Texas panel recommends transportation overhaul

Jun. 04, 2008

By GORDON DICKSON, Star-Telegram Staff Writer

A state panel on Tuesday recommended replacing the Texas Department of Transportation's five commissioners with a transportation czar who would oversee a complete makeover of highway finances, planning and toll road policies.

"Tweaking the status quo is simply not enough," the Sunset Advisory Commission wrote in a 146-page report, citing broken trust between the department, lawmakers and the public. "Sunset staff found that this atmosphere of distrust permeated most of TxDot's actions and determined that it could not be an effective state transportation agency if trust and confidence were not restored."

The findings will be discussed during a July 15 hearing in Austin. The matter will come before the Legislature when the next session begins in January.

Recommendations

Abolish the five-member Texas Transportation Commission and replace it with a single transportation commissioner appointed by the governor.

Place the department in a four-year conservatorship, during which the commissioner would report to the Legislature. Require another sunset review in four years, instead of the usual 12 years.

Form a committee of legislators who would ensure that the department doesn't exceed its authority.

Require the department to redevelop and regularly update the Statewide Transportation Plan, so Texans may better understand long-term goals for reducing gridlock.

Develop a public involvement policy that encourages Texans to voice opinions about transportation policy.

Do away with the executive director position. Allow the commissioner to pick a leader, who would no longer have to be an engineer.

Improve www.txdot.gov and make it easier for Texans to go online and track projects.

Restrict the department's ability to hire the Texas Transportation Institute at Texas A&M for research projects. Funding for research would instead come directly from the Legislature.

Require that commission appointments occur during legislative sessions, to ensure a timely confirmation hearing.

What they say

"Significant changes to TxDOT must occur from top to bottom before our citizens can once again trust the department and its policies." -- State Sen. Kim Brimer, R-Fort Worth, a sunset commission member.

"If the Legislature through their process thinks the state's transportation needs can be better served by one person than five, I think we'd be fine with that. But right now the governor has a tremendous amount of confidence in the commissioners." -- Allison Castle, spokeswoman for Gov. Rick Perry.

"I think you disenfranchise people when you go to that kind of a central government." -- Texas Transportation Commission member Ted Houghton of El Paso.