Texas

Legislation is moving through the Texas legislature to virtually preclude further private tollroad development in the state. SB17 sponsored by state senator Robert Nichols (Republican) builds on SB792 the 'moratorium' bill of 2007 and is even more hostile to private toll concessions.

Michael Huerta group president of transportation at ACS (Affiliated Computer Systems) is being replaced by Dave Amoriell, from IBM and Lockheed. Lynn Blodgett, ACS president and chief executive officer is quoted: "We are getting an exceptional and distinguished leader in Dave. His considerable experience and vision will allow him and our Transportation Solutions Group to address the complex transportation challenges facing governments around the world.

TxDOT has announced that a Cintra/Meridiam/Dallas police/fireman's pension system team are the preferred investors in a 52 year toll concession to finance, build, operate and toll "The New LBJ" or I-635 Managed Lanes Project, an expansion to 14 travel lanes from 8 of the major east-west expressway across the northern part of Dallas.Operating under the pro

The board of directors of North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA) have approved a public-public toll concession contract for construction and operation of TX161 midway between Dallas and Ft Worth. NTTA will pay TxDOT $458m upfront payment, which covers reimbursement to TxDOT for money spent on civil works on Phases 2 and 3. NTTA will pay for construction of Phase 4 and install toll collection equipment on Phases 2 and 3. (Phase 1 is free frontage roads already open.)

Five years after it opened the Westpark Tollway in Houston has to have major repairs to remedy drainage problems in depressed segments.

An end to cash toll collection on the 183A tollroad northwest of Austin Texas hasn't discouraged motorists, the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority (CTRMA) reports. Traffic and revenue on the 183A is holding up well after two months of cashless open road tolling.

Texas DOT is signing a toll concession with an international group led by Cintra to do about $1.6 billion worth of work rebuild some 20km (13 miles) of old freeway into frontage, free and toll lanes and get planning work and rights to negotiate up to several billion dollars more of the North Tarrant Express project. TxDOT got bids from the Cintra-led Group called NTE Mobility Partners (NTEMP) and from Spain based OHL.

NE Texas RMA, the toll authority in the Tyler area says it's now proceeding with Segment 5 of its Toll 49 road, previously known as Loop 49. This will extend the tollroad east another 4km (2.5 miles) from its present terminus at FM756 to TX110. The extension for which design work is complete is estimated to cost $20m.

In a  further retreat from toll financing Texas Governor Rick Perry says he'll probably go along with a gasoline tax increase if legislators move for one. The past several years Perry has always said that the gasoline/diesel fuel tax is not the solution to the state's transport funding problems and that he'd veto any such move.

Shorn of the prospect of tangible new toll revenues by the populist anti-toll revolt that has captured the state Republican Party, TxDOT has been put on a borrowing binge. Texas Transportation Commission (TTC) has just approved borrowing of $1.5 billion based on no new revenue whatever, just "proposals".