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 AUSTIN, TEXAS — The Texas Transportation Commission approved distribution of $3 billion in Proposition 12 bond funding that will address congested highways, rehabilitate bridges, and improve connectivity between the state’s metropolitan areas. The commission’s action will distribute $1.4 billion to the Texas Department of Transportation’s (TxDOT) 25 districts and $600 million to the 25 Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) around the state according to existing formulas; as well as $200 million for statewide highway connectivity improvements; $500 million for bridges; and provide $300 million to begin developing projects to mitigate congestion in the four most congested regions of the state: Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin, and San Antonio.

These funds represent the balance of $5 billion in general obligation bonding authority approved by voters and first authorized by the Texas Legislature in 2007. Construction contracts for the first $2 billion in projects were approved in 2010.

TxDOT worked in partnership with MPOs, cities, counties, and corridor associations to identify and prioritize needs. TxDOT held meetings with stakeholders and conducted public hearings, including the department’s first statewide hearing via video teleconference. Much of this intensive public involvement effort was conducted and completed in just four months.

"The Legislature has chosen to invest some of the state’s limited dollars in transportation infrastructure. We approached this process with a strategy to identify, prioritize, and select projects by working closely with local planning organizations, elected officials, and the public," said John Barton, TxDOT interim executive director. "This will help to address the greatest needs for mobility, rehabilitation, and safety on Texas highways. We intend to deliver impressive results."

As a result of the Commission’s action:
• Interstate 35 connectivity will improve with a $200 million project approved to complete the last final expansion project between San Antonio and Hillsboro in Temple. Additional projects improving I-35 main lanes, bridges, and ramps will also be funded in Austin and San Antonio.

• Dallas’ $818 million Horseshoe Project, replacing bridges crossing the Trinity River on I-30 and I-35E and the connecting roadways converging near downtown Dallas’ Central Business District, will benefit with $551 million in Proposition 12 funds.

• US 290 in Houston will also see main lane and frontage road expansions as a result of this funding.

• In South Texas, funds will be applied to highway improvements to advance the future development of Interstate 69 with projects funded along U.S. 281 and U.S. 77.

• In West Texas, $230 million will improve trade connections on the Ports to Plains corridor with improvements funded on U.S. 87, U.S. 277, and State Highway 349.
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Construction contracts for these Proposition 12-funded projects will move forward in the summers of 2012 and 2013. A complete list of projects selected by MPOs and TxDOT is available at www.txdot.gov.