ST9904-CS 950111Texas Department of Transportation
DEWITI' C. GREER STATE HIGH'~N~ 81.~G. · 125 E I tTH STREET · AUSTIN. TEXAS 78;'01-2.483- ('312) 463-8585
January 11,1995
Honorable Jeff Hoseley
County Judge, Denton County
Courthouse-on-the-Square
110 ~. Hickory
Denton, Texas 76201
Post-It'* brand fax transmittal memo 7671 I #,..aa.. · ,.~
Dear Judge Moseley:
Thank you for your letter of January g, 1995, regarding the proposed SH 121
Bypass.
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is very concerned with our
responsibility to provide transportation rD the citizens of Texas. Our
TraDsportation Co~maission is constantly trying to improve our project selection
procedures to insure rural end urban balance along withe regional balance across
the State of Texas.
In the spirit of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Acc (ISTEA),
TxDOT has continued to strengthen our relationships with the Metropolitan
Planning Organizations (H~Os) to insure that we have local governments, involved
in ~le decision making process. It is very important =o TxDOT chac we provide
an environment that encourages the local decision making process in the
determination of transportation needs for a particular area of Texas.
The Transportation Commission has asked the staff of TxDOT to revisit our Project
Development Plan (FDF) and make recommended chan6es that ~ill streamline ~he
process co insure that thc vita[ transportation projects come to the forefront.
At our January 26, 1995 Transportation Commission Meeting, we will present, for
their proposed adoption, a revised process for our PD?. If the Transportation
Commission adopts the staff proposal, we will begin our 1996 PDP process on
February 1, 1996.
Our tar§et is for the district offices to use the month of Yebruary to select and
input into the Austin headquarters their priorities with updated status (dates
for letaing, estimates, etc.) of each project,
Our Transportation Pla~]ning and Programmin& Division will draft proposed FD~ for
Ehe next 10 years and chis will be discussed with the Commissioners in late
March.
If the process is successful, we will be able, in early April 1996, to §iwe each
An Equ2l Opportunity Employer
Honorable Jeff Eose[e7
-2-
January 11, I99~
of the twenty five districts their program numbers (by category of work) so that
individual Transportation Improvement Flans (TIFs) can'be prepared by the MPOs.
In the summer of 1995, our Statewtde Transportation Improvement Plan ($TIP) can
be presented to the Transportation Commission for their adoption.
As the Dallas and Fort ~orth Districts develop the preliminary and final TIP~,
it is important to TxDOT that we consider projects that can be developed and
delivered in a timely manner in FY 96, FY 97 and ~f 98. It is also critical that
in the development of ~la PDP, and ultimately the TIPs, that we, as an agency,
are aggressive in cleanin§ up our backlog of prior commitments.
We have instructed various units of the department that, as we evolve into the
revised PDP, we limit any updates of the existin~ PDP since any action at this
time could raise expectations only to have them reduced in April.
Uith=his history and proposed future for the project selection process, how does
this effect SH 121 Bypass in Denton County?
It iS our desire to ~un SH 121 Bypass through our proposed proj ecl selection
process outlined above. We in the Austin Headquarters appreciate the facts laid
out on the second page of your letter of January 9. 1995. Ue will continue to
work closely with James Huffman and Wes Heald to insure that TxDOT acts honorably
toward our department's previous commitments. We will strive to continue to keep
projects scheduled in 1996 as indicated in the existtn~ PDP.
It is also necessary to encoura§e Denton County to continue to work cooperatively
with the Dallas-Fort Uorth Area MPO to insure that they include the SH 121 Bypass
project in the TIP. It is imperative that this project be included in all air
conformity analysis.
Finally, TxDOT has been able to develop, promote and deliver an aggressive
Transportation Project Construction Pro,ram for our Dallas and Fort Worth
districts in FY 95. Our Transportation Commission has recognized and funded a
record level of Transportation Projects in the Dallas-Fort Uorth Metroplex this
year. These actions by the Transportation Commission has enabled the department
ko commit to tome vital projects that no longer will stand in llne to compete
with the SH 121 Bypass. This will increase the priority of =his project as we
determine the Cost effectiveness index for the remaining backlog of projects in
the metroplex area, and statewide.
I hope that I have addressed your concerns as to TxDOTs' responsiveness and our
willingness to be good partners with all of Texas. In particula~ with public and
private partnerships that have in past years worked cooperatively with TxDOT: as
is the case with the SH 1~1 Bypass project.
Honorable Jef£ ~osele~
-3-
January 11. 1995
Should you have any questions or require clarification, please contact either
Robert Cuellar, Deputy Executive Director for Transportation Flannin~ and
Development, at (512) 305-9502, or myself.
Wm. G. Burnett, P.E.
Executive Director
cc: Co~missioners Bernsen, Uynne and
CArdenas