Print 🖨

The Texas Transportation Commission met on June 29 to address a wide array of topics. The following report details the commission’s discussions regarding the 85th Legislative Session’s impact on transportation and the Unified Transportation Program (UTP), its consideration of transportation awards, and 2018’s Highway Safety Plan.

Commissioner’s Comments

  • Laura Ryan, Commissioner: Moving forward, I want to be sure the commission is continuing to push the status quo. 
  • Bruce Bugg Jr., Commissioner: First, I want to address the items on our agenda that deal with toll roads. These projects are not being funded by general state sources, and therefore do not conflict with the requests of the Governor last year. Instead, they are funded by individual county dollars.
    • Secondly, the culture of TXDOT is safety; we need to encourage people to be safe while driving. We need to do all we can to bring public awareness to the detriments of distracted driving.
    • Thirdly, I want to thank the legislature for extending Sunset for 12 years.
  • Victor Vandergriff, Commissioner: I want to second Commissioner Ryan and say that we’ve got to challenge the status quo to make this department better for the citizens of Texas. We will probably go through some ups and downs here, but I see good things ahead.
  • Jeff Austin, Commissioner: Special thanks to the men and women of TXDOT who responded well to the recent threat of tropical storm Cindy.
    • Also, there are bogus advertisements going around in Houston; attorneys advertising to help people sue TXDOT Right-Of Way.
    • I encourage people to reach out to their local TXDOT office if they have questions or concerns.

85th Legislative Session impact on transportation funding and the Unified Transportation Program

  • Prop 7 Funding
    • Legislature delayed full FY 2018 deposit of $2.2 billion in Prop 7 funds to the first month of FY 2019.
    • In addition, the legislature appropriated $700 million of anticipated $2.5 billion FY 2019 funds in FY 2019. Remainder is expected in FY 2020.
    • Out of total $4.7 billion Prop 7 for biennium, $2.9 billion is appropriated for 2019.
  • Cash Forecasts
    • Base Forecast
      • Agency cash and funds management.
      • LAR and Operating Budge development.
      • 24-month letting target development.
      • Assists with biennial development of the STIP Financial Summary.
      • Provides base letting assumptions for up to 10 years.
    • Annual UTP Planning Scenario
      • Incorporates the base cash forecast assumption plus potential future funding sources.
      • Provides planning levels for the next ten year UTP.
  • Prop 12 Debt Service to be paid from Prop 7 source
    • Legislature directed Prop 7 as the source for the debt service on general obligation bonds (Prop 12). Total is $613 million for the biennium.
    • Ryan: We have internal ways to backstop what comes out of Prop 7. We won’t actually have to cut projects [as a result of the direction], right?
      • Staff: Correct. The legislature told us ‘what color to use’ however in the grand scheme of things we can use other dollars.
  • Next steps for the 2018 UTP:
    • Work with districts to refine projects lists.
    • Continue to work on text and layout of UTP document.
    • July Commission Meeting briefing on August 2018 UTP
    • Bugg Jr.: I am trying to understand how the dates line up. You are going to post the draft on July 10th, but that pre-dates the commission’s meeting for July.
      • Staff: We will work with you individually. You will see that prior to it being posted.

Public Transportation

  • Various Counties – Consider the award of state funds to public transportation providers for FY 2018 as appropriated by the 85th Texas Legislature. (MO)
  • Eric Gleason, Director of Public Transportation:  Staff recommends $14.1 million be awarded for FY 2018 to rural and urban areas of the state.
  • Awards have been calculated in accordance with provision 31.11 of the TAC, a provision that establishes a formula by which public transportation funds be distributed.
  • Motion to adopt carries

Annual Highway Safety Plan

  • Consider approval of funding for the 2018 Highway Safety Plan. (MO)
  • Michael Chacon, Director of Traffic Operations Division: In compliance with the requirements presented by the Texas Traffic Safety Act of 1967 and the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, TXDOT has developed the FY 2018 Highway Safety Plan (HSP).
    • Program development has an estimated total cost of $106.26 billion for the purposes of funding approximately 325 programs across 14 program areas.
    • Funds are contingent upon the appropriation of funds by the US Congress and could increase or decrease from the requested amount.
    • Should additional federal funds become available, the director of the Traffic Operations Division is authorized to approve an increase in the HSP up to ten percent (10%) of the total approved budget and the executive director or the director's designee is authorized to approve an increase in the HSP up to fifty percent (50%) or to the extent of the additional federal funds.
  • Bugg Jr.: The “Don’t mess with Texas” litter campaign affected behavior and became something of pop culture. I wonder if we can borrow a page from that book with respect to distracted driving. I’d like you to come up with some ideas and bring them back to the commission on a potential ad campaign. I don’t think the fines are going to cut it.
    • Chicon: I agree with you.
  • Motion to adopt carries

Reports

  • Compliance Division report
    • Adopted
  • Report on projects being processed under the department’s environmental review process (Report)
    • Adopted

No closed session.
No public comment.