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Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)

Agency overview
Formed	1991
Preceding agencies	Texas Highway Department Texas Department of Highways and Public Transportation
Jurisdiction	Texas
Headquarters	Austin, Texas
Agency executive	Marc D. Willams, Executive Director
Website	txdot.gov

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT /ˈtɛks.dɒt/) is a Texas state government agency responsible for construction and maintenance of the state's immense state highway system and the support of the state's maritime, aviation, rail, and public transportation systems. TxDOT previously administered vehicle registration prior to the creation of the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles in November 2009.

The agency has been headquartered in the Dewitt C. Greer Building in Austin since 1933.

History

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The Texas Legislature created the Texas Highway Department in 1916 to administer federal highway construction and maintenance. In 1975, its responsibilities increased when the agency merged with the Texas Mass Transportation Commission, resulting in the formation of the State Department of Highways and Public Transportation.

In 1986, the department started using "Don't Mess with Texas" as its slogan to reduce littering on Texas roadways, as part of a statewide advertising campaign. The phrase was prominently shown on road signs on major highways, as well as in television, radio, and print advertisements. The slogan is still in use and remains very popular.

In 1991, the Legislature combined the State Department of Highways and Public Transportation, the Department of Aviation, and the Texas Motor Vehicle Commission to create the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT).

In 1997, the pre-existing Texas Turnpike Authority (TTA) was divided into two successor agencies: the North Texas Tollway Authority took responsibility for TTA assets in four North Texas counties, while the Turnpike Authority Division of Texas DOT was given jurisdiction over toll facilities in the rest of the state.

In 2005, as a result of House Bill 2702 the rail oversight functions of the Texas Railroad Commission were transferred to TxDOT.

In 2009, the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles was created by the state legislature, taking over some functions from TxDOT.

In 2016, the Texas A&M University Press published MILES and MILES of TEXAS; 100 Years of the Texas Highway Department.

Administration

TxDOT has approximately 12,000 employees. Marc Williams has served as its executive director since 2021. Williams had served as deputy executive director since 2015. He is assisted by one deputy director, Brandye Hendrickson. The department is organized into 25 geographical districts and 34 divisions.

Districts

TxDOT is one of the state's largest departments in terms of the number of subordinate offices – it maintains 25 geographical districts throughout the state. The large number of departments is needed due to the large size of the state, the widely varying climate and soil conditions affecting public roads, and the differing needs of the local populace (urban vs. suburban vs. rural).

In 2010, TxDOT was reorganized into four regions, North, South, East, and West. The regions are designated as Regional Support Centers. The number of districts remained the same. Each district, managed by a district engineer, is responsible for the design, location, construction, and maintenance of its area transportation systems. Local field offices within districts are known as area offices, and many districts also have separate maintenance offices, usually on a county-by-county basis. Functional divisions and offices headquartered in Austin provide administrative and technical support to the districts.

Divisions

• Aviation
• Bridge
• Civil Rights
• Communications
• Compliance
• Construction
• Contracts and Purchasing
• Design
• Environmental Affairs
• Financial Management
• Fleet Operations
• General Counsel
• General Services
• Government Affairs
• Human Resources
• Information Technology
• Internal Audit
• Maintenance
• Maritime
• Occupational Safety
• Professional Engineering Procurement Services
• Project Finance and Debt Management
• Public Transportation
• Rail
• Real Estate Management and Development
• Research and Technology Implementation
• Right of Way
• Strategic Contract Management
• Strategic Planning
• Support Services
• Toll Operations
• Traffic Operations
• Transportation Planning and Programming
• Travel Information

Publications

Every month, TxDOT publishes Texas Highways, a magazine aimed at showcasing various aspects of the state, often by providing interesting travel information on a specific stretch of highway (or highways) in the state. TxDOT also publishes the annual Texas Travel Guide, which offers points of interests for all regions of Texas.

Horizon is a quarterly journal focusing on transportation policy issues and financing in particular.

Gallery

• TxDOT Austin District office
• One building of the headquarters of TxDOT's Houston district
• One building of the headquarters of TxDOT's Houston district
• Dewitt C. Greer Building, the headquarters of the Texas Department of Transportation in Austin, is a National Registered Historic Place

See also

• Texas portal
• Transportation portal

References

1. "81st Texas Legislature, Regular Session, House Bill 3097, Chapter 933". Texas Legislature Online. June 19, 2009. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
2. "Contact Us". Texas Department of Transportation.
3. Texas Mass Transportation Commission from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
4. Texas Highway Department. "An Inventory of Highway Department Records at the Texas State Archives, 1920s–1930s, 1962–1975". Texas Archival Resources Online. Archived from the original on March 29, 2020.
5. Snyder, J. F. (1987). "History of the Texas Highway Department in Hidalgo County, 1922 to 1968" (PDF). State Department of Highways and Public Transportation. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
6. "Roads, transport agency set up". Austin American Statesman. August 24, 1975. ProQuest 1500155218. (subscription required)
7. "Don't Mess with Texas: The Campaign".
8. Huddelston, John D. (June 15, 2010). "Texas Department of Transportation". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved October 10, 2012.
9. Spock, Linda M. & Liff, Sally Diane (1998). Tolling Practices for Highway Facilities. Transportation Research Board. p. 12. ISBN 978-0-309-06816-1 – via Google Books.
10. "Rail Division". Retrieved February 15, 2023.
11. "About Us". Texas Department of Motor Vehicles. Retrieved July 13, 2016.
12. Dawson, Carol & Polson, Roger Allen (2016). Miles and Miles of Texas. Texas A&M University Press. p. 497. ISBN 9781623494568.
13. "Texas Transportation Commission Names Marc Williams As New TxDOT Executive Director". Texas Department of Transportation. May 26, 2021. Archived from the original on June 1, 2021.
14. "TxDOT Names Brandye Hendrickson As New Deputy Executive Director". Texas Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on March 7, 2022.
15. ^ "Divisions". Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved October 14, 2014.
16. "District and county maps".
17. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.

External links

• Official website

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• State agencies of Texas
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• 1991 establishments in Texas