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AUSTIN – The Texas Transportation Commission has laid the framework for distributing $3 billion in new transportation funds. The strategic plan for the Texas Mobility Fund, which is funded primarily through traffic fines, was approved by the commission at its monthly meeting. That action paves the way for disbursement of the money to bridge the gap between transportation needs and available funding. “Traditional revenue is not sufficient to meet the growing transportation demand in Texas caused by a growing population traveling more miles on already congested roads,” said Mike Behrens, TxDOT executive director. “The Texas Mobility Fund is a new source of financing that we need to stretch as far as we can to reduce congestion and improve safety as quickly as possible.” Six principles guide the plan:► Manage the fund in the most effective way to accelerate needed transportation improvements to reduce congestion, improve safety, expand economic opportunity, and enhance statewide connectivity. ► Implement a multimodal approach including highways, rail, public transportation and other transportation modes to effectively address transportation needs statewide.► Make regional transportation decisions at the local level.► Accelerate previously requested, locally supported projects as identified in TxDOT’s Statewide Mobility Program.► Leverage the fund with toll projects, user fees, other private funds and other revenue sources to stretch limited transportation funds and establish a revenue generating asset to be used to fund future transportation projects in the region and across the state.► Consider public transportation projects, such as transit, light rail or commuter rail, in the effort to improve mobility.► Measure success by how quickly and efficiently a project reduces congestion, improves safety, expands economic opportunity, and enhances statewide connectivity. In other action Thursday, the commission also approved formation of the state’s fourth regional mobility authority. Cameron County requested formation of the RMA to help address transportation issues in the Rio Grande Valley.
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