On Thursday, September 1, 2011, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) will host a public meeting in each of its 25 districts throughout the state to provide information and solicit input from the public regarding the planning and funding of a variety of transportation projects. The discussions will center on recommended revisions to the 2012 Unified Transportation Program (UTP) and the 2011-2014 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). The plan revisions will include fund transfer requests and Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 carryover balances. They will also address the reconciliation of Category 5 and 7 funds, and the distribution of Proposition 12 funds.

The meetings will be held from 5:00 – 6:30 p.m. (CST) on Thursday, September 1, 2011.

Beginning promptly at 5:30 p.m.

The following link http://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot-info/fin/utp/2012_revision/locations.pdf and attachment provide address information to each of the twenty-five meeting sites.

Persons with special communication or accommodation needs may call (512) 486-5044 for assistance. Requests should be made no later than three days prior to the meeting. Every reasonable effort will be made to accommodate needs.

Further Information

Unified Transportation Program - Revisions:

The UTP is a comprehensive 10-year statewide plan for the development and construction of transportation projects. The Texas Transportation Commission approved the 2012 UTP in May 2011. The September 1 meetings will include discussions regarding the revision of the UTP to include the addition of four metropolitan corridor projects in the El Paso District, tier-funded projects not previously identified, and language to allow for greater funding flexibility. For additional information regarding the UTP, please go to http://www.txdot.gov/public_involvement/utp.htm or call the toll-free information line at (800) 687-8108. Written comments may be submitted on the UTP website at: http://www.txdot.gov, using search engine keyword: 2012 UTP; by email at: FIN_UTP@txdot.gov; or by mail to: TxDOT Finance Division UTP, 150 E. Riverside Drive, Austin, Texas, 78704. Public comments will be received until September 26, 2011.

Statewide Transportation Improvement Program - Revisions

FY 2011 Carryovers:

At the end of each fiscal year, unused State Highway Funds from TxDOT districts and applicable division-managed programs are reviewed for carryover into the next fiscal year. The public will be given an opportunity to review and comment on the carryover totals. The final approved amounts will be applied to the FY 2012 UTP allocations.

Category 5 and Category 7 Reconciliation:

Category 5 funds Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality improvement projects in non-attainment areas throughout the state. Category 7 is funding for the eight Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO) serving populations greater than 200,000. The current reconciliation effort will allow the department and the affected MPOs to develop an agreed upon plan for the distribution of approximately $200M in Category 5 and 7 funds. The effort includes public review and comment on the agreed upon plan.

Proposition 12 Distribution:

The specified funding amounts and categories are:

·$1.4 billion to be distributed to the 25 TxDOT districts for rehabilitation and safety projects;

•600 million for urban and metropolitan mobility projects to be selected by 25 MPOs in the state;

•$500 million to replace or rehabilitate eight bridges, as specified in legislation;

•$300 million to be sub-allocated to the four largest MPOs in the state - Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio - for the development of future mobility projects; and

•$200 million for rural connectivity projects to be allocated by the Transportation Commission.

The Texas Transportation Commission is expected to approve these distributions at its September 2011 meeting. Districts and MPOs are working with local stakeholders to identify, prioritize and select projects during the months of August through October for consideration by the Commission.

Proposition 12 was approved by voters in 2007 for the issuance of $5B in general obligation debt to be used to improve Texas highways. The first issuance of $2B occurred in 2010. The second issuance, totaling $3B, is scheduled to occur over the course of the upcoming biennium (2012-2013).The STIP is a mechanism used by TxDOT and the Federal Highway Administration to fund projects for the next four years. The STIP includes all federally funded projects. The September 1 public meetings pertain specifically to FY 2011 August Quarterly STIP revisions that have gone through local project selection and public involvement processes. The FY 2011 STIP Amendment for August 2011 may be viewed online at http://www.txdot.gov/business/governments/stips.htm. Interested parties may also visit any TxDOT District Office prior to the meeting. Locations of these offices can be found at: http://www.dot.state.tx.us/local_information/. Written comments may be submitted to Lori Morel, 118 E. Riverside Drive, Austin, Texas 78704. Written comments must be received before September 26, 2011., TxDOT staff will conduct a brief presentation on the purpose and revisions of the 2012 UTP. Additional information will be available for public viewing and TxDOT representatives will be on-hand to discuss the development process and answer questions. Forms will be provided in order to receive written comments. All interested parties are encouraged to attend.