DEPARTMENT: Transportation & Capital Improvements
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Razi Hosseini, P.E., R.P.L.S.
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT: Texas Department of Transportation Road to Zero Funding Program
SUMMARY:
A briefing on the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Road to Zero goal of eliminating traffic deaths statewide by 2050, with a midpoint goal of reducing deaths by half by 2035.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is responsible for maintaining over 80,000 centerline miles of road and over 54,000 bridges, and for supporting aviation, rail, public transportation, maritime, and tourism across the state. TxDOT’s mission statement is, “Connecting You With Texas,” which reflects the agency’s goal of safely and efficiently connecting people and places in every part of the state.
The Traffic Safety Division of the Texas Department of Transportation, working in conjunction with the Center for Transportation Safety at the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, led process to create the Texas Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP). Hundreds of safety stakeholders from across the State, representing local, regional and state agencies, law enforcement, industry and advocates, engineers, clinicians, and educators actively participated in the process. The SHSP, last developed for 2017 through 2022, strives for zero traffic deaths. The SHSP focused on selected issues with the greatest promise of success in the least amount of time.
ISSUE:
The last day without a death on a Texas road was Nov. 7, 2000. On May 30, 2019, TxDOT, as governed by the five-member Texas Transportation Commission and an Executive Director, approved Minute Order 115481 directing TxDOT to work toward the goal of reducing the number of deaths on Texas roadways by half by the year 2035 (to about 1,800) and to zero by the year 2050. It also acknowledged a majority of motor vehicle crashes can be prevented, thereby reducing fatalities. Finally, it directed TxDOT divisions and districts to develop and implement strategies to achieve this goal.
To help achieve the Road to Zero goal, $600 million was allocated by the Texas Transportation Commission over Fiscal Years 2020 and 2021. Preliminarily, funds will be split among the following categories (and between the 25 TxDOT Districts):
• 65% of the total amount ($390 million) is dedicated to reduce roadway departure crashes, which represent 41% of the serious injury and fatal crashes in Texas last year
• 10% of the total amount ($60 million) is dedicated to pedestrian improvements, which represent 21% of the serious injury and fatal crashes in Texas
• The remainder of the funds will consist of intersection improvement projects as well as technology upgrades
• Each of TxDOT’s 25 Districts will be required to develop a four year safety plan to determine how the funds will be spent within their District
• Note - Allocations to each TxDOT District has not been determined yet.
In October 2019, TxDOT released $75 million as part of the initial roll-out of the Road to Zero funds for safety projects that can start before August 2020 (ready to bid). Funds can only be used on-system (TxDOT operated roadways) and will be spread across all 25 Districts.
ALTERNATIVES:
There are no alternatives to propose as this is a staff briefing only.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this briefing.
RECOMMENDATION:
A briefing will be presented to provide an update on the TxDOT Road to Zero program, subject to possible action by the Committee.