The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) will host a second series of open-house style public meetings to give citizens yet another opportunity to offer feedback on a long-range plan that provides the agency with a blueprint for the state’s future transportation needs.
TxDOT held the first series of meetings in May.
The agency’s 25 districts will each host a meeting the first two weeks of August. The Brownwood District’s meeting is scheduled from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, August 5, 2010, at TxDOT – Brownwood District Office, 2495 HWY 183 N., Brownwood, TX 76801.
Meeting dates and locations for the agency’s Statewide Long-Range Transportation Plan 2035 are available on the TxDOT website.
The plan addresses future multi-modal transportation needs for Texas, including transit, rail, highways, bicycles and pedestrians. This statewide plan is also the basis for a number of other TxDOT planning efforts such as the Texas Rail Plan, the 2011-2015 Strategic Plan and corridor-related initiatives. In addition, the plan provides direction to make it easier for all of these different efforts to work in coordination. It also assures the state’s goals are consistent with federal priorities and guidelines.
TxDOT spent the last six months analyzing system changes that have taken place in the last 20 years and, based on this information, the agency has forecast anticipated changes for the next 25 years. Citizens will have an opportunity to comment on this analysis at the August meetings.
The meetings are designed to give Texans an informal venue for viewing an informational video and exhibits about the analysis findings, including the results of the transportation questionnaires completed by participants at the first round of meetings in May. Participants may ask questions and provide written comments on the plan which is scheduled to be completed and ready for adoption by the Texas Transportation Commission this fall.
A final public hearing is tentatively scheduled for October 2010 in Austin. Public comments will be accepted for 30 days after the hearing date.
Citizens who cannot attend the meeting may send written comments to Peggy Thurin, P.E., Project Manager, Statewide Long-Range Transportation Plan 2035, 4544 Post Oak Place, #224, Houston, Texas, 77027. Comments may also be made online or by calling the toll-free number 1-888-TX-PLAN (1-888-589-7526).
Persons with special communication or accommodation needs may call 325-646-2591. Requests should be made no later than three days prior to the open-house style public meeting. Every reasonable effort will be made to accommodate the needs.
The Texas Department of Transportation is responsible for maintaining nearly 80,000 miles of road and for supporting aviation, rail and public transportation across the state. TxDOT and its approximately 12,000 employees strive to empower local leaders to solve local transportation problems, and to use new financial tools, including tolling and public-private partnerships, to reduce congestion and pave the way for future economic growth while enhancing safety, improving air quality and preserving the value of the state’s transportation assets.
Find out more at TxDOT’s website.
