State Agencies Undergo Sunset Review Process – Texas Department Of Transportation
As previously mentioned, there are several key state agencies and programs currently under review by the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission ahead of the 2017 Texas Legislative Session. In last week’s article, I discussed the ongoing Sunset review of the Railroad Commission of Texas, which oversees the state’s energy industries. This week, I would like to outline another agency currently undergoing review by the Sunset Advisory Commission: the Texas Department of Transportation.
As a reminder, the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission is an advisory organization charged with monitoring the performance of over 130 state agencies and programs. The Commission’s membership is made up of five Texas State Senators, five Texas State Representatives, and two members of the public, as appointed by the Lt. Governor and Speaker of the Texas House. Together with Sunset staff, the Sunset Advisory Commission conducts a comprehensive review of each agency or program to determine its effectiveness and efficiency. Each state agency or program generally undergoes a comprehensive review process every 12 years and, on average, 20-30 agencies are evaluated each legislative session.
According to the agency’s website, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) was established in 1917 in order to oversee the state’s transportation systems, including roads and railways. Its mission is to provide safe and reliable transportation solutions for Texas in order to address congestion, create a strong safety system and connect Texas communities. The agency performs four key functions in order to achieve its goals: plan, build and maintain transportation infrastructure; fund transportation projects and operations; provide administrative support for the agency’s operations; and develop, research and implement innovative transportation strategies. The five-member Texas Transportation Commission, with membership appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Texas Senate, oversees the administration of TxDOT together with the agency’s executive director.
The Sunset Advisory Commission’s staff plans to issue its comprehensive report of recommended changes for TxDOT in November 2016. Given the short window of time available to review this report ahead of the 2017 Legislative Session, we can expect much of the discussion relating to TxDOT Sunset to occur after the Legislature convenes in January. Though we will not know what recommendations are included in the Sunset Advisory Commission report until its release, the report will likely include several proposals relating to increasing transparency and overall efficiency. Other proposals may include making changes to how the agency is governed as well as how contracts are awarded – two issues that have generated much discussion in the past.
In addition to previous proposals, the Sunset report will likely address some of the overall challenges of our state’s transportation system. Thanks in part to our state’s robust economy, Texas is experiencing unprecedented population growth. This growth, combined factors like aging infrastructure and inflation, has caused an increase in demand on our state’s transportation system. The Texas Legislature has worked to end the diversion of funds dedicated to TxDOT in previous sessions, and ensuring these new funds are being properly used to meet the needs of the state could be also be a priority in the coming session.
For additional information about the agency, please visit The Department of Transportation. You can find a link to both the agency self-evaluation report by visiting Sunset Advisory Commission by TxDOT as well as reports from previous years prepared by Sunset staff. To learn more on visit the Sunset Advisory Commission and the agencies undergoing the sunset review process.
If you have any questions regarding the Texas Legislature or the Sunset review process, please don’t hesitate to contact either my Capitol or District office. My offices are available at any time to assist with questions, concerns or comments (Capitol Office, 512-463-0672; District Office, 361-949-4603).
– State Representative Todd Hunter, District 32
Rep. Hunter represents Nueces (Part) County. He can be contacted at todd.hunter@house.state.tx.us or at 512-463-0672.
