Latest Texas toll road backlash: Lawmakers say they want a transportation czar

 

In the latest toll road backlash, lawmakers say they want to fire Texas Department of Transportation leaders and replace them with a single transportation czar.

 

By GORDON DICKSON

gdickson@star-telegram.com

 

The czar, who would be appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state Senate, would spend the next four years overhauling the agency, which has come under tremendous fire statewide for pursuing development of toll roads -- especially the Trans-Texas Corridor -- and misreporting $1.1 billion in funds that caused a year-long cash flow crisis and shut down many road projects.

"We are desperately trying to restore the trust of the people," said state Rep. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham.

The move to fire the five-member Texas Transportation Commission passed the sunset commission on Tuesday by a 7-5 vote. Lawmakers serving on the sunset commission said they would take their proposed overhaul of the transportation department to the state Legislature during the session that begins next month.

The new czar also would have the option of firing the transportation department's executive director, who traditionally has come from within the department's engineering ranks. The current executive director is Amadeo Saenz.

Among those opposing the creation of a czar position were state Sen. Kim Brimer, R-Fort Worth, and state Rep. Carl Isett, R-Lubbock, who chairs the sunset commission. Isett said he was concerned that hiring a czar wouldn't address the key problem at the transportation department. "My problem is with the culture within this agency, and the way they manipulate their information," Isett said. Isett said taking away power from the current five-member commission "gives all the power to the bureaucrats."

The vote in favor of a transportation czar was one of more than a dozen major changes approved for the transportation department during a daylong sunset hearing in Austin. The sunset commission also agreed to:

• Remove the transportation department's responsibility for vehicle registration, and create a separate department of motor vehicles to handle duties related to the regulation of drivers. The new department would also handle overweight vehicle enforcement and auto theft prevention.

• Create a new legislative committee to work closely with the transportation czar and oversee the inner workings of the Texas Department of Transportation. The committee would ensure the desires of state lawmakers were being met.

• Hire a consulting firm to map out a way for the transportation department to overhaul its management, and win back the confidence of Texans.

 

Despite the sunset commission's recommendations, those who favor doing away with the five-member Texas Transportation Commission in favor of a single commissioner -- or czar -- face an uphill battle in the state Legislature. Many lawmakers -- including state Rep. Vicki Truitt, R-Keller, and many others in the North Texas delegation -- would prefer that the transportation department be governed by a variety of commissioners from diverse backgrounds across the state.

 

It's unclear of the czar would still be required to hold public meetings. Traditionally, transportation commissioners have held monthly meetings in Austin and other cities, to give residents a forum for opposing projects. However, critics have long argued that many road deals are done behind the scenes, and the content of the commission meetings is mostly for show.

 

One of the commissioners, Bill Meadows of Fort Worth, has said he is open-minded about changes at the agency, even if his position is eliminated. Meadows was among the handful of transportation department leaders who attended more than seven hours of sunset commission testimony and deliberation on Tuesday.

 

Sunset hearing

• T

he Sunset Advisory Commission periodically reviews state agencies to ensure they are still necessary and functioning properly.

• In addition to the decisions made Tuesday regarding the Texas Department of Transportation, the sunset commission also deliberated on the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Commission on Fire Protection and Commissions on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education.

More www.sunset.state.tx.us

Comments

[Ken]

What the heck, instead of Czar lets start putting these idiots in jail and then maybe we wont always be looking for baby sitters. When are we taxpayers going to stand up and say enough is enough.
I would guess that come April 15th of 2009 if nobody filed a tax return some heads would turn and see the light

[Kippie]

What's the point? Rick Perry wants an entire system of tollroads just like his buddy, the late Ric Williamson (TxDOT Director). If he gets to appoint the transportation czar, he'll simply appoint another TOLLER. Getting upfront billions from tolling companies and then letting them set their For-Profit rates will be a devastating system when people wake up in a couple of years and realize Texas has sold off all of our highways and roads.

[Bill]

TxDot is a rouge outfit that is totally nor-responsive to tax payer and citizen input/wishes. I don't want another toll road built and the existing one should be made free. There is too much money floating around that buys off the Gov and TxDot Biggies. Get rid of Perry and clean out TxDot.

[Olin Murrell]

No longer living in Texas perhaps may render any comment I have useless, but seeing as how both my son and daughter-in-law work for TxDOT, I'm gonna chime in. Neither of them, nor their co-workers, are much in favor of Governor Goodhair's (less than kind nickname for the "governor") toll road plans. Much like Minnesota, Governor Perry has sold off the administration of those toll roads (many of which were originally built with public funds) to a company from Mexico.

At least it's on the same continent... the republican governor of Minnesota sold his toll road profits to a company from the Middle East.

Ya really believe there's no USA firm capable of, or willing to, administer toll roads at a profit?

But, to put it in the vernacular, this is the government y'all voted for, which begs the age-old warning, "Be careful what you wish for. You just might get it."

[Daniel]

TXDOT; what an incompetent bunch of bureaucrats! Or, is it planned? I agree with some of the opinions about the "tollers" who want to make most all roads into toll roads. They allow traffic problems to persist on some roads so that they can push their "toll road" agenda. When travelers are faced with traffic problems for years in a specific area the travelers will readily accept toll roads. That's their strategy! Like someone previously posted, "jail 'em all!" They've committed crimes against the laws of this state. They deserve disdain not respect.