TxDOT Regional Service Centers May Integrate Local District Offices

TxDOT could begin a reorganization before year’s end that would take a year to complete. The department says restructuring could save the state $35 million; some 600 jobs could be axed as a result.

TxDOT Officials Ponder Creation of Four Regional Service Centers

To streamline the Texas Department of Transportation’s statewide business operations, TxDOT is considering the creation of four Regional Support Centers to house support functions currently located in 25 districts across Texas.

TxDOT officials estimate the RSCs could save $35 million. TxDOT is planning to refine its statewide structure with regional centers potentially in Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio and Lubbock. Each center would support the district design, construction and maintenance operations, with districts aligned into the support centers based on regional proximity.

Opening of the RSCs could mean changes in job locations and functional assignments for some employees in districts and divisions. To make the transition easier, TxDOT will use modern "virtual office" technology to allow some employees to continue to work from current office locations while their job functions are aligned with a regional office in another city.

The reorganization could begin in the fourth quarter and take about a year to complete. Though the restructuring is estimated to result in a reduction in about 600 job positions, TxDOT employee counts statewide are already at the anticipated level needed to complete the first phase of restructuring, according to TxDOT information. A reduction in hiring and normal attrition and retirements are expected to minimize the need to reduce the number of TxDOT employees.

Phase two of the restructuring of the divisions and offices in Austin could begin next year and be completed in 2010. Those departments will be restructured in a way that is responsive to the Sunset Review and the actions of the upcoming 81st Legislature.

Proposition 14 Bond Issues to Pay for 2009 TxDOT Projects

The Texas Transportation Commission signaled its intent to issue $1.5 billion in Proposition 14 bonds. The debt will support development and construction projects in 2009.

In a special meeting, the Transportation Commission responded to urging by Gov. Rick Perry, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and Speaker Tom Craddick that the commission exercise its ability to issue the bonds.

In addition to encouraging the sale of bonds, the state’s leaders identified measures they would bring to the 81st Legislative Session in 2009 to address long-term transportation funding. One proposal would appropriate money from the state’s General Fund for the Proposition 12 bonds approved by Texas voters in 2007.

Texas voters approved Proposition 14 highway bonding authority in 2003. To date, TxDOT has issued $3.1 billion in Proposition 14 bonds. The Proposition 14 bond program authorizes TxDOT to borrow money on a short-term basis to improve cash flow and cash management and to issue general obligation bonds secured by the State Highway Fund to accelerate transportation projects.

The bonds are repaid with money from State Highway Fund including motor fuels taxes and vehicle registration fees.

Collin County U.S. 75 Ramp Reversal Project Starts

Work has started on the $1.6 million southbound U.S. 75 ramp reversal project in Collin County. Work on the one-mile project to reverse the exit and entrance ramp configuration from Bethany Drive to Frontage Road started this fall with periodic lane closures to place barricades in preparation for the ramp reversal.

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) project includes closing the Bethany Drive entrance ramp to U.S. 75 so workers can remove the existing concrete ramp and replace it with an exit ramp. This will be followed by closure of the Frontage Road exit ramp so it can be removed and rebuilt as an entrance ramp. Once the ramps have been reversed, TxDOT will re-stripe the roadway at that location so motorists can easily understand the new configuration.

The goal of the project is to reduce congestion and provide greater mobility through the city of Allen. The contractor for the project is Ed Bell Construction Company of Dallas. Estimated project completion is April 2009, weather permitting.

U.S. Overpass Project Starts in Laredo

A .75-mi, $18.9 million U.S. 277 overpass project in South Texas’ Eagle Pass/Maverick County will construct an overpass as well as bridge approaches.

A traffic switch pattern switch is in effect to facilitate the construction of the overpass and bridge approaches on US 277 over railroad tracks. Rosiek Construction Co. Inc. of Arlington is building the project, which is slated for a late fall 2009 completion.TxDOT Del Rio Area Engineer Antonio Perea, P.E., is responsible for the project.

TxDOT Hosts Public Hearings on Transferring SH 121 to NTTA

The Texas Department of Transportation received public comments concerning the proposed transfer of a segment of State Highway 121 from the state highway system to the North Texas Tollway Authority.

One public hearing focused on a segment from west of FM 2281 in Denton County to just east of Hillcrest Road in Collin County.

Descriptions, maps and drawings showing the proposed portion of SH 121 to be transferred to the NTTA and other information concerning the proposed transfer are available for viewing at the TxDOT Dallas District Office in Mesquite.

TxDOT Rebuilding IH-10/IH-20 Split in Odessa

The Texas Department of Transportation completed work recently on a $2.3 million interstate highway repair project at the IH-10 and IH-20 split/merge in western Reeves County.

The work will include repair of the roadway base, underseal, and a hot-mix pavement overlay at the approaching of the split/merge from both east and west. The contractor is Reece Albert Inc. of Midland.

New Collin County Interchange to Move Motorists More Efficiently

The Texas Department of Transportation and project contractor W.W. Webber LLC of Houston started the reconstruction of the interchange at U.S. 75 and Parker Road in Collin County. The new $20 million interchange will convert Parker Road from a standard, grade-separated bridge to a single-point urban interchange. The estimated project completion is fall 2010.

The SPUI is an interchange where all left turn movements occur on the bridge, which promotes optimal traffic operation and safety. Currently, traffic uses existing ramps on the frontage roads to connect to Parker Road. This requires drivers to stop when turning onto or from Parker Road and can cause traffic delays.

Parker Road is reduced from three lanes to two lanes in each direction for the duration of the project with intermittent closures of U.S. 75 mainlanes at Parker Road. The southbound HOV lane from Bethany Drive in Allen to Park Boulevard in Plano will be closed as construction progresses.

Sterling Construction Loses California Project, Gets NTTA Contract

Road and Highway Builders of California Inc., a subsidiary of Houston-based Sterling Construction Co. Inc., was the apparent low bidder on a $48.2 million project for the California Department of Transportation, but was notified that CalTrans intends to award the contract to the next lowest bidder because it deems RHBC's bid non-responsive.

RHBC is in the process of preparing an appeal of CalTrans' determination. The project entails the complete reconstruction, including concrete paving, of a 5.3-mi highway westbound from the California/Nevada state line, and is scheduled to begin in early spring 2009.

Despite the setback, Sterling subsidiary, Texas Sterling Construction Co., was the apparent low bidder on a $58 million contract to construct a 2.3-mi portion of the President George Bush Turnpike for the North Texas Toll Road Authority.

The job includes excavation and embankment work, installation of storm sewers, concrete paving of four frontage lanes and six main lanes and construction of three bridges. Work began this fall with project completion expected in 2011.

The $58 million contract is Sterling's second project for the North Texas Toll Road Authority. The first was a $55 million award in February.

Work Starts on Truck Traffic Reliever Route in Midland

Work began recently on a $10.3 million section of West Texas highway described as both a reliever route to reduce future truck traffic congestion on Loop 250 in Midland and as the first section of the La Entrada al Pacifico in the United States.

Jones Bros. Dirt & Paving Contractors Inc. of Odessa is building 16 mi of highway connecting State Highway 349 north of Midland to FM 1788 north of State Highway 191 between Midland and Odessa.

The first section will intersect with State Highway 158 to the east to State Highway 349 about 5 mi north of Midland.

The 16-mi connector has been promoted by the Midland-Odessa Transportation Alliance as the first link in an eventual trade route spanning from the Pacific Ocean in western Mexico through the Midland-Odessa area to the American Heartland.

The La Entrada al Pacifico route runs from the port of Topolobampo in the Mexican state of Sinaloa, through Chihuahua City and Presidio-Ojinaga to the Midland-Odessa area. The Texas portion of the route was designated in 1997 by the Texas Legislature.

A 36-mi section was built in the state of Chihuahua connecting Federal 16 with State 67 in Mexico and opened as a toll road in 2003. The project around Midland will be built as half of the eventual freeway type facility-a two-lane highway. A second phase--from State Highway 158 west to FM 1788--is scheduled to be let as the first phase is under way.

TxDOT Among Post-Ike Recovery, Clean-Up Teams on Gulf Coast

Teams with the Texas Department of Transportation were among the workers involved in recovery and clean up operations along the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Ike. Houston District crews were supported by crews from across the state in the affected areas to clear and remove debris and repair damages along the state highway system.

TxDOT had a staff of emergency contractors working with maintenance offices to inventory damage and assess contractor needs. Damage and debris removal along the state highway system were estimated to be upward of $20 million dollars.

The Houston District awarded and executed an emergency contract for the repair and restoration of traffic signals maintained by the state to Republic Intelligent Transportation Services Inc. of Dallas for $5.8 million dollars.