The Texas Legislature voted Saturday to ask the state’s voters in November to approve a plan to boost annual transportation funding by billions of dollars.
Texas Department Of Transportation
House, Senate Leaders Confirm Transportation Funding Deal
House and Senate leaders have come to an agreement on a deal to significantly boost the Texas Department of Transportation’s funding.
Contracting Experiment Drawing Mixed Reviews
After four years of trying out a new way of awarding state contracts known as design-build, lawmakers aren’t sure taxpayers get a better deal, and Texas businesses say they’re being muscled out of jobs by larger, out-of-state companies.
Limited Contracting Fixes Moving Forward
Amid a series of scandals, most lawmakers say they want to reform the way Texas hands out billions in state contracts. Discussion has narrowed to a handful of bills that some warn are merely first steps.
House Approves Use of Sales Tax for Highways
The Texas House gave initial approval Thursday to a major boost in transportation funding from sales taxes, setting the stage for a showdown with the Senate over the best way to pay for Texas roads.
Video: Nichols and Pickett on Tolls
At our 4/7 conversation, state Sen. Robert Nichols, R-Jacksonville, and state Rep. Joe Pickett, D-El Paso — the chairmen, respectively, of the Senate and House Transportation Committees — discussed the state’s reliance on toll roads.
Video: A Conversation With Nichols and Pickett
Full video of my 4/7 conversation with state Sen. Robert Nichols, R-Jacksonville, and state Rep. Joe Pickett, D-El Paso — the chairmen, respectively, of the Senate and House Transportation Committees.
Details Murky on State’s Largest Contracts
The Tribune asked more than 20 state agencies for basic information on their largest contracts with private vendors. Most knew, but the embattled health commission, which believes it has $60 billion or so in contracts, couldn’t provide key details.
GOP Lawmakers Call for End to Toll Roads at Capitol Rally
Supporters at a Texas Capitol rally on Monday voiced support for a variety of bills filed aimed at either stopping new toll road projects or undoing the state’s current tolling system entirely.
In Legislature, Toll Roads Facing Strong Opposition
Anti-toll sentiment at the Capitol is at its highest level in at least a decade as both Republicans and Democrats have proposed measures that would either tap the brakes on new toll road projects, or undo the state’s current tolling system entirely.



