Posted on 08/08/2007 7:59:33 AM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
IRVING — Just two months after the state's transportation department got its latest marching orders from the Legislature, a leading state senator said Tuesday the agency is as arrogant as ever.
At a hearing of the Senate Transportation and Homeland Security Committee, Chairman John Carona, R-Dallas, accused Texas Department of Transportation officials of circumventing legislative intent and even refusing to explain what they're up to.
"What does it take to get TxDOT to listen to the will of the legislators?" he said. "It is a core attitude of arrogance that I believe still exists."
Carona made the same complaint last spring during a wild legislative session in which more than half a dozen bills gained traction to reign in the department's toll-road policies.
Surviving a gauntlet of political maneuvering was Senate Bill 792, which shifted some tolling powers to local agencies, limited what contracts can do and stopped leasing of toll roads — though there were many exemptions — pending further study.
Then came surprises from TxDOT officials, who said:
The moratorium on toll leases won't affect any contracts for toll roads or rail lines for the Trans-Texas Corridor route that will parallel Interstate 35, though those projects weren't exempted.
They might be able to get around the toll-lease ban by collecting the tolls themselves and then paying private developers returns based on traffic flows, an arrangement called availability payments.
They plan to move forward with a $2.5 million program to test speed cameras on Texas 6 near College Station and on I-10 in Hudspeth County, despite a law passed this year to prohibit cities from using such cameras.
Carona decided it was time for an update, and called a hearing on the first day of the annual Transportation Summit, which TxDOT boycotted two years ago because of disagreements with Dallas area leaders over where the Trans-Texas Corridor should go.
At the hearing, held at a Westin Hotel, Carona protested that his letters and phone calls to TxDOT about its speed-camera project have been ignored.
"All we're asking for is the courtesy of an explanation," he said.
He cast doubt on TxDOT's hope of using availability payments.
"What I heard was you found another way to get around us," he said.
State senators Robert Nichols, R- Jacksonville, and Florence Shapiro, R-Plano, the only other committee members there, also fired shots.
Nichols, who has served on the Texas Transportation Commission, which oversees TxDOT, said using availability payments would be like the state co-signing private loans.
"I'm not so sure you have the ability to do that," he said.
After Carona noted that he couldn't make TxDOT play nice but he sure could turn up the heat, Shapiro flashed a friendly smile and chimed in: "I think he speaks for most of us."
Speaking for TxDOT, Assistant Director Amadeo Saenz and Transportation Commissioner Fred Underwood emphasized there's a severe shortage of funds, which means toll roads are needed.
"Texas is facing enormous and rapidly increasing transportation needs," Underwood said. "Achieving our goals will require a long-term program of investment in our transportation system by state, local governments and, we believe, by private participants."
Carona said he wasn't directing his attacks at Underwood, saying he's too new on the commission to have caused problems, or Saenz, saying he thinks the world of him.
Trans-Texas Corridor PING!
Cut their funding, they will listen.
“Cut their funding, they will listen.” Yes, but only after they gore every highly visible, urgently needed improvement. These guys always exact a severe price for budget cuts...it’s trench warfare at it’s finest!
It was pretty obvisous at the time that the Perry instigated bill did nothing to effectively limit the DOT. The legislators that claimed that it did are either a bunch of bald faced liars or dumber than a sack of rocks. The original bill, which Perry vetoed, would have accomplished something. The final bill was window dressing.
The same could be said of, and it would make more sense to, cut the funding to the legislature.
This is about the legislature losing power of the purse to TxDot and and the RTAs(mini TxDots).
The Legislature doesn’t meet until ‘09. They can’t cut their funding unless they are in session, and Perry has to call them into special session. Not Likely.
BTTT
bump.
Thanks for the ping!
You’re welcome. :-)
Funny thing though, I’m not sure most of the citizens of Texas are aware.
Anybody know if SH 130 will actually be part of the TTC?
Anybody, anywhere in Texas aware of other big projects related to the TTC?
>Funny thing though, I’m not sure most of the citizens of Texas are aware.
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i lived in austin 2004-05 and i had the same impression.
it appears that txdot, the governor, cintra-zachry, etc want little public knowledge and public involvement.
“it appears that txdot, the governor, cintra-zachry, etc want little public knowledge and public involvement.”
You learn a lot in little time, Grasshopper.
TXDOT is out of control.
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