Tagged: TxDOT

In order to curb the amount of debt owed by the Texas Department of Transportation, Sen. Kevin Eltife, R-Tyler, is proposing the state raise the sales tax by one-half cent.

"Over the past ten years a large part of funding for TxDOT projects has been done by issuing debt. TxDOT has outstanding debt exceeding $12 billion. If we continue down this path it will 2045 before all these bonds are paid off and it will cost the taxpayers about $28 billion including principal and interest," Eltife said.

 The Texas Department of Transportation is revamping the decades-old Don’t mess with Texas Campaign for the new generation. The slogan has become a staple for the lone star state since it was launched 27 years ago, but now TxDOT wants to add some new flare and grab attention.

A Texas Department of Transportation study shows that portions of IH-35 in Bexar County rank 35th out of 100 roads in the state that are the most congested. A portion of IH-35 in Dallas ranks 9th most congested.

Combine that type of congestion with the number of people steadily moving to Texas, and a real transportation nightmare could be in store.

A Texas Department of Transportation conference wouldn’t normally attract much attention. But invite a robot car to your meeting, and everything changes.

Google and its self-driving car were on hand at the Texas Transportation Forum today. The car – which relies on technology like radar and cameras to pilot itself – was the star of a panel on transportation and technology this morning.