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Transportation
Transportation
The 12th District of Texas is growing at a very quick pace. Building and maintaining a strong transportation infrastructure is vital to managing that growth and ensuring the economic development of the district and the entire state. We need to make sure that the 12th District, the State of Texas, and the entire nation has a transportation infrastructure system in place that is maintained, efficient, and economical. For those reasons, I have made transportation one of my top priorities. I will continue to work with my colleagues to ensure that the 12th District of Texas receives federal assistance to address our infrastructure needs, such as improving Interstate 35 and State Highway 183, improving rail capabilities and throughways, and expanding D/FW Airport and surrounding municipal airports.
Wright Amendment Reform Act (S. 3661)
During the 109th Congress, I worked with my Texas colleagues to introduce and pass legislation that will phase out the Wright Amendment and put an end to over 27 years of local wrangling over the issue. As a former Fort Worth mayor, I have been closely involved with the Wright Amendment issue for over 15 years.
The legislation allows for immediate through ticketing from Love Field airport, limits the number of gates at Lovefield from 32 to 20, and phases out the Wright Amendment after eight years. The bill ensures that D/FW airport will remain a major international hub and continue to be a strong economic engine for North Texas.
Rail Transportation
As gas prices continue to rise and highways become more congested, rail transportation is becoming a more important piece of our nation’s transportation infrastructure. Rail is an economical, energy efficient, and fuel efficient way to move commodities and other cargo around the country.
As Congress continues to work to solve transportation issues in Texas and around the country, you can be sure that I will work to ensure that rail transportation remains an important part of the solution.
Bridges
Texas is home to more bridges than any other state in the country. There are 50,183 bridges on the public highways, roads and streets of Texas (32,962 on the state highway system, 17,221 off the state system). The State has an aggressive bridge inspection program. Texas bridges are safe.
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is responsible for monitoring and inspecting the state’s bridges. Each structure must be inspected at least every 24 months, with the most critical structures inspected more frequently.
In fiscal year 2006, TxDOT replaced or rehabilitated 549 bridges at an approximate cost of $539 million.
Highways
Texas, like many other states across the country, is experiencing rapid growth. That growth means more cars and trucks traveling our highways. We need more capacity on our highways. Finding ways to build and maintain those highways is going to require a lot of creativity and teamwork between the federal, state, and local governments.
You can be sure that I am committed to doing my part to ensure the highway needs of the 12th District – and the nation – are met in a responsible, sustainable way.
Mexican Truck Pilot Program
Recently, many have raised concerns about the number of trucks entering the United States carrying goods from Mexico. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) initiated a pilot program for trucks crossing the border between the U.S. and Mexico. Under this program, DOT has given seven Mexican companies operational authority to enter the United States. In early October 2007, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the agency at DOT that is managing the program, issued a press release stating plans to install Global Positioning Systems (GPS) tracking on these Mexican trucks entering the U.S. to ensure they are abiding by all our safety and economic regulations.
Many Members of Congress, as well as many citizens, have continued to voice concerns over this program. In response, a provision was included in the fiscal year 2008 transportation appropriation bill to bar funding to the Department of Transportation to implement this program.
I believe that any such program must ensure that trucks coming from Mexico meet rigorous safety requirements, including hours-of-service requirements for drivers. We must also ensure that this program keeps our border secure by requiring proper identification for drivers entering the United States. I will continue to work with my colleagues to address these concerns before a final program is implemented.