During the Transportation Hearing on November 19, 2009 the agenda included a presentation on the Unified Transportation Program and the selection of projects for Proposition 12 funding.
Funding for the 2011 the Unified Transportation Program (UTP) was discussed. The Project Selection Process (PSP) is approved annually and describes the funding categories and process for selecting transportation projects. The PSP for the 2011 UTP was presented during the commissioners hearing and a 30-day review and comment period is now open. The Finance Division presented a video and distributed brochures describing the PSP. Comments will be accepted until December 21, 2009 at 5:00 PM. Following the conclusion of the comment period, a minute order will be presented to the commission seeking approval of the PSP for the 2011 UTP.
The Commission also approved projects for Proposition 12 funding.
The Texas Legislature, in House Bill 1, 81st Legislature, was the enabling legislation for Proposition 12 bonds. House Bill 1also amended Rider 60 to the appropriations to the Texas Department of Transportation in the General Appropriations Act to allow the issuance of $2 billion of these bonds. For FY 2010-2011, the Legislature appropriated bond proceeds in the amount of $90 million for right of way, $60 million for engineering, and $850 million to make progress payments on no more than $1.85 billion in construction contract obligations for nontolled highway improvement projects, and appropriated $1 billion of bond proceeds to be used to capitalize the State Infrastructure Bank (SIB) for the purpose of making loans to public entities.
A list of proposed projects can be viewed at: http://www.txdot.gov/about_us/commission/2009_meetings/documents/minute_orders/nov19/7.pdf
Three important projects were not selected for Proposition 12 funding: the expansion of I-35E in Dallas and Denton Counties, improvements to the interchange at I-35W and I-820 in Tarrant County, and improvements to U.S. 77 in South Texas as part of the development of I-69. The Commission instructed TxDOT staff to develop specific plans for the delivery of these projects with a report due in January 2010. It was noted during the hearing that toll projects were not eligible for proposition 12 bonds.