Texas Department of Transportation

Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)

Agency overview
Formed	1991
Preceding agencies	Texas Highway Department Texas Department of Highways and Public Transportation
Jurisdiction	Texas
Headquarters	125 East 11th Street, Austin, Texas
Agency executive	James Bass, Executive Director
Parent agency	State of Texas
Website	www.txdot.gov

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT, pronounced "tex-dot") is a government agency in the U.S. state of Texas. Though the public face of the agency is generally associated with the construction and maintenance of the state's immense highway system, the agency is also responsible for overseeing aviation,^[1] rail,^[2] and public transportation^[3] systems in the state.

At one time, TxDOT also administered vehicle registration;^[4] but this function transferred to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, a newly created state agency which began operations in November 2009.^[5][6]

The agency has been headquartered in the Dewitt C. Greer Building at 125 East 11th Street in downtown Austin, Texas, since 1933.^[7]

History

The Texas Legislature created the Texas Highway Department in 1971 to administer federal highway construction and maintenance. In 1975, its responsibilities increased when the agency merged with the Texas Mass Transportation Commission, to form the State Department of Highways and Public Transportation.^[8][9]

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.^[10]

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).^[11]

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.^[12]

In 2009, the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles was split off from TxDOT.

Administration

The executive director is currently James Bass.^[13] Previously Bass served as chief financial officer since 2005. He is assisted by one deputy director and four assistant executive directors. The current interim Deputy Executive Director is Marc Williams.^[14] The department is organized into 25 geographical districts, 21 topical divisions, and five offices.

Districts

TxDot districts map

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.

^[15]

Divisions

Offices

^[17]

Publications

The 1956 edition of the Texas Official Travel Map: The Transportation Department has been publishing an official state road map since 1917.

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

• 

  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^[1]

1. ^ Staff (2010-07-09). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 

References

External links

• TXDOT.gov - official website

Texas state agencies Executive Dept. of Agriculture Alcoholic Beverage Commission Animal Health Commission Dept. of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services Attorney General School for the Blind and Visually Impaired Brazos River Authority State Cemetery Comptroller of Public Accounts School for the Deaf Board of Dental Examiners Commission on Environmental Quality Education Agency Employees Retirement System Ethics Commission Facilities Commission Dept. of Family and Protective Services Film Commission Forest Service Office of the Governor Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority Health and Human Services Commission Dept. of State Health Services Higher Education Coordinating Board Historical Commission Dept. of Housing and Community Affairs Dept. of Information Resources Dept. of Insurance Commission on Jail Standards General Land Office Library and Archives Commission Dept. of Licensing and Regulation Lottery Commission Lower Colorado River Authority Dept. of Motor Vehicles Dept. of Parks and Wildlife Preservation Board Dept. of Public Safety Railroad Commission Real Estate Commission Residential Construction Commission Soil and Water Conservation Board State Fair Teacher Retirement System Texas A&M University System Dept. of Transportation Trinity River Authority University of Houston System University of North Texas System University of Texas System Texas State University System Texas Tech University System Workforce Commission Juvenile Justice Department Legislative House of Representatives Senate Judicial Courts of Appeals Court of Criminal Appeals Dept. of Criminal Justice State Bar Supreme Court