TxDOT Road Projects Designed, Halted by Funding

Austin — As the buzz at the Texas State Capitol fades from a historic three special sessions of the 83rd legislature, many are stuck on the constitutionality of issues such as abortion and voter id, but for rural leaders, their large focus is on the funding of state transportation. With the passage of HB 1, voters can vote in November 2014 to establish a committee to decide the amount that the Rainy Day fund should have each biennium, diverting the rest to transportation, and gives the full legislature the power to alter the commission’s recommendations.

Representative Nevárez was a supporter of the bill understanding that with approval of the voters, road projects in his district could pick up steam. “This would allow our voters to speak,” Nevárez states. “With the amount of projects that have already started in West and South Texas, this additional funding to TXDOT would help speed up the completion process making our roads better and safer.”

Obtaining the largest House District in the nation, Representative Nevárez understands that many of the roads he represents are on TXDOT’s radar for repair or upgrade, though many design phases are halted because the lack of funding. With 9 out of his 12 counties totaling 41 road projects targeted by TXDOT, a back log of projects are starting to form from the lack of funding causing a delay in the construction bidding process.

According to the TXDOT website, Val Verde and Hudspeth counties lead the way in HD 74 by each containing 9 current projects, where 4 projects have been bid for completion between the two. Following them are the counties of Maverick and Pecos, comprising of 5 projects each where only 2 have been sent out for bid. Rounding the list is Presidio county with 4 current projects, Reeves with 3, Brewster and Culberson counties with 2 each and Terrell and Kenny counties containing only 1 each. Out of those West Texas counties, 2 are scheduled for bid.

While most of these projects are stuck in the design phase, the use of the Rainy Day fund would be viable for these projects so that TXDOT could increase the number of projects that are ready for bid. “Patience is a must,” Rep. Nevárez includes. “Squeaky wheels get grease so we must continue to squeak in order to get priority on our projects.”