Connecting Communities
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Our Challenge
Texas is the largest state in the lower 48 with a population of more than 20 million people. Its 254 counties make up an area of 267,000 square miles or 7.4% of the nation’s total area. Even in times of a national recession, Texas has been fortunate to experience both economic and population growth. This growth, however, is not without consequences. It increases the strain on our transportation infrastructure which is comprised of approximately 80,000 miles of highways and 50,000 bridges. We depend on this transportation infrastructure to keep our communities connected and our economy growing.
Meeting the Challenge
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) strives daily to provide safe, efficient, and effective means for the movement of people and goods throughout the state, facilitating trade and economic opportunity. In recent years, due to the growing population and the limited funds, Texas has been challenged to find new ways to deliver transportation solutions. It has become increasingly apparent that this is something we cannot do alone. So, we have taken transportation-related problems directly to the public by way of town meetings, embracing a commitment to collaborative problem solving and community partnerships.
In the past, the Texas highway system was primarily financed by the gas tax, a funding mechanism which many say is starting to outlive its time. The National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission notes that “simply raising the Federal fuel tax and putting more money into the same programs will not be acceptable,” and that after 20 years, “actions will be required…to replace the fuel tax with a more sustainable revenue source.”
For many reasons, motor fuels taxes are declining at the same time that roadway use is increasing. From 1980 to 2006, Texas’ population has increased by 65%, and its road use has increased by 120%. The state’s roadway capacity, however, has only grown by 9%.1
In order to move forward, the state and its regional partners must strike a balance between regional needs, statewide connectivity and existing assets to determine exactly what will be built, and when and where.
Decision makers must weigh diverse factors and specific needs when choosing a transportation project location. Considerations include:
- the ability to connect people and places together,
- access to airports, ports, population centers, and resources,
- preservation of environmental assets and economic vitality of an area, and
- recommendations of local communities and advisory committees.
Designed to Connect: The Texas Trunk System
The Texas Trunk System is a plan designed to connect parts of the state and integrate rural communities with a high quality highway network, which will ultimately make getting from here to there better. How?
Goals and Objectives of the Texas Trunk System:
- Provide a rural four-lane divided (or better) highway network to improve mobility – encourages safer, quicker long-distance trips.
- Connect major activity centers within Texas – produces and attracts trips between centers and cities.
- Provide access to major points of entry to Texas – extends highways to major Texas ports, and border crossings to Mexico.
Bringing Communities Closer
With more new roads, and improved existing ones, places that once seemed too far to drive to will now be much easier to get to. That means more trips to friends and family, a wider market for your business, more weekend getaways.
We're working to make this a reality by using innovative financing and a new approach to Texas transportation, and we think you'll enjoy having that horizon be just a little bit broader.
Financing Options
We will use all available financial options to maintain and expand our transportation system.
Debt Financing
Construction costs have risen much faster than interest rates, making it financially feasible to borrow funds to accelerate projects.
Gas Tax Revenue
Even though this revenue source has declined, we still depend on it for the majority of our project development financing. TxDOT pledges the most productive use of these funds.
Pass-Through Financing
Pass-through financing is a partnership between a developer and TxDOT where roadway construction is funded with a per-vehicle or per-vehicle mile paid by TxDOT to the developer. It is not a toll road. Instead, any toll that would typically be paid by a motorist is instead paid for or “passed through” to TxDOT. Benefits include:
- timely improvements in area mobility and safety,
- no hefty initial investment by the state,
- higher public acceptance of the roadway, and
- higher road usage.
Toll Equity
Toll equity allows state highway funds to be combined with other funds to build public toll roads. By issuing loans and grants, TxDOT can participate in the acquisition, construction, maintenance, or operation of a toll road built by other entities. The money TxDOT saves from not having to fully fund the project with public funds can then be used for other needed projects.
Registration Fees
A vehicle registration fee is required for all vehicles in Texas and varies according to the class of vehicle being registered. In fiscal year 2007, vehicle registration fees contributed $984.2 million to the State Highway Fund.
Comprehensive Development Agreements (CDAs)
This is a method TxDOT uses to enable private investments in the Texas transportation system. This is a project delivery method that rolls the design and construction of a toll road project into one comprehensive contract, instead of the traditional method of having individual contracts for separate phases of a project. This results is faster delivery of the project and greater cost certainty with a lump sum price.
Public-Private Partnerships
These financial partnerships provide additional funds that allow TxDOT to complete projects much quicker than with traditional funding sources. Public-private partnerships also encourage cost savings and innovation by the private sector.
Partnerships
More than anything, it is the ability to partner with both the public and private sectors that helps us to define and develop solutions that meet statewide and regional needs for the benefit of all Texans. We are continually seeking new strategic partnerships to enhance our transportation system, keeping Texans connected with their families, communities and a wider market for their businesses.
Local Tolling Entities
The Texas Transportation Commission partners with local tolling entities, such as the North Texas Tollway Authority and the Harris County Toll Road Authority, to improve the Transportation system. They have both been solid partners in solving pressing transportation needs.
Regional Mobility Authorities ( RMAs)
The Commission partners with counties to establish RMAs, which are political entities formed to allow an individual county or multiple counties to work together to develop and implement a regional approach to transportation needs. They have extensive authority over transportation projects in their communities giving local governments a greater ability to provide mobility and safety benefits to citizens. RMAs receive funding for initial project development from the sale of state bonds. They may also seek a loan or grant from TxDOT. The types of projects may include highway, rail, aviation, and pedestrian facilities, and may be tolled or nontolled.
Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs)
MPOs work in partnership with TxDOT to create long-term and short-term plans for effective transportation in and around urbanized areas.
MPOs …
- authorize the use of certain federal funds in their areas,
- make project recommendations to the Commission,
- are made up of local and transit officials, and state legislators, and
- provide a means for local participation in transportation planning and decisions.2
Better Communication
Along with its commitment to the new tools of finance and partnership, TxDOT has adopted a renewed spirit of openness and transparency to address the need for more and better communication between TxDOT and Texans.
Public Outreach
Getting the facts out to the public and allowing direct input back into the planning process are critical. Public involvement is encouraged through:
- the standard, legally required formal comment and response process,
- voluntarily hosted TxDOT public open house period before each public hearing,
- TxDOT-initiated town hall meetings,
- TxDOT upgrades to its Web sites,
- the development of blogs,
- the hosting of internet forums, and
- additional town hall meetings, as needed.
The progress we’ve made to date in developing innovative financing, symbiotic partnerships , and better communication underscores TxDOT’s promise for collaboration on all levels of the transportation challenge and for a healthy infrastructure to improve the connection between its communities and citizens. Stakeholders at all levels now have the authority and flexibility to customize and accelerate transportation solutions to meet the transportation needs of current and future Texans.
1 Innovative Connectivity in Texas: Vision 2009
2 Strategic Plan: 2009 through 2013, Texas Department of Transportation
