June TxDOT Highway Letting Dates

The June Texas Department of Transportation's highway letting is scheduled for June 3 and 4. According to an April 2 report, 71 projects are approved to be let with an estimated total of $570,222,009.

The report also cited that projects could be added, advanced or delayed as deemed necessary.

Roadway Improvements OK'd For Toyota Plant

The future Toyota truck manufacturing plant in San Antonio moved closer to reality in late March as state transportation officials approved funding roadway improvements for the planned facility.

The Texas Transportation Commission authorized funding at its monthly meeting for construction of roadway improvement projects on Interstate Loop 410 and Loop 1604.

As part of the $21 million plan, a two-mile segment of Loop 410 will be reconstructed and widened between State Highway 16 and Union Pacific Railroad. Loop 1604 will also be reconstructed and widened for nearly 19 miles between IH 35 and IH 37.

The funding is part of a roadway plan that state and local officials put together to help attract Toyota to Texas.

TxDOT has been working with local officials since last October to expedite needed roadway improvements in southern Bexar County, the area in which Toyota expressed an interest initially.

"Today's action is a step toward furthering economic development in Texas," said John W. Johnson, state transportation commissioner. "We want to do our part to assist the state by increasing economic vitality."

Earlier this year, the commission approved $17.6 million for a partnership with Bexar County to widen Zarzamora, Applewhite and Watson roads to handle increased traffic in the area as a result of the plant.

Toyota's decision to locate in the San Antonio area is expected to add $2.4 billion to the Texas economy over the next decade. The plant will initially employ 2,000 people and generate a $100 million annual payroll. The plant also will have a ripple effect throughout the state, creating an estimated 5,300 additional spin-off jobs.

TxDOT Says Turnpike Project Still On Schedule

The first phase of the Central Texas Turnpike Project remains on schedule to open by December 2007, according to a recent report from the Texas Department of Transportation.

Construction on the State Highway 45 North/Loop 1 interchange is currently under way along with right-of-way acquisition, utility relocation and design for the northern 49 miles of State Highway 130.

Current activities on SH 130 include archeological surveys, site location for wetland mitigation, right-of-way acquisition and completion of design plans.

Using the state's first exclusive development agreement, construction on SH 130 is expected to begin this summer along the northern half of the along the 49-mile segment.

The most recent review of the CTTP estimates current total cost to be approximately $2.7 billion, slightly below the estimated cost in August 2002.

Airports, Managers Receive Top Honors

Several municipal airports and personnel were honored recently at the 21st annual Texas Aviation Conference held in Austin and sponsored by the Texas Department of Transportation.

The Sulphur Springs Municipal Airport in northeastern Texas was named 2003 Airport of the Year for a number of improvement projects that were completed during the previous 12 months.

Mike Wilson, airport manager of the Brownwood Regional Airport, was selected 2003 General Aviation Airport Manager of the Year. Wilson was recognized for overseeing several improvement and expansion projects at the airport.

The Stinson Municipal Airport in San Antonio was named 2003 reliever airport of the year and its manager Tim O'Krongley was honored as reliever airport manager of the year. Earning honors as the most improved airport for 2003 was the Gillespie County Airport in Fredericksburg.

The conference also honored longtime Texas aviation industry member Emma Browning with a career contribution award.

Jones Field Runway Extension Clears Hurdle

The City of Bonham in Northeast Texas recently cleared a significant hurdle for extension of the runway at Jones Field with the closure of a segment of Farm-to-Market Road 898 adjacent to the airport.

In a joint resolution with Fannin County, the city asked for closure of the road that stands in the way of the planned extension. The municipalities requested the action noting sufficient roads exist to minimize the disruption of local traffic.

More than $145,000 for Jones Field improvements was approved through the Texas Aviation Grant program in May 2002 by the Texas Transportation Commission. In addition to the runway extension, improvements include rehabilitating and marking the runway as well as improving the runway lighting.

Construction is scheduled to begin in Spring 2004.

TxDOT annually provides approximately $60 million in funding for planning, constructing and maintaining community airports with more than 275 community airports in Texas eligible for funding.