AUSTIN – The Texas Department of Transportation conducted a public meeting yesterday to begin collecting feedback on an initial group of 201 road projects the agency is set to tackle across the state. The new construction and maintenance projects will be funded in part using Proposition 1 dollars approved by Texas voters last November.

“The overwhelming support for the proposition by Texas voters is a clear message that transportation is an essential priority for our citizens,” said TxDOT Executive Director LtGen Joe Weber, USMC (Ret). “Now the work begins. We’ve been coordinating with locally-elected officials and local planning organizations to identify project priorities.”

The purpose of yesterday’s meeting was to explain to the public how the agency and local metropolitan planning organizations identified potential projects to include in the 2015 Unified Transportation Program (UTP) – the agency’s plan for project development over the next 10 years – and seek their input and comments on these proposed projects. The proposed new projects will be funded over the next 12 months.

The agency will continue to accept formal public comments regarding the proposed UTP updates from Jan. 23 to Feb. 23. Comments may be submitted via email to TPP_UTP@txdot.gov; by phone at (800) 687-8108; or by mail to Texas Department of Transportation, attention: James Koch - UTP, P.O. Box 149217, Austin, TX 78714-9217.

Later this month, the Texas Transportation Commission will be presented a draft group of projects for consideration, and then will vote on its approval in February.

More about Prop. 1 Funding Disbursement

In December, the Texas Comptroller certified that $1.74 billion would be available for transportation in 2015. With approval from the Legislature, TxDOT will distribute the funds in this manner:

• 40 percent to metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) to address congestion;
• 30 percent to TxDOT districts to address connectivity;
• 15 percent to TxDOT districts to address maintenance needs; and 
• 15 percent to TxDOT districts for roads in the energy sector.

For more information, contact TxDOT Media Relations at MediaRelations@txdot.gov or (512) 463-8700.