- Procurement & monitoring was all good, Standardizing the contracts is not.
- Standardizing design build contracts will “foster uniformity and potential efficiency”
- 11 specific issues were identifiied linked to the lack of TXDOT uniformity in contracts:
- addenda to the requests for qualifications and RFPs were not always approved
- review of qualification statements and proposals did not always include completing individual scoring worksheets
- no evidence of past performance of a…
Category Archives: TXDOT
Economic Impact of Transportation Funding in Texas. By the Numbers.
- $60 Billion TXDoT’s 5-10 year estimate to improve urban connectivity
- $20 Billion TXDOT’s estimate to improve statewide connections & border-trade projects
- $516 annual cost per car per year for poorly maintained road damage, but in Texas it is more:
- $838 in San Antonio
- $815 in El Paso
- $772 in Houston
- $716 in McAllen
- $549 in Corpus Christi
- $70.6 billion economic impact of tourism in Texas for 2014
- 630,000 direct Texas jobs in tourism in 2014
- $6 billion in state and…
Attorney General Opinion: Design-Build. TXDOT Options. Appropriations Rider Fail.
In Attorney General Opinion KP-0077, the question being answered is: Does TXDOT have authority to neter into design-build contracts for 2016-2017?
How did the question arise? A conflict between the appropriations bill & Section 223.242, Transportation Code.
The Attorney General’s conclusion: Yes, TXDOT can enter into design build contracts, with limits.
What limits does the Attorney General note on TXDOT’s design-build authority?
- Design Build only OK for contracts over $150…
Transportation Project. Land Speculation. Indictments in North Texas. 3 Key Informed Intel.
What law enforcement agency was investigating land deals in North Texas? U.S. Department of Justice
What transportation project is involved? I-35 E expansion in Denton County
What crimes are alleged to be involved in these land deals? conspiracy to commit mail fraud
What makes people believe real estate development was land speculation?
- accused of deceiving the Texas Department of Transportation by
- buying frontage land low
- asserting that the land was under development
- and…
$38 Billion Cost to Eliminate Tollroads. 4 Pieces Informed Intel.
TXDOT informed legislators on Wednesday that the cost to eliminate tollraods in Texas is $30 billion.
The reasons behind the $38 Billion price tag:
- $21 Billion in debt held on state and local tollroads + interest and fees
- $10 billion in debt with partnerships with private firms + interest and fees
- This feeds the arguments of those opposed to government debt & who say local debt is too high
- TXDOT has $13.4 Billion in non-toll related debt
Texas Central Rail Partner Opponents File Lawsuit.
Who filed a lawsuit? Texans Against High-Speed Rail
Who is the lawsuit against? TXDOT & Attorney General Paxton
What’s causing the foray into the courts? A public information request from Texans for High Speed Rail that sought any documents at TXDOT related to Texas Central Parnters.
What was the response to the public information request? Texans Against High-Speed Rail believes that documents were withheld, and the documents provided were heavily redacted without…
INTERIM. 3 Bills that Require Interim Studies due in 2016.
Texas Legislative Council reminds us that the 2015 Legislature passed a bunch of bills with a bunch of interim study requirements.
The transportation related interim studies from 2015 bills:
- TXDOT Planning and Expenditure Study
- House Bill 20, Section 8
- Transportation Planning Select Committee
- Report Due: Not later than November 1, 2016
- Sound Mititgation on Highways
- House Bill 790, Section 1
- Texas A&M Transportation Institute
- Report Due: Not later than November 1,…
Texas & Self Driving Cars. 4 Results from the Laissez-faire Libertarian Approach.
Google cars are maneuvering Austin roadways while Texas’ regulation of self-driving cars is laissez-faire libertarian.
4 Reasons Why the libertarian approach has prevailed:
- Texas laws & regulation have no obvious restrictions on self-driving vehicles
- Google is frustrated with a year delay in California’s state regulation of self driving cars
- DPS is reportedly working with other states on the issue
- TXDOT says it is waiting for legislative guidance
East & West Texas Editorials Support Raise the Gas Tax. 3 Reasons Why.
Both the Beaumont Enterprise and the Midland Reporter-Telegram ran editorials supporting raising the gas tax.
- 2015 Prop 7 is not enough for transportation funding
- The state still needs $5 billion per year for transportation funding
- “The only realistic answer is increasing the gasoline tax, which hasn’t changed since 1991”
Midland Reporter-Telegram | Texas highways need more funding, higher gasoline tax
High Speed Rail Activism. Regional Planning Committee.
Which regional planning committee meeting is drawing the attention of activists? An Ellis County Sub Regional Planning Commission (“391 commission”) on Thursday November 19th at the Ennis National Bank Event Center
What issue is the regional planning committee hearing? High speed rail
Which activists are engergizing their base? Texas TURF & Texans Against High-Speed Rail