$2B for Texas Road Projects Approved

ted-houghtonttc-chairtxdot.jpg

DALLAS – The Texas Transportation Commission approved $2 billion of contracts for road and bridge projects on Feb. 26, including $1.74 billion authorized by voters under Proposition 1 last year.

“Between Prop. 1’s $1.74 billion and other funding sources, we are able to allocate $2 billion to projects that will help address roadway congestion, safety and the growing demands on our infrastructure,” said TTC Chairman Ted Houghton. “This is great news for commuters, industry and the overall economic health of Texas.”

Among the projects covered by the funding are more than 800 miles of highway rehabilitatation.

The funds will also pay for nearly 500 miles of new highway lanes, 64 bridge replacements, and 18 lane-widening enhancements that will add 159 miles of passing lanes to rural highways.

Metropolitan planning organizations and Texas Department of Transportation districts collaborated on creating the list of projects and then gathered public comments.

One of the major contracts awarded was a public-private partnership to develop tolled lanes and general purpose lanes for a 10.3-mile segment of State Highway 288 from U.S. 59 to the Harris County line. The contract includes the design, construction, maintenance and operation of direct connectors at Beltway 8. The toll concession project represents the first in the Houston area where a private contractor will design, finance, build, operate and maintain the facility.

The $800 million project was awarded to Blueridge Transportation Group. The partners include ACS Servicios y Concesiones, SL, InfraRed Capital Partners Ltd, Shikun & Binui Concessions USA, Inc. and a team of local and national leaders in the construction and design industry. Three qualified teams competed for the project, awarded based on a best-value assessment, according to the TTC.

Design and construction is expected to move forward in late 2015 with an estimated completion in early 2019, years before it would happen using conventional methods, according to the TTC. The project will tie into the Brazoria County Toll Project on SH 288.

Several TxDOT districts plan to use money dedicated for maintenance to repair or rehabilitate highways affected by production in the energy sector. These funds, along with Proposition 1 funds specifically allocated for energy sector needs, means that projects in areas affected by energy sector development are receiving nearly 30% of total 2015 Proposition 1 funding.

Under the stress of thousands of trucks serving the oil and drilling industry, roads in the Eagle Ford Shale region of South Texas have suffered particularly heavy damage. The damage was so severe that in 2013 that TxDOT was considering allowing paved roads to deteriorate into gravel roads. Amid public outcry, TxDOT retreated from that position.

“Safety is our top priority and the money we are putting toward enhancing safety in the energy sector is proof of this,” said Texas Transportation Commissioner Fred Underwood.

The $2 billion of contracts come as the Texas Legislature considers Gov. Greg Abbott’s proposal to add $4 billion per year to transportation funding in the state without a tax increase.

The TTC was the largest issuer of debt in the Southwest in 2014 with $5.52 billion. That represented a record for the commission.

For reprint and licensing requests for this article, click here.
Transportation industry Texas
MORE FROM BOND BUYER