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Could TxDOT be restructured?

Sunset Review Commission recommends abolishing commission

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  • Sonny Long •
  • Originally published January 3, 2009 at 12:11 a.m., updated January 3, 2009 at 12:11 a.m.

The future of the Interstate 69/Trans-Texas Corridor will be among the many transportation issues closely watched by local legislators when state lawmakers convene on Jan. 13.

"Now that it has been downsized to the Highway 59 footprint, of course we'll keep watching," state Rep. Geanie Morrison said.

In June, the Texas Department of Transportation decided to change the scope of the road project to include only existing highways and not build new corridors.

The move came after the Texas Department of Transportation received almost 28,000 public comments on the matter and about 12,000 Texans attended the 47 public hearings, according to news accounts of the action.

Transportation funding, of course, will also be a topic of discussion when the legislature meets beginning Jan. 13.

The Texas 2030 committee, which was formed to study future transportation needs, released a report that "Texas' transportation needs between 2009 and 2030 will require some $313 billion."

Sen. John Carona of Dallas County, who chairs the Senate's Committee on Transportation and Homeland Security, has at least three proposed bills related to transportation financing: SB 263 addresses the Texas Transportation Commission's ability to issue general obligation bonds to fund state highway improvement projects; SB 216 addresses permissible uses of the state's highway fund and SB 217 relates to the rate of the state gasoline tax and diesel fuel taxes.

Another big issue will be the Sunset Review Commission's recommendation that the Texas Transportation Commission be abolished and a single appointed commissioner of transportation be named to oversee the agency.

According to the Sunset decision meeting in mid-December, "the commissioner must be experienced and skilled in transportation planning, development, financing, construction, and maintenance, or have appropriate finance or management experience. A person is not eligible to be appointed or serve as the commissioner if the person has served in Texas Legislature in the previous 10 years."

The Sunset Review Commission also recommends establishment of a Transportation Legislative Oversight Committee to provide necessary oversight of the department and the state's transportation system. This legislative committee would also be given the authority to bring in an outside management-consulting firm to restructure TxDOT.

The sunset recommendations, among others, include establishment of a Rail Transportation Division of the agency.

"The Sunset Review will be a large part that comes through this session as far as transportation is concerned. It's my understanding that there are several things that Sunset is looking at that they feel pretty positive they have worked out with TxDOT," Morrison said. "I am sure there will be other issues that come up, too, especially in the regional areas like Houston and Dallas."

  • OnLine

    To read a draft summary of Texas Sunset Review Commission decisions on the Texas Department of Transportation go to www.sunset.state.tx.us/81streports/txdot/txdot_dec.pdf

    To read a draft report from the Texas 2030 Committee on future transportation needs, go to http://texas2030committee.tamu.edu/meetings/documents/final_121708_draftreport.pdf



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