October 29, 2012
Here's our roundup of Texas Department of Transportation news and events. If you have any questions, comments or just want to know more about something you read here, send a message to AskTxDOT@txdot.gov.
SH 130 Opens
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| Governor Rick Perry and state transportation leaders cut the ribbon on SH 130. |
The final segments of the SH 130 toll road, connecting Austin and San Antonio, are now open and will be free for motorists until Nov. 11. The new segments, which span 41 miles from Mustang Ridge to I-10 in Seguin, represent years of planning and partnering to address congestion on I-35 in and around Austin. Under a comprehensive development agreement between the SH 130 Concession Company and TxDOT, the company has invested nearly $1.4 billion in the roadway and will operate and maintain it for 50 years at no cost to the state.
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Transportation Commission Actions
The Texas Transportation Commission held its regular monthly meeting Oct. 25 and took the following actions:
- Designated the SH 183 Managed Lanes Project, from just west of SH 161 to near I-35E/Trinity Parkway in Dallas County, as a toll project on the state highway system.
- Awarded $2.2 million in state funds to public transportation providers to mitigate the impact of the 2010 census changes.
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Commission's Nov. 15 Meeting Set for Arlington
The Texas Transportation Commission will conduct its November meeting in Arlington, continuing a long tradition of taking the state's business on the road to make it easier for Texans to participate in transportation decision-making.
The meeting will take place at 9 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 15, at the Rangers Ballpark Hall of Fame Theater, 1000 Ballpark Way and is open to the public.
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Passenger Rail Study Under Way
TxDOT recently began a two-year study to examine whether a passenger rail system should be built between Brownsville and Oklahoma City. The study will explore best possible options for the development of passenger trains connecting metropolitan areas such as Dallas/Fort Worth, Austin and San Antonio. The $14 million study is partially funded through a $5.6 million grant from the Federal Railroad Administration's High Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail program. TxDOT is providing a 20 percent match.
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| The "Roads to Freedom" article appeared in the July 2011 issue of Texas Highways. Photo by J. Griffis Smith for Texas Highways. |
Texas Highways Magazine Honored
Texas Highways was honored with five awards at the recent 2012 International Regional Magazine Association conference in Scottsdale, Ariz. The official travel magazine of Texas won a gold in the Culture Feature category for "Roads to Freedom," a story on East Texas Freedom Colonies; a silver for its companion website, www.texashighways.com; and a bronze in the Historical Feature category for "Retracing the Goodnight-Loving Trail," a story about the legendary cattle trail. Follow the magazine on Twitter and Facebook.
Learn how to get a free trial issue »
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Left Lane for Passing Only Signs Going Up
TxDOT is installing approximately 3,400 new "Left Lane for Passing Only" signs on all highways with a speed limit of 75 mph or higher. State law requires the department to post these signs on highways where slower traffic is asked to stay in another lane. All new signs are expected to be installed by the summer of 2013.
“Reminding the public that slower moving vehicles should use right lanes and that passing vehicles use left lanes will help improve safety on our highways,” said TxDOT’s Traffic Operations Division Director Carol Rawson.
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Know When to Pass
Football game days are among the heaviest days for alcohol consumption. TxDOT encourages fans to enjoy the big games but to also be responsible when it comes to game-day drinking and Know When to Pass. Always designate a sober driver if you plan on drinking, and if you are impaired, do not drive — call a taxi, use mass transit, contact the community safe ride program or call a sober friend or family member to get you home safely or simply stay where you are.
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De La Rosa Retiring
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| Agustin (Gus) De La Rosa |
TxDOT International Relations Section (IR) Director Agustin (Gus) De La Rosa has announced his retirement, effective Nov. 30. De La Rosa began his TxDOT career in 1994 as director of field operations with the Automobile Theft Prevention Authority and became director of the program in 1998. In 2001, he was named IR director, serving as the department's primary liaison for international activities to the governor's and secretary of state's offices, the U.S./Mexico Borders and Bridges Group and the U.S./Mexico Binational Border Joint Working Committee on Border Transportation and Programming. A retired U.S. Army major, he earned the Meritorious Service Medal and the Army Commendation Medal.
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2013 Texas Transportation Forum Set for Austin
Registration is now open for the 8th Annual Texas Transportation Forum, set for Feb. 17-19, 2013 at the Hilton Austin. The annual event assembles local, regional and state leaders with national experts to discuss timely transportation issues critical to the safety and efficient movement of people and goods across the state.
Engineers attending the Forum can earn professional development hours. Find out more here. Reserve your hotel room and register online now. Register by Dec. 14 and receive a discounted registration rate. We hope to see you in Austin in 2013!
Register now »
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I-35 Travel Information Survey
If you travel the nearly 100 miles of I-35 in Central Texas currently under construction, we'd like to hear from you. The design process for the I-35 expansion included input from citizen planners to help guide its design and construction. However, we still need your help to ensure that we're providing the travel information you need. This survey is being conducted by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute on behalf of TxDOT.
Read more about the I-35 project »
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TxDOT Podcast: Legend of the Highway Man
The weekly TxDOT Podcast keeps you updated on the latest transportation news and issues, and new episodes are published every Friday on the TxDOT website, www.txdot.gov.
In this week's episode, we talk with author Ginger Strand about her new book, "Killer on the Road: Violence and the American Interstate," which details the legend of the highway man, a psychopathic killer who roams the nation's highways and byways. Just in time for Halloween, Strand talks about the affect our national highway system has had on our collective psyche. Episodes are also available on iTunes.
Listen to Podcast »
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