TRANSPORTATION PLANNING AND PROGRAMMING DIVISION DIRECTOR
[00:50:01]
HUMBERTO GONZALEZ JUNIOR IS HERE AND WILL PRESENT THIS ITEM.>> THANK YOU. CHAIRMAN NEW, COMMISSIONERS, IT'S MY HONOR TO PRESENT FINAL 2026 TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM FOR ADOPTION BY THE TEXAS ECONOMICS. TXDOT ANNUAL TEN-YEAR PLAN FOR DEVELOPMENT ACROSS THE STATE. THIS YEAR'S 26 UTP THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING TODAY WILL COVER FISCAL YEARS 2026 THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 2035. UTP IS THE PLAN THAT AUTHORIZES TXDOT AND OUR LOCAL PLANNING PARTNERS TO PREPARE PROJECTS FOR CONSTRUCTION BASED ON A TEN-YEAR FORECAST. THIS FORECAST IS DISTRIBUTED ACROSS 12 FUNDING CATEGORIES, EACH WITH A DIFFERENT TYPE OF WORK. HELP OPTIMIZE OUR INVESTMENTS WHICH WILL BEST HELP ACHIEVE TRANSPORTATION, GOALS AND TARGETS, WHICH INCLUDE TO PROMOTE SAFETY, PRESERVE OUR ASSETS AND OPTIMIZE OUR SYSTEM PERFORMANCE. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE 2026 UTP, STAFF CONTINUED TO COLLABORATE WITH DISTRICTS, MPOS AND LOCAL PLANNING PARTNERS TO IDENTIFY PRIORITY PROJECTS IN NEED ACROSS THE STATE WHICH ARE NOW INCLUDED IN THE FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS BEING BROUGHT TO THE COMMISSION TODAY FOR DISCUSSION. THE UTP IS REQUIRED BY STATE LAW TO BE UPDATED AND APPROVED ANNUALLY BY THE TEXAS TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION BY AUGUST 31TH OF EACH YEAR. AS COMMISSION CONSIDERS ADOPTION OF FINAL UTP TODAY, THE KEY ITEMS AUTHORIZING WILL INCLUDE THE TOTAL DOLLAR AMOUNT AVAILABLE IN THE 2016 UTP. HOW THAT TOTAL IS DISTRIBUTED AROUND THE STATE AND BY EACH CATEGORY AND FUNDING ON CERTAIN SPECIFIC MOBILITY PROJECTS. AS A REMINDER, THE 2016 UTP DOCUMENT WAS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC ONLINE FOR REVIEW, COMMENT FROM JUNE 27TH THROUGH JULY 28TH. COMMENTS WERE ACCEPTED IN MULTIPLE FORMATS INCLUDING ELECTRONICALLY THROUGH E-MAIL AND ONLINE FORUM, BY PHONE, BY MAIL AND THROUGH THE PUBLIC HEARING. UTP PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, OVER 395 SPNLTS DURING THE 30-DAY FEDERER PT RESPONSIBILITIES LOUD TO COMMENT AND AS A RESULT RECEIVED 417 COMMENTS ON VARIOUS PROJECTS AND INITIATIVES AROUND THE STATES. COMMISSION HAS BEEN PROVIDED WITH PUBLIC COMMENT SUMMARY REPORT AND COMPLETE PUBLIC LOG FOR YOUR REFERENCE. THE MAP TO THE RIGHT REFERENCES LOCATION OF DISTRICT SPECIFIC PROJECTS AND TOPICS THAT WERE SUBJECT OF 352 COMMENTS. AS SHOWN RECEIVED COMMENTS FROM ACROSS THE STATE WITH A HIGHER CONCENTRATION IN A FEW DISTRICTS WHICH INCLUDE 131 FROM THE DALLAS DISTRICT, 66 FROM PHARR DISTRICT, 56 FROM SAN ANTONIO DISTRICT AND 53 FROM THE ODESSA DISTRICT. THE NEXT SLIDE WITH A LITTLE MORE DETAILED SUMMARY OF THE COMMENTS ON THE STATEWIDE TOPICS OR PROJECTS. TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE PREVAILING TOPICS, WE RECEIVED 123 COMMENTS ABOUT PROJECT ON 1385 IN DENTON COUNTY IN THE DALLAS DISTRICT. ALL COMMENTS RECEIVED IN SUPPORT OF THE PROJECT BEING BMT. THIS PROJECT IS CURRENTLY NOT IN THE UTP IF THE DISTRICT IS ACTIVELY WORKING ON DEVELOPING THIS PROJECT AND LOOK FOR POTENTIAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES IN FUTURE UTPS. ALSO 48 COMMENTS ON TRAFFIC SIGNAL. A MAJORITY OF THESE COMMENTS WERE OPPOSED TO THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL. THIS PROJECT IS NOT UTP AND THERE IS CURRENTLY NO TRAFFIC SIGNAL PLANNED AT THIS LOCATION. WE ALSO RECEIVED 41 COMMENTS FOR ODESSA PROJECTS WITH MAJORITY OF THE COMMENTS SUPPORTING PROJECTS IN THE AREA. EXAMPLES OF THESE PROJECTS FROM THE ODESSA INCLUDING I-20, SH 49, 302, PECOS RELIEF ROUTE AND US 285. WE ALSO RECEIVED 41 COMMENTS FOR REGIONAL COMMENTS WITH COMMENTS REQUESTING ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR PROJECTS SUCH AS US 77 AND I-69 EAST, EAST LOOP, SH 104 SOUTH PADRE SECOND ACCESS AND SH 4. RECEIVED 24 COMMENTS REGARDING PROJECT IN CAMERON COUNTY IN THE PHARR DISTRICT WITH ALL COMMENTS IN SUPPORT OF THIS PROJECT, INCLUDE ALL THE COMMENTS THAT WERE RECEIVED FOR PHARR REGIONAL A TOTAL OF 54, A TOTAL OF 59 COMMENTS IN SH 4 PROJECT. SO IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMIND THE PUBLIC AS ALWAYS, TXDOT APPRECIATES ALL FEEDBACK IN THE COMMENT PROCESS AND ALL PROJECT SPECIFIC AND PROGRAMMATIC
[00:55:03]
COMMENTS. WE'LL SHARE WITH RESPECTIVE DISTRICTS AND PROGRAM OWNERS FOR FURTHER FUTURE REVIEW AND FOLLOW-UP. THIS SLIDE PROPOSED DISTRIBUTION OF 2026 UTP FORECAST. AS SHOWN BASED ON THE PROPOSED 101.6 BILLION DISRX OF FUNDS ACROSS FUNDING CATEGORIES, WE EXPECT $7.5 BILLION OF NEW AVAILABLE FUNDING FOR THE TEN-YEAR PERIOD THAT THE 2026 UTP COVERS. ALL AVAILABLE FUNDING ACROSS 12 CATEGORIES. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THE DISTRIBUTION OF THESE FUNDS WILL HELP CONTINUE TO GUIDE AND AUTHORIZE THE DEVELOPMENT OF PROJECTS PLANNED FOR CONSTRUCTION OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS. WITH THIS DEVELOPMENT ESTIMATED TO TOTAL 33.9 BILLION. AS A RESULT, THE TEN-YEAR ESTIMATED INVESTMENT ASSOCIATED WITH UTP ALONG WITH ROUTINE MAINTENANCE PROJECTS WILL TOTAL 146.5 BILLION. THE STATE IS REQUIRED TO SCORE AND EVALUATE FOR TOENGS FUNDING AND CONSIDERATION IN UTP EACH YEAR. AS SUCH, THIS SLIDE SHOWS CURRENT METRICS USED TO SCORE MOBILITY PROJECTS REQUESTING CATEGORIES 2, 4, AND 12. THE METRICS SHOWN IN THE LEFT ON LIGHTER BLUE AL-SYSTEM NEEDS AND RELYING ON EXISTING DATA AND HISTORICAL INFORMATION. WHILE THE PORTION OF THE RIGHT IN THE DARKER BLUE HAS PREDICTED FOCUS TO ANALYZE PROJECTED PERFORMANCE WHICH ASSESS WHAT THE DIRECT AFFECT TO OUR SYSTEM WILL BE IF A CERTAIN PROJECT IS BUILT. STAFF HAS WORKED CLOSELY WITH DISTRICTS, MPO PARTNERS, TXDOT ADMINISTRATION AND TEXAS TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION TO HELP SUMMARIZE PROJECT FOR FINAL 2026 UTP BEING PRESENTED TODAY. THE HORIZONTAL BAR SHOWN HERE PROVIDE A BREAKDOWN OF THE 41.54 BILLION OF PROJECTS CURRENTLY AUTHORIZED FOR FUNDING AND THOSE CAN BE NOTED IN LIGHT BLUE ON THESE BARS AS WELL AS INFLUENCE 53 BILLION PROPOSED FUNDING AUTHORIZATION ASSOCIATED WITH CATEGORIES 2, 4, AND 12 RESPECTIVELY AND NOTED IN THE DARKER BLUE BARS HERE. SO CATEGORY 2, OUR CATEGORY IS INTENDED FOR MOBILITY PROJECTS INSIDE THE BOUNDARIES OF OUR STATE 24 MPOS. CATEGORY 4, OUR STATEWIDE CONNECTIVITY URBAN CATEGORY ADDRESSES CONNECTIVITY ON MAJOR STATEWIDE CORRIDORS THAT PASS THROUGH URBAN AREAS. OUR CATEGORY 4, STATEWIDE CONNECTIVITY RURAL CATEGORY ADDRESSES CONNECTIVITY ON STATEWIDE CORRIDORS IN RURAL AREAS. OUR CATEGORY 12, TEXAS CLEAR LANES CATEGORY TARGETS CONGESTION ON RIGHT-OF-WAYS AND FUNDING AUTHORIZED AT THE DISCRETION OF THE COMMISSION. AND OUR CATEGORY 12, STRATEGIC PRIORITY CATEGORY ADDRESSES SPECIFIC EMPLOYEES OF THE STATE AND FUNDING AUTHORIZED AT THE DISCRETION OF THE COMMISSION. AS ALLUDED TO IN OPENING REMARKS, WE WANTED TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT THESE TWO IMPORTANT STRATEGIC STATEWIDE INCENTIVE INITIATIVES. FIRST CLEAR LANES IN RESPONSE TO THE CHALLENGE FOR THE MOST CONGESTED CHOKE MINUTES ON THE SYSTEM. FINAL 2026 UTP ADD ADDITIONAL $1.7 BILLION IN PROJECT FUNDING TO THIS INITIATIVE ADDING TO THE $33.9 BUILDING OF CONSTRUCTION FUNDING ALREADY INVESTED TO PROVIDE FURTHER CONGESTION RELIEF IN THESE AREAS. THE SECOND INITIATIVE WE LIKE TO LATE NIGHT HIGHLIGHT IS STATEWIDE AND RURAL CONNECTIVITY INITIATIVE. THIS PROGRAM BEGAN IN 2018 AND HAS IDENTIFIED FIVE KEY CORRIDORS AND 10 CORRIDORS OF INTEREST WITH A GOAL OF UPGRADING THESE ROADWAYS TO FOUR LANE DIVIDED TO INCREASE SAFETY AND CONNECTIVITY ACROSS THE STATE. THE FINAL 2026 UTP IS PROPOSING TO ADD ADDITIONAL 669 MILLION OF PROJECT FUNDING TO THESE CORRIDORS ADDING TO THE $5.7 BILLION OF CONSTRUCTION FUNDING ALREADY INVESTED IN THIS STATEWIDE PROGRAM. ONCE PROJECTS ARE SELECTED AND PROGRAM FUNDING UTP, SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO FIND INFORMATION. THE UTP CONTAINS THOUSANDS OF PLANNED PROJECTS IN VARIOUS STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT. WHILE THE UTP AND TXDOT PUBLISH A SUBSET OF THESE PROJECTS IN THE ANNUAL UTP DOCUMENT, WHICH LISTS AROUND 600 PROJECTS FUNDED THROUGH CATEGORIES 2, 4, AND 12, ALL 9,000 PLUS PROJECTS IN ALL 12 UTP CATEGORIES CAN BE FOUND ON PROJECT TRACKER. TXDOT'S ONLINE PROJECT REPORTING SYSTEM AND INTERACTIVE MAP. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING THE UTP, THE UTP DEVELOPMENT PROCESS AND FUNDING CAN ALSO BE FOUND AT TXDOT.GOV.[01:00:03]
AND WITH THAT, IT IS MY HONOR, ALONG WITH THE STAFF THAT IS PRESENT HERE TODAY IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM, TO REQUEST COMMISSION ACTION AND FORMALLY RECOMMEND APPROVL OF THE 2026 UTP INCLUDING PROJECT SELECTION PROCESS AND FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF PROJECTS IN THE UTP. WITH THAT, I AM HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS OR RECEIVE ANY COMMENTS THAT YOU MAY HAVE. THANK YOU.>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR GONZALEZ. COMMISSIONERS, ARE THERE ANY REMARKS OR QUESTIONS FOR DIRECTOR GONZALEZ? NO? OKAY. I'M GOING TO ASK YOU A COUPLE OF THINGS. ONE, I'M GOING TO DO A ONE OFF. IT DOESN'T MATTER TO ME WHO JOINS DIRECTOR GONZALEZ AT THE PODIUM OR IF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WILLIAMS WANTS TO DO THIS. BUT SPECIFICALLY, I WANT -- I DON'T WANT TO SIT HERE AND TALK ABOUT A TEN-YEAR PLAN THAT'S A PLAN AND SOMEONE IS LOOKING AT THE PROJECT ON HERE AND SAYING WHY CAN'T I HAVE THAT IN ABOUT 28 DAYS, OKAY? SO I WANT SOMEONE TO TALK ABOUT THAT A SECOND. HOW DO YOU FUND AN EMERGENCY PROJECT WHEN A BRIDGE WASHES OUT VERSUS HOW DO YOU FUND ONE OF THESE PROJECTS? WHAT DO YOU DO AS RELATES TO NIPA, ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY AND RIGHT-OF-WAY AND MOVEMENT OF UTILITIES IN A NORMAL PROJECT VERSUS A PROJECT THAT'S AN EMERGENCY AND A BRIDGE IS WASHED OUT AND PEOPLE ARE SEPARATED FROM THEIR EMPLOYMENT, SEPARATED FROM THEIR DOCTOR, SEPARATED FROM THEIR SCHOOLS. THINGS JUST HAPPEN IN A DIFFERENT WAY AND THERE'S VERY LITTLE RIGHT-OF-WAY IN A RIVERBED, IN A CREEK BED. I NEED SOMEBODY TO HELP THE PUBLIC UNDERSTAND HOW COME I CAN'T HAVE ONE OF THESE PROJECTS IN SOMEWHERE AROUND 45 DAYS.
>> COMMISSIONER, LET ME SPEAK TO SOME OF THAT. SOME OF IT YOU DID ADDRESS. ONE, UNDER THE STATUTES THAT GOVERN HOW WE GO THROUGH AND LET AND AWARD PROJECTS, THERE ARE PROVISIONS UNDER EMERGENCY STATUTES WHEN THE GOVERNOR HAS DECLARED AND EMERGENCY AND WE HAVE AN IMPACT THAT CAN EXPEDITE SOME OF THE CONTRACTING METHODS THAT WE ARE ABLE TO USE, STILL PROVIDING FOR COMPETITIVE BIDS ON THAT CONTRACT, WHICH WE DID GET GOOD COMPETITION ON THE BRIDGE PROJECT AT COW CREEK. THERE WERE SOME OTHER UNIQUE ABOUT THE FACT WE HAVE THE RIGHT-OF-WAY THERE. THERE WERE SOME UTILITIES THAT HAD TO BE RELOCATED IN THAT PARTICULAR SITUATION. WITH DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND STATE OPERATIONS CENTER, WE WERE ABLE TO ELEVATE THAT WITH THE UTILITY OWNER TO PUT THAT AT THE TOP OF THE LIST ABOVE SOME OF THE OTHER PRIORITIES THEY WERE WORKING ON, SOME OF THOSE FOR US. SO WE WERE ABLE TO MOVE THAT UP TO THE TOP OF THE LIST THERE. TUCKER SPOKE ABOUT THIS AS WELL, TOO. WE DID DO A LITTLE BEGGING, BORROWING AND STEALING TO GET SOME OF THE MATERIALS THAT WE NEEDED ON HAND SO WE WERE ABLE TO RELOCATE THOSE BEAMS, TAKE THOSE BEAMS FROM ANOTHER PROJECT AND PUT IT ONTO THIS PROJECT. THEN THERE WERE SOME OTHER THINGS THAT WENT INTO THE DESIGN OF THIS PROJECT AND THE MATERIALS THAT WERE USED THAT WERE MORE EXPENSIVE BUT WERE ABLE TO HELP EXPEDITE THINGS LIKE THE CURE RATE ON THE CONCRETE THAT WAS USED TO REDUCE THE TIME ON THAT BY ELIMINATING SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS WE TRADITIONALLY USE TO SAVE COSTS ON OTHER TYPES OF PROJECTS. SO THERE WAS A LOT OF THINGS THAT CAME INTO PLAY ON THIS PROJECT AT COW CREEK THAT MADE IT UNIQUE. IF WE TRIED TO EXPEDITE EVERYTHING -- THE NUMBER OF PROJECTS IN THE UTP FOR THE MONEY THAT IS IN THE UTP WOULD BE DIMINISHED, BECAUSE THE COST THAT GOES INTO EXPEDITING A PROJECT LIKE THAT, WHILE WARRANTED AND NECESSARY AND WORTHWHILE DOES THAT PRESENT SOME CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE TO WORK THROUGH ON THOSE PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES AND LEAD TO WHY WE CAN'T MAKE EVERY DAY -- EVERY PROJECT A 28-DAY PROJECT AND STILL MAINTAIN THE SIZE AND THE CAPACITY OF PROJECTS REPRESENTED IN THE PORTFOLIO WE HAVE WITH THE UTP.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU, SIR. ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY ICING ON THAT CAKE?
[01:05:02]
NO? OKAY. I THOUGHT THAT WAS THOROUGH AND WONDERFUL, AND I JUST WANTED THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND WHY THEY DON'T GET TO HAVE THEIR 45-DAY PROJECTS. THE SECOND THING I WANT TO DO, MAYBE IT'S DEPUTY DIRECTOR HENDRICKSON OR ANOTHER, ORS, HECK, DIRECTOR GONZALEZ CAN ANSWER THIS PROBABLY. WOE UNTO US THIS IS ONLY $146 BILLION, RIGHT, BECAUSE IT'S NOT AS BIG AS ONE THAT'S HAPPENED BEFORE. SO DOES ANYONE WANT TO ADDRESS THAT IT'S STILL NUMBER 3 OR NUMBER WHATEVER IT IS AND TALK ABOUT THAT A SECOND.>> YEAH. I THINK I CAN MENTION STILL THE SECOND HIGHEST UTP WE'VE EVER HAD IN THE HISTORY OF THE DEPARTMENT. IT IS A DECREASE OF ABOUT $1.4 BILLION, WHICH IS 1% DECREASE OF THE TOTAL TEN-YEAR INVESTMENT WE HAD IN LAST YEAR'S UTP. AGAIN, AS MARC MENTIONED AND EVERYBODY KNOWS, THERE'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE HEALTHIEST PORTFOLIOS WE'VE EVER HAD AND IN A POSITION TO MAXIMIZE THE AVAILABLE FUNDS WE HAVE AND THROUGH OTHER INITIATIVES LIKE RACK 'EM AND SACK 'EM EFFORTS, THE NECESSITY TO.
>> I DON'T KNOW WHY THIS HAPPENS BUT I DO WANT TO ADDRESS -- I GAVE A PRESENTATION AND A LITTLE GIVE-AND-TAKE WITH OUR GRADUATING CLASS FROM OUR HISTORICALLY UNDERUTILIZED BUSINESSES ENTERPRISES -- DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS ENTERPRISES. THERE WAS A QUESTION TO ME, WHAT SHOULD WE DO IN A TIME WHERE WE'RE IN A TIME THAT TXDOT IS CUTTING BACK ON FUNDING. SOMETIMES PEOPLE HEAR THINGS AND TAKE IT FURTHER. I WANTED US TO HAVE A LITTLE TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE'RE NOT REALLY EXACTLY CUTTING FUNDING. SO I WANTED THE PUBLIC TO HEAR THAT. IT'S A MATTER OF MAKING SURE WE DO SOMETHING IN A SYSTEMIC WAY AND METHOD LOGICAL WAY. WE MOVE FORWARD IN THE PROCESS. AT THE SAME TIME WE'RE 70% FUNDED BY THE STATE OF TEXAS AND 30% FUNDED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RIGHT NOW. SOME 40% OF THAT IS PROPOSITION 1 AND PROPOSITION 7. MOST OF OUR REVENUE STREAMS ARE PRETTY SYSTEMATIC AND WE CAN KIND OF SEE WHAT'S COMING. WE HAVE ONE THAT'S A FAIRLY IMPORTANT ONE THAT CAN GO UP AND DOWN. THAT ONE IS EXCISE TAXES ON OIL AND GAS. BECAUSE OF THAT WE ARE MAKING SURE WE'RE BEING PRUDENT IN THE WAY WE MOVE FORWARD AND AT THE SAME TIME ALLOWING OURSELVES THROUGH WHAT YOU CALL RACK 'EM AND STACK 'EM, WHICH MEANS WE HAVE JOBS ON THE SHELF READY TO GO IF WE HAVE INCREASED AND AVAILABLE FUNDING WE CAN STEP UP AND SPEND MORE MONEY SO LONG AS WE HAVE THE CASH AND A GOOD PLAN. I WANTED TO ADDRESS THAT. THIS IS A VERY HEALTHY, WONDERFUL UTP FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS. SO I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THAT. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE? A MOTION TO APPROVE. OH, I'VE GOT A CARD. SORRY. MR. CALDWELL. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE EL PASO MPO. PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM.
>> GOOD MORNING, ACTING CHAIR NEW, COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS -- I'M EXEC TIFR DIRECTOR OF EL PASO MPO. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY HERE TO TALK AGAIN. FIRST LET ME EXTEND MY CONDOLENCES TO CHAIRMAN BUGG'S FAMILY AND TO THE EXTENDED TXDOT FAMILY. BIG LOSS. BUT IT'S TELLING ALSO TODAY WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE UTP. I THINK CHAIRMAN BUGG WOULD BE VERY PROUD AND VERY HAPPY FOR THIS DATE TO PASS HOPEFULLY, APPROVE THE UTP. I'M SURE HE'S UP THERE TELLING US, LIKE YOU SAID ALREADY, TO EXECUTE, TURN DIRT THROUGHOUT THE STATE. SO EXCITED. I'M HERE ALSO TO REITERATE THE SUPPORT SPECIFICALLY TO THE -DR FROM THE EL PASO REGION. I MUST SAY I WAS A LITTLE BIT SURPRISED, THOUGH, THAT IN THE GRAPHIC THAT WAS SHOWN EARLIER FOR THE PRESENTATION THAT ONLY EIGHT COMMENTS RECEIVED FROM EL PASO. I KNOW THAT A BUNCH OF PEOPLE FROM THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS SUBMITTED LETTERS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. LET ME REASSURE YOU THERE IS SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY, FROM THE PUBLIC SECTOR, PRIVATE
[01:10:01]
SECTOR AND THROUGHOUT. NOT JUST FOR THE UTP THAT WE'RE OF COURSE EXCITED TO SEE FUNDING COMING OUR WAY BUT ALSO IN THE PARTNERSHIP, CONTINUE THE PARTNERSHIP AND WORKING WITH TXDOT ADMINISTRATION, COMMISSION AND SO ON. YOU WILL SEE ALSO ANOTHER EXAMPLE LATER ON IN THIS MEETING. SO WITH THAT, JUST LET YOU KNOW THAT WE'RE READY TO ROLL IN EL PASO, EXCITED TO SEE THE FUNDING, CONTINUE THE PARTNERSHIPS AND, AGAIN, JUST TO THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT.>> THANK YOU. NO OTHER CARDS. OKAY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE 2026 UNIFIED TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM IN ACCORDANCE WITH STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION.
>> COMMISSIONER ALVIS HAS MOVED APPROVAL.
>> COMMISSIONER MEADE HAS SECONDED THE MOTION. AT THIS TIME I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY
[6. Promulgation of Administrative Rules]
AYE. AYE. AND ANY OPPOSED? VERY NICE UTP THAT JUST BEEN PASSED. THANK YOU FOR THE UNANIMOUS VOTE.>> ITEM 6, CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 1 RULES CONCERNING ADVISORY COMMITTEES, PLANNING AND MOBILE PROGRAMS DIRECTOR CAROLINE MAYS IS HERE AND SHE WILL PRESENT THIS ITEM.
>> GOOD MORNING. THIS MINUTE ORDER APPROVES THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 1 THAT GOVERNS STATUTORY AND DEPARTMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEES. THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO SECTION 17.84 DELETES REFERENCES TO THE BUILDING ADVISORY COMMITTEE THAT WAS CREATED UNDER LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND THAT EXPIRED JANUARY 1ST, 2025. THE SECOND PROPOSED AMENDMENT IN SECTION 1.88 EXTENDS THE SUNSET DATES FOR ALL THE DEPARTMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEES TO DECEMBER 31ST, 2027 BUT ALSO REMOVES THE PROVISIONS TO ADVANCE MOBILITY ADVISORY COMMUNITY. STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL AND BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
>> COMMISSIONERS, THERE REMARKS OR QUESTIONS FOR DIRECTOR MAYS. YOU DID AN EXCELLENT JOB. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 1 RULES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION?
>> COMMISSIONER VAUGHN HAS MOVED APPROVAL.
>> COMMISSIONER MEADE HAS SECONDED THE MOTION. MAY I CALL FOR THE VOTE?
[7.a. Aviation Advisory Committee]
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY ANY OPPOSED? MOTION APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY. DIRECTOR WILLIAMS.>> AFTER THAT EXCELLENT JOB WE'LL LET DIRECTOR MAYS CONTINUE WITH 7, AVIATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
>> THIS APPROVES THE REAPPOINTMENT OF TWO CURRENT MEMBERS AND APPOINTMENT OF ONE NEW MEMBER TO AVIATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE. STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL AND I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
>> COMMISSIONERS, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR REMARKS FOR DIRECTOR MAYS? I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE AS A REMARK THAT I'M APPRECIATIVE OF THE FACT YOU CONTINUE TO WORK ACROSS THE STATE FOR REPRESENTATION ON THIS COMMITTEE SO THERE ARE FOLKS FROM DIFFERENT GEOGRAPHIC NEEDS, DIFFERENT REASONS FOR GENERAL AVIATION. SO I APPRECIATE THAT. AT THAT POINT, THEN, MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS TO THE AVIATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE IN ACCORDANCE WITH STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION.
>> COMMISSIONER ALVIS HAS MOVED APPROVAL.
>> COMMISSIONER MEADE HAS SECONDED THE MOTION. CALL FOR A VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
[7.b. Border Trade Advisory Committe]
ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.>> PLEASE CONTINUE WITH ITEM 7B, WHICH IS THE CONSIDERATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS TO THE BORDER TRADE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
>> THIS MINUTE ORDER APPROVES THE REAPPOINTMENT OF SEVEN CURRENT MEMBERS AND APPOINTMENT OF FIVE NEW MEMBERS TO THE BORDER TRADE ADVISORY COMMITTEE. STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL AND I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
>> COMMISSIONERS, ARE THERE ANY REMARKS OR QUESTIONS FOR DIRECTOR MAYS? OKAY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION, THEN, TO APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS TO THE BORDER TRADE ADVISORY COMMITTEE IN ACCORDANCE WITH STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION?
[01:15:02]
APPROVE.>> COMMISSIONER IMMEDIATE HAS MOVED APPROVAL AND COMMISSIONER VAUGHN HAS SECONDED THE MOTION. GOOD JOB THERE, COMMISSIONER MEADE, WHO HAS ATTENDED EVERY ONE OF THOSE MEETINGS SINCE HE'S COME ON BOARD. CALL FOR THE VOTE.
[7.c. Port Authority Advisory Committee]
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY ANY OPPOSED? OKAY. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.>> WE WILL MOVE NOW TO ITEM 7C. THIS IS THE CONSIDERATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS TO THE PORT AUTHORITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE. DIRECTOR MAYS, PLEASE CONTINUE.
>> THIS MINUTE ORDER APPROVES THE REAPPOINTMENT OF FOUR CURRENT MEMBERS TO THE PORT AUTHORITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE. STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL AND I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
>> COMMISSIONERS, ARE THERE ANY REMARKS OR QUESTIONS FOR DIRECTOR MAYS ON THIS ITEM? OKAY. SEEING NONE, MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS TO THE PORT AUTHORITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE IN ACCORDANCE WITH STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION?
>> COMMISSIONER MEADE MOVED APPROVAL.
>> COMMISSIONER ALVIS HAS SECONDED THE MOTION. CALL FOR THE VOTE.
[8.a. Aviation Capital Improvement Program]
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ITEM IS APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY. DIRECTOR WILLIAMS.>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, WE'RE GOING NOW TO ITEM 8A. THIS IS THE CONSIDERATION OF THE APPROVAL OF THE AVIATION CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM. AVIATION DIVISION DIRECTOR DAN HARMON IS HERE, AND HE'S GOING TO PRESENT THIS ITEM.
>> GOOD MORNING. THIS MINUTE ORDER IS A REQUEST FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE AVIATION CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026 THROUGH 2028. FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, FUNDING WAS FAIRLY CONSISTENT WITH APPROXIMATELY 75 TO $78 MILLION WHICH INCLUDED $55 MILLION TO $58 MILLION OF FEDERAL FUNDS AND $20 MILLION FROM ELIGIBLE STATE FUNDING SOURCES. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF STATE PROJECTS BUT GENERALLY AT THE 5 TO 10 MILLION LEVEL ABOUT YOU NO MORE THAN $20 MILLION FOR BIENNIUM. FOR FISCAL 2025 WE RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN PROGRAM FUNDING DRIVEN BY PROGRAM REVENUE. INCREASED STATE FUNDING BY $47 MILLION PER YEAR. THE FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT ALSO MADE AVAILABLE UP TO $35 MILLION FOR INDIVIDUAL AIRPORTS BRINGING THE TOTAL TO $1 68 MILLION ANNUALLY. ADDITIONALLY THE LEGISLATURE INCLUDED $58 MILLION OF STATE FUNDED RIDER PROJECTS AND RESTORED $15 MILLION FROM THE BUDGET FROM CANCELED 87TH LEGISLATURE RIDER PROJECT. FOR FISCAL YEARS 20216 AND '27 SEEING A FURTHER INCREASE IN BOTH FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDING LEVELS. AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL STATE APPORTIONMENT INCREASED FROM $19 MILLION ANNUALLY TO $43 MILLION. THE 89TH LEGISLATURE, AGAIN, APPROPRIATED GENERAL REVENUE FOR '24 AND '25 AT $67 MILLION IN TOTAL STATE FUNDING AS WELL AS ADDING $131 MILLION IN STATE FUNDED RIDER PROJECTS FOR INDIVIDUAL AIRPORTS. IN ALL $182 MILLION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026 AND $146 MILLION FOR FISCAL YEAR '27 PLUS THE ADDITIONAL RIDER FUNDING. THE REDUCTION IN THE FEDERAL FUNDING FOR FISCAL YEAR '27 AND BEYOND IS RESULT OF END OF IHAA PROGRAM. AS NOTE 8 TH LEGISLATURE PASSED AND GOVERNOR SIGNED HOUSE BILL 4520, WHICH AUTHORIZES THE COMMISSION TO REDUCE THE LOCAL MATCH FOR AIRPORTS ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED COUNTIES FROM 10 TO 5%. THIS HISTORIC LEVEL OF FUNDING MADE AVAILABLE AT TEXAS LEGISLATURE AND CHANGES FORMULA FUNDING THE FISCAL YEAR -- OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2024 FAA REAUTHORIZATION BILL SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASED THE AGENCY'S ABILITY TO RESPOND TO THE NEEDS OF THE STATE'S AIRPORT SYSTEM AND MOVED THE NEEDLE IN TERMS OF SAFETY AND EFFICIENCY TO STATE'S AVIATION AIRPORTS. THE TEXAS ADMINISTRATIVE CODE REQUIRES THE AGENCY WITH THE ADVICE OF THE TEXAS AVIATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO PREPARE MULTI-YEAR AVIATION PROGRAM FOR GENERAL AVIATION AIRPORT FUNDING THROUGHOUT THE STATE. PRESENTED FOR COMMISSION APPROVAL IS A THREE-YEAR PROGRAM, WHICH IS RENEWED ANNUALLY. FOR FISCAL YEAR '26 THROUGH '28 PLAN INCLUDES 232 PROJECTS-FOR-TOTAL COST OF $485 MILLION. FUNDING INCLUDES FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL MATCHING FUNDS. CIP DOES NOT COMMIT ANY AS ALL RECOMMENDED FOR GRANTS MUST BE PRESENTED INDIVIDUALLY FOR APPROVAL AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME. THE A COPY OF THE CIP POSTED ON THE TXDOT AVIATION WEBSITE FOR REVIEW AND COMMENT. A TOTAL OF 17 COMMENTS WERE RECEIVED AND ALL PARTIES CONTACTED TO ADDRESS THEIR COMMENTS. THE AVIATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE
[01:20:01]
APPROVED THE PLAN DURING ITS MEETING HELD ON THE 17TH OF JULY. STAND BY FOR ANY QUESTIONS. STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL.>> COMMISSIONERS, ARE THERE ANY REMARKS OR QUESTIONS FOR DIRECTOR HARMON? OKAY. EXCELLENT TO SEE THESE NUMBERS IN THE PROGRAM. AT THIS POINT, I WOULD LIKE A MOTION, PLEASE, TO APPROVE THE AVIATION CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM IN ACCORDANCE WITH STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION.
>> COMMISSIONER ALVIS HAS MOVED APPROVAL.
[8.b. Routine Airport Maintenance Program]
SECONDED. CALL FOR THE VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY EYE ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.>> MOVING NOW TO ITEM 8B, DIRECTOR DAN HARMON, PLEASE CONTINUE WITH THE CONSIDERATION OF THE APPROVAL OF THE ROUTINE AIRPORT MAINTENANCE PROGRAM.
>> THANK YOU, SIR. THIS MINUTE ORDER IS A REQUEST FOR THE CONTINUATION OF THE ROUTINE AIRPORT MAINTENANCE PROGRAM FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026. THE RAMP PROGRAM AUTHORIZED BY COMMISSION PROVIDING FUNDING FOR LOCAL SPONSORS MAINTENANCE ANT CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL. IT IS AVAILABLE TO ALL PUBLICLY OWNED, PUBLIC USED AIRPORTS IN THE STATE. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR '26 PROGRAM WERE ACHIEVED THROUGH COLLABORATION AND INPUT THROUGH THE STAKEHOLDERS. THE PROEMD PROGRAM WILL MAINTAIN THE STATE PARTICIPATION AT $100,000 PER YEAR PER AIRPORT AND MAINTAIN THE LOCAL MATCH AT 10%. THE 90/10 SPLIT IS CONSISTENT WITH OUR PROJECT FUNDING. THE INTENT IS TO ENSENT ADVISES LOCAL MAINTENANCE FOR NEEDS. PUBLIC HEARING 25TH OF JULY, NO COMMENTS TAKEN. PROPOSED PROGRAM WAS REVIEWED AND ADOPTED BY AVIATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE AT 17 JULY MEETING. STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL AND STAND BY FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
>> COMMISSIONERS, ARE THERE ANY REMARKS OR QUESTIONS FOR DIRECTOR HARMON? OKAY. SEEING NONE AND SEEING NO CARDS, MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM IN ACCORDANCE WITH STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION.
>> COMMISSIONER MEADE HAS MOVED APPROVAL.
>> COMMISSIONER ALVIS HAS SECONDED THE MOTION BY A NOSE. CALL FOR THE VOTE.
[8.c. Various Counties]
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. ALL OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.>> ITEM 8C IS THE CONSIDERATION OF FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND INVESTMENT ACT AND STATE AVIATION AWARDS. DIRECTOR HARMON, PLEASE CONTINUE.
>> THANK YOU, SIR. THIS MINUTE ORDER CONTAIN A REQUEST FOR GRANT FUNDING APPROVAL FOR 10 CAPITAL FUNDING, CITY REQUESTING GRANTS, FUNDING SOURCE AND AMOUNTS INCLUDED IN EXHIBIT A. PUBLIC HEARING HELD 25TH OF JULY THIS YEAR. NO COMMENTS RECEIVED. STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL. STAND BY FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
>> COMMISSIONERS, ARE THERE ANY REMARKS OR QUESTIONS FOR DIRECTOR HARMON? SEEING NONE? MAY I HAVE A MOTION A WARD FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND INVESTMENT JOBS ACT AND STATE AVIATION AWARDS IN ACCORDANCE WITH STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION?
>> COMMISSIONER ALVIS MOVED APPROVAL.
>> KPLR MEADE HAS SECONDED THE
[9. Maritime]
MOTION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. DIRECTOR WILLIAMS.>> NEXT IS ITEM 9. THIS IS THE CONSIDERATION OF GRANTS FOR THE PAYMENT OF A PORTION OF THE COST OF CONSTRUCTING PUBLIC ROADWAY PROJECTS. MARITIME DIVISION DIRECTOR IS HERE AND HE'S GOING TO PRESENT THIS ITEM.
>> GOOD MORNING, ACTING CHAIR NEW, COMMISSIONERS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WILLIAMS. IN 25 THE 89TH LEGISLATIVE SESSION APPROVED RIDER 36 FOR TXDOT'S APPROPRIATION AND THE GENERAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT FOR THE SEAPORT KEBLGTIVITY PROGRAM. THIS RIDER AUTHORIZES TXDOT TO ALLOCATE $40 MILLION IN THE 2026, 2027 BIENNIUM TO IMPROVE CONNECTIVITY TO TEXAS PORTS. THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE HAS SELECTED AND RECOMMENDED A FINAL LIST OF PROJECTS FOR COMMISSION APPROVAL. THESE PROJECTS INCLUDE 10 AT 10 SEAPORTS TOTALLING $40 MILLION. ONE OF THESE PROJECTS TOTALLING $5.3 MILLION IS ON STATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM AND WILL BE ADMINISTERED BY TXDOT. NINE OF THESE PROJECTS TOTALLING $34.7 MILLION ARE AN OFF SYSTEM ROADWAYS AND ADMINISTERED AS GRANTS TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THIS MINUTE ORDER, AND I STAND BY FOR ANY QUESTIOS OR COMMENTS.
>> COMMISSIONERS, ARE THERE ANY REMARKS OR QUESTIONS FOR DIRECTOR CALIGAN? OKAY. I DO HAVE A YELLOW CARD. I'D LIKE TO INVITE TO THE PODIUM
[01:25:01]
LARRY KELLY.>> ARE THANK YOU, SIR. LARRY KELLY, PORT DIRECTOR CEO OF PORT ARTHUR HERE TODAY REPRESENTING TEXAS PORTS ASSOCIATION ACTING CHAIR NEW, COMMISSIONERS, DIRECTOR WILLIAMS, ON BEHALF OF THE TEXAS PORT ASSOCIATION, WE SINCERELY SHARE OUR CONDOLENCES FOR THE LOSS OF CHAIRMAN BUGG. HE CERTAINLY LEAVES A LEGACY. I KNOW WITH YOUR LEADERSHIP YOU'LL DRIVE TEXAS FORWARD AND WE HAVE ALL OUR BEST WISHES FOR THAT. MY COMMENTS BRIEF HERE REALLY JUST TO SAY THANK YOU. A LITTLE PRESUMPTIVE HERE, I KNOW YOU HAVEN'T TAKEN A VOTE YET. VERY IMPORTANT FUNDING TO OUR TEXAS PORTS AS THE DIRECTOR MENTIONED. THERE'S 10 PORTS THIS YEAR THAT ARE INVOLVED IN IT DRIVING ALL ASPECTS OF IT, FOCUSES ON SAFETY. THERE'S AN INCREASE IN EFFICIENCY. YOU CAN LOOK THROUGH THESE PROJECTS. THE OTHER WAS ECONOMIC BENEFIT, TEXAS PORTS CREATE SOMETHING LIKE $715 MILLION ECONOMIC INPUT TO THE STATE'S GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT. OUR ESTIMATES FOR EVERY $1 PUT INTO THE PROJECT, THERE'S $53 COMING BACK TO TO THE STATE ON VARIOUS TAX REVENUE GENERATION. VERY IMPORTANT PROJECT TO US. WE DO VHAVE THE MANTRA OF TURNIG DIRT. IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS WE'RE TURNING A LITTLE MUD TO MAKE THESE PROJECTS HAPPEN. THESE PROJECTS ARE VITAL TO OUR COMMUNITIES, VITAL TO OUR STATE. EVERYTHING -- OR A LOT OF THINGS YOU MAY OWN, DRIVE, EAT, CONSUME SOMEHOW HAS A MARITIME CONNECTIVITY. NOT JUST TO THE REGIONAL PORT SYSTEM BUT TO ALL 254 COUNTIES IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, SO IT REACHES THE ENTIRE STATE. WITH THAT I WANT TO ADD IT INCLUDES ENERGY, EXPORT HIGHLY DEPENDENT ON THE UTILIZATION OF MARITIME PORTS. I'D BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T THANK TXDOT EMPLOYEES, SPECIAL CALLOUT TO OUR ASSOCIATES WE'RE WORKING WITH WITH TXDOT AND MARITIME. SINCERELY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR.
>> YES, SIR. THANK YOU. I DO NOT HAVE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS COMING TO THE PODIUM, SO MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE GRANTS PAYMENT OF PORTION OF THE COST FOR CONSTRUCTING PUBLIC ROADWAY PROJECTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION.
>> COMMISSIONER MEADE HAS MOVED APPROVAL. DYING FOR LACK OF A SECOND.
>> COMMISSIONER ALVIS HAS SECONDED THE MOTION. CALL FOR THE VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSED? YOU WERE FEELING SOME PRESSURE
[10. State Infrastructure Bank]
THERE.>> THANK YOU FOR APPROVAL OF THIS MOTION UNANIMOUSLY. DIRECTOR WILLIAMS.
>> THANK YOU. ITEM 10 IS THE CONSIDERATION OF THE APPROVAL OF APPLICATIONS FOR STATE INFRASTRUCTURE BANK LOANS FROM VARIOUS APPLICANTS. STATE INFRASTRUCTURE MANAGER DALLAS IS HERE AND WILL PRESENT THIS ITEM. DALLAS.
>> THANK YOU, MARC. FIRST I'LL START WITH AN OVERVIEW OF STATE INFRASTRUCTURE BANK, WHICH SHOWS WE CURRENTLY HAVE JUST UNDER $225 MILLION WITH WHICH TO MAKE LOANS. IF THE COMMISSION APPROVES THE THREE LOANS TODAY, THE BALANCE WILL DROP TO $216 MILLION. WE HAVE 62 OUTSTANDING LOANS WITH THE REMAINING PRINCIPLE BALANCE OF $257 MILLION. 171 TOTAL LOANS, THERE HAVE BEEN NO DEFAULTS TO DATE AND ALL BUYERS ARE CURRENT ON THEIR OBLIGATIONS. WITH THAT OVERVIEW, ITEM 10 IS CONSIDERATION OF THREE SIB LOAN REQUESTS TOTALLING $8 MILLION 708,000 FROM THE ANGELINA RIVER AUTHORITY, CITY OF EL PASO AND MILITARY HIGHWAY WATER SUPPLY CORPORATION. THIS IS THE FIRST SIB LOAN FOR ANGELINA AND RIVER AUTHORITY AND MILITARY HIGHWAY WATER CORPORATION. THIS IS THE FOURTH SIB LOAN FOR THE CITY OF EL PASO. STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THIS MINUTE ORDER AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> COMMISSIONERS, ARE THERE ANY REMARKS OR QUESTIONS FOR MANAGER TESTON? IN HONOR OF CHAIR BUGG, I WANT TO ASK YOU -- I WANT YOU TO POINT OUT SOME THINGS. THESE ARE TERRIFIC THINGS, AS A BANKER WOULD APPRECIATE. ONE IS HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE NOT REPAID A LOAN, A SIB LOAN?
>> WE HAVE HAD ZERO DEFAULT TO DATE.
>> I'M THINKING BANKERS WOULD LIKE TO HEAR THAT. THE SECOND THING, I WANT YOU TO TALK ABOUT HOW MUCH MONEY WAS OUT THERE. HE WAS VERY PROUD ABOUT THIS. ESPECIALLY THE LAST MEETING HE CHAIRED HE WAS PROUTD OF THIS. SIB HAS CURRENT LONGS WITH BALANCE OF --
>> THAT'S $257 MILLION PUT OUT
[01:30:02]
THERE TO TURN DIRT AND TO EXECUTE, EXECUTE, EXECUTE FOR PEOPLE THAT NEEDED TO GET THAT DONE. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO -- I HAVE A YELLOW CARD. I'M SORRY ABOUT THAT. COME ON UP. THIS TIME YOU HAVE 2 1/2 MINUTES.>> THANK YOU. AGAIN, I'M EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF EL PASO MPO. JUST WANTED TO MAKE A BRIEF COMMENT. CERTAINLY IN FAVOR OF THE APPLICATION FOR THE CITY OF EL PASO BUT JUST TO HIGHLIGHT THE FACT THAT THEY ARE -- YOU KNOW, IT'S FOR A VERY IMPORTANT PROJECT. IT'S PART OF OUR OFF SYSTEM PROGRAM USING PRECIOUS CATEGORY 7 DOLLARS. AGAIN, THE CITY IS PUTTING SOME OF THEIR LOCAL SKIN IN THE GAME, TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE SIB LOANS, WHICH ARE AMAZING. THEY ARE AN AMAZING TOOL THAT WE ALL SHOULD BE TAKING ADVANTAGE MORE AN MORE. WE LOVE THE SIB. WE ARE A PATIENT LENDER. THE TERMS ARE VERY FAVORABLE. SO IT HELPS A LOT. WITH THAT, JUST WANTED TO EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR THE LOAN ITSELF. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
>> THANK YOU, SIR. OKAY. WITH NO FURTHER PUBLIC SPEAKERS AT THE PODIUM, I WILL ASK FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE APPLICATIONS FOR STATE INFRASTRUCTURE BANK LOANS FROM VARIOUS APPLICANTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION.
>> COMMISSIONER MEADE HAS MOVED APPROVAL.
>> COMMISSIONER VAUGHN HAS SECONDED THE MOTION. CALL FOR THE VOTE.
[11. Real Estate Disposition]
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY EYE ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WILLIAMS.>> THANK YOU. ITEM 11 IS THE CONSIDERATION OF ENTERING INTO A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH COTCOH, LLC, TO LEASE LAND ON FM 156. RIGHT-OF-WAY DIVISION DIRECTOR KYLE MADSEN IS HERE AND KYLE WILL PRESEN THE ITEM.
>> EVERYTHING GO. THIS AUTHORIZES TO LEASE AIRSPACE AND ON THE GROUNDS FOR PEERS AND ORE TO COT, COH, LLC TO CONSTRUCT PRIVATE BRIDGE OVER 156 IN DENTON COUNTY. ALLOW COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC FOR B & S RAIL YARD FOR THEIR LOADS WITHOUT THE NEED TO ACCESS HIGHWAY SYSTEM. THE LEASE HAS INITIAL TERM OF 50 YEARS WITH OPTION TO EXTEND THE TERM OF THE LEASE FOR TWO TEN-YEAR PERIODS. THE BRIDGE WILL BE CONSTRUCTED TO DOMINATE FUTURE EXPANSION OF FM 156 UP TO SIX LANES. LEASE ALSO CONTAINS TERMINATION CLAUSE THAT ALLOWS THE LEASE TO BE TERMINATED WITH TWO YEAR NOTICE IF THERE'S EVER NEED TO EXPAND 156 BEYOND SIX LANES IN SUCH A WAY THAT WOULD REQUIRE THE REMOVAL OF THE BRIDGE OR TERMINATE THE LEASE FOR ANY REASON ON 10 YEARS NOTICE AFTER THE TEN YEAR VERSE OF THE START OF THE LEASE. STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE MINUTE ORDER, AND I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
>> DMCOMMISSIONERS, ARE THERE A REMARKS OR QUESTIONS FOR DIRECTOR MADSEN? OKAY. I DO HAVE A CARD. I WOULD LIKE AT THIS TIME TO ASK NICK CONAN TO COME TO THE PODIUM, PLEASE. THIS ONE IS VERY GRACIOUS. IT SAYS YOUR NAME AND WHO YOU'RE REPRESENTING PLEASE.
>> GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS NICK CONAN, I'M HERE REPRESENTING COTCOH. I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS AND APPRECIATES YOUR CONSIDERATION.
>> ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE GENTLEMAN? I'M GLAD TO SEE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AT THE AIRPORT AN HAPPY TO SEE YOU GUYS MOVING FORWARD.
>> ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE ENTERING INTO A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH COTCOH, LLC THORNS W IN ACCORDANCE WITH STAFF RECOMMENDATION. COMMISSIONER VAUGHN MOVED APPROVAL, COMMISSIONER MEADE SECONDED THE MOTION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY
[12. Utility Relocation Reimbursement]
AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THIS MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. NEXT ITEM, DIRECTOR WILLIAMS.>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR MADSEN, PLEASE CONTINUE WITH ITEM 12. THIS IS THE CONSIDERATION OF MUNICIPAL RELOCATION REQUEST FROM VARIOUS UTILITIES.
>> THIS ITEM AUTHORIZES THE DEPARTMENT TO PAY COST TO RELOCATE UTILITIES THAT NEED TO BE RELOCATED DUE TO HIGHWAY PROJECTS. FIRST ARE WATER AND SEWER LINES OWNED BY CITY OF FLORENE THAT NEED TO BE RELOCATED FOR 487 PROJECT IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY. THE COST OF THE RELOCATION IS $323,437. THE S.E.C. IS A WATERLINE OWNED BY WARREN WATER SUPPLY THAT NEEDS TO BE RELOCATED FOR US 69 PROJECT IN TAYLOR COUNTY. THE COST OF THAT RELOCATION IS
[01:35:08]
$3 $3,606,182. BOTH DEMONSTRATED HARDSHIP RELOCATING UTILITY FACILITIES AND NETS ABLE TO OBTAIN A SIB LOAN AND THEREFORE ELIGIBLE FOR DEPARTMENT TO PAY. STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE MINUTE ORDER. I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE.>> COMMISSIONERS, ARE THERE ANY REMARKS OR QUESTIONS FOR DIRECTOR MADSEN? MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE REQUEST FOR MUNICIPAL UTILITY RELOCATION FROM VARIOUS UTILITIES IN ACCORDANCE WITH STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION?
>> I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
>> COMMISSIONER MEADE HAS MOVED APPROVAL.
>> DMR ALCOMMISSIONER ALVIS SEC
[13. Eminent Domain Proceedings]
THE MOTION. CALL FOR A VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY EYE ANY OPPOSED? OKAY. MOTION APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY. DIRECTOR WILLIAMS.>> BRINGS US TO ITEM 13, EMINENT DOMAIN PROCEEDINGS. DIRECTOR MADSEN, PLEASE CONTINUE.
>> THIS AUTHORIZES FILING OF CONDEMNATION TO ACQUIRE 103 THROUGH EMINENT DOMAIN. TXDOT WILL WILL CONTROL ACTION TO 56 OF THE PARCELS, NOT 52. STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF MINUTE ORDER. AGAIN, I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE.
>> KMCOMMISSIONERS, ARE THERE A REMARKS OR QUESTIONS FOR DIRECTOR MADSEN? COMMISSIONER ALVIS, DO YOU HAVE A MOTION TO MAKE?
>> I DO. I MOVE THAT THE TEXAS TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION AUTHORIZE THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO USE THE POWER OF EMINENT DOMAIN TO ACQUIRE PROPERTIES IN THE MINUTE ORDER SET FORTH IN THE AGENDA FOR THE CURRENT MONTH FOR CONSTRUCTION, RECONSTRUCTION, MAINTENANCE, WIDEN,S STRAIGHTENING, OR EXTENDING THE HIGHWAY FACILITIES LISTED IN THE MINUTE ORDER AS PART OF THE STATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM AND THAT THE FIRST RECORD VOTE APPLIES TO ALL UNITS OF PROPERTY TO BE CONDEMNED.
>> COMMISSIONER ALVIS HAS MOVED TO AUTHORIZE CONDEMNATION. MAY I HAVE A SECOND.
>> COMMISSIONER MEADE SECONDED THE MOTION. CALL FOR A VOTE.
[14. Routine Minute Orders and Reports]
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THIS MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WILLIAMS.>> THANK YOU. TURNING NOW TO ITEM 14. THIS THE CONSIDERATION OF ROUTINE MINUTE ORDERS INCLUDING DONATIONS TO THE DEPARTMENT, REAL ESTATE DISPOSITIONS, REPORTS, FINANCE, TRANSPORTATION PLANNING, LAND ACQUISITIONS FOR FACILITIES, AND SPEED SEASONS. STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE MINUTE ORDERS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THESE ROUTINE AGENDA ITEMS. ITEMS PERTAINING TO REPORTS TO THE COMMISSION ARE INCLUDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES AN DO NOT INVOLVE OR REQUIRE ACTION BY THE COMMISSION.
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR WILLIAMS. COMMISSIONERS, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS CONCERNING ROUTINE MINUTE ORDERS? OKAY. NO YELLOW CARDS. SEEING NONE, SEEING NO QUESTIONS, MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE WITH DIRECTOR WILLIAMS RECOMMENDATION.
>> DMR VAUGHN HAS MOVED THE APPROVAL.
>> COMMISSIONER MEADE SECONDED THE MOTION. CALL FOR THE VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSED?
[ OPEN COMMENT PERIOD]
OKAY. THERE WE GO. WE WILL NOT MEET IN EXECUTIVE SESSION TODAY. ALL ITEMS ON TODAY'S AGENDA ARE COMPLETED. IS THERE ANYONE SIGNED UP FOR OPEN COMMENT TODAY? AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK MARY VALDEZ TO COME FORWARD.>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS. BEFORE I BEGIN, I WANT TO EXTEND MY DEEPEST CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF COMMISSIONER BRUCE BUGG. HIS PASSION AND DEDICATION TO TRANSPORTATION IN TEXAS HAVE LEFT A LASTING LEGACY. ON BEHALF OF EAGLE PASS, PRAYERS ARE WITH FAMILY, FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES DURING THIS DIFFICULT TIME.
>> FORGIVE ME, I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU SAY MAYOR VALDEZ CITY OF EAGLE PASS.
>> MY NAME IS AARON VALDEZ WITH CITY OF EAGLE PASS. I AM THE MAYOR. LET ME BEGIN BY THANKIG TXDOT FOR TREMENDOUS WORK YOU DO FOR THE COMMUNITY. APPRECIATE THE LEADERSHIP OF THE DISTRICT ENGINEER AND HIS TEAM WHO HAVE BEEN OUTSTANDING PARTNERS HELPING US MOVE EAGLE PASS FORWARD. EAGLE PASS IS PROUD TO BE HOME TO THE FASTEST GROWING AND SAFEST PORT OF ENTRY TO THE U.S.-MEXICAN BORDER. IN THE PAST FEW YEARS COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC SURGED BY 30 TO 30% AND
[01:40:05]
IT CONTINUES TO RISE. HIGHWAY 57 IS THE LIFE LINE THAT CONNECTS OUR PORT TO INTERSTATE 35 BUT IT WAS NEVER BUILT FOR TODAY'S TRAFFIC. FOR THE VOLUME OF TODAY'S TRAFFIC. MORE TRUCKS AND PASSENGERS VEHICLES NEED A TWO-LANE ROAD, NEEDS TO BE CREATED FOR OUR SAFETY PURPOSES. THIS PROJECT IS ABOUT TWO THINGS ABOVE ALL. SAFETY. A DIVIDED HIGHWAY WILL REDUCE COALITION AND SAVE LIVES. ECONOMIC GROWTH. BY REMOVING CONGESTION, WE STRENGTHEN INTERNATIONAL TRADE, FUEL JOBS ACROSS TEXAS AND SECURE SUPPLY CHAINS NATIONWIDE. HIGHWAY 57 IS MORE THAN A LOCAL ROAD, IT IS A STATE AND NATIONAL TRADE CORRIDOR ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF EAGLE PASS, I RESPECTFULLY URGE THE COMMISSION TO MAKE THIS EXPANSION A PRIORITY. THANK YOU.>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, MAYOR AT THIS TIME I'D LIKE TO ASK CHRISTINA -- TO COME TO THE PODIUM, PLEASE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIRMAN, COMMISSIONERS.
>> I'M NOT DOING THIS VERY WELL. JUST FOR THE RECORD, GO AHEAD AND STATE YOUR NAME AND ORGANIZATION YOU'RE REPRESENTING.
>> HELLO, GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS CHRISTINA -- AND I'M EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF TAG HOUSTON. ON BEHALF OF OUR BOARD AND MEMBERSHIP, I'D LIKE TODAY TO OFFER HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES AND JOIN EVERYONE ELSE IN THE SAME FEELING FOR THE LOSS OF CHAIRMAN BUGG. HE WAS A COMPASSIONATE LEADER WHO WORKED TIRELESSLY TO IMPROVE OUR TRANSPORTATION NETWORK. HIS MISSION OF CHAMPIONING MANY PROGRAMS, TEXAS COOLING PROGRAMS, OVER THE LAST YEARS HAS RESULTED IN $80 BILLION OF PROJECTS, WHICH ULTIMATELY IS A SAVING FOR OUR DRIVERS STATEWIDE, OVER 2 MILLION FOR COMMUTERS SPECIFICALLY. CHAIRMAN BUGG LEFT BEHIND A MULTIDIMENSIONAL LEGACY, A TRANSPORTATION VISIONARY, BANKER, ART PHILANTHROPIST, CIVIC LEADER AND PUBLIC INTEGRITY. HIS LEADERSHIP SHAPED INFRASTRUCTURE, ELEVATED INSTITUTIONS AND STRENGTHENED ECONOMIC FOUNDATIONS ACROSS TEXAS. HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS WILL BE FELT FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. HE JOINED TEXAS TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION AN OTHER TRANSPORTATION PARTNERS IN THE HOUSTON REGION AND ACROSS TEXAS FOR HIS VISION. THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN. HAVE A GOOD DAY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. IS THERE ANY OTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE COMMISSION? THERE BEING NONE, IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN?
>> COMMISSIONER MEADE MOVED TO ADJOURN.
>> COMMISSIONER VAUGHN HAS SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. PLEASE NOTE FOR THE RECORD THAT IT IS 11:44 AND THIS MEETING STANDS ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.