May TxDOT Highway Letting Dates

The Texas Department of Transportation has scheduled its next highway letting for May 10 and 11. Seventy-nine projects are approved to be let with an estimated total of $357,475,922.

A TxDOT report said projects may be added, advanced or delayed as deemed necessary.

Austin Mayor Announces Green-Power Transportation Resolution

City leaders want Austin to step into a national leadership role in the development of a green-power transportation system.

Houston Mayor Bill White cuts the ribbon during the inauguration ceremony for the Federal Inspection Services Building at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston. From left: Denis Simonneau, dean of the Houston Consular Corps; Cynthia Buggage, district director for Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee; Richard M. Vacar, director of aviation for the Houston Airport System; Larry Kellner, chairman and CEO of Continental Airlines; Carol Mims Galloway, Houston City Council member; Robert S. Trotter, senior executive U.S. Customs and Border Protection; and Luis Del Rio of Aeromexico Airlines.

Mayor Will Wynn recently announced that he would introduce a resolution to the city council to commit the city of Austin to a leadership role in the development of a green-power transportation system. The resolution follows through on previous council action that initiated research on the viability of linking Austin's transportation and electric utility infrastructure through the use of "plug-in" hybrid vehicles that can be charged overnight and refueled at gas stations. The council action will coincide with the delivery of the staff report on the feasibility of combining the electric utility and transportation sectors.

"By providing incentives and employing the bully pulpit of city hall, we can set the course for Austin to be a leader in the development and acceptance of gas-optional vehicles," Wynn said. "Really, the true beauty of this system is the fact that vehicles charged by the electric system will run on alternate energy sources-such as West Texas wind-instead of Middle East oil."

The resolution outlined six actions:

• The creation of incentives for retail consumers and public and private transportation fleets.
• A commitment by the city of Austin to place fleet orders for plug-in hybrids and to encourage other local government agencies to do the same.
• A request to the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce to become an advocate for plug-in hybrids as an integral part of business fleets.
• A request to the environmental community of Austin to become active advocates for plug-in hybrids.
• A commitment by the city of Austin to support local, state and federal policies that will promote plug-in hybrids.
• A commitment by the city of Austin to initiate, by active leadership and outreach, an effort to establish similar programs in the 50 largest cities in the United States.

Bush Airport's FIS Building Unveiled

Houston Mayor Bill White and Aviation Department Director Rick Vacar recently presided over the dedication of the new International Arrivals Building at Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport, home of Federal Inspection Services. Chairman and CEO Larry Kellner of Continental Airlines, which uses Bush Intercontinental as its main hub, and city councilwoman Carol Mims Galloway also helped cut the ribbon for the new facility.

On behalf of the city's Houston Airport System, Parsons Brinckerhoff Inc. headquartered in New York, provided program, design and construction management services for a $440 million International Services Expansion Program at the airport. The program encompassed the new 784,000-sq.-foot IAB facility capable of handling 4,500 passengers per hour, renovations to the existing Terminal D and expansion of the existing elevated automated people mover system from Terminal C to the International Arrivals Building. Additional project elements included a 2,500-vehicle parking garage, roadway and utility improvements.

Clark/Mission, a joint venture of Clark Construction Group-Texas LP and Mission Constructors Inc. of Houston, served as the project's general contractor. Walter P. Moore of Houston served as the structural engineer.

URS to Prepare EIS and Schematic for Corpus Christi Bridge

The URS Corp., headquartered in San Francisco, has been authorized by TxDOT to prepare the environmental impact statement for the $300 million replacement of the Harbor Bridge (U.S. 181) in Corpus Christi. URS, which already completed a feasibility study, also will develop the schematic and conduct the public involvement program.

Among the key features of the replacement bridge will be an increased span length and vertical clearance to accommodate future port needs. Since the existing structure has served as an icon for the city for many years, special attention will be paid to the visual development of the new structure during the day as well as at night.

In addition to the replacement of the existing bridge, the project also involves the preliminary design of a five-level interchange on the south side of the ship channel crossing and a major interchange on the north side. A cable-supported structure is being considered for the new bridge.

Granite Awarded $131.1 Million Lubbock Highway Project

Granite Construction Co., headquartered in Watsonville, Calif., was recently awarded a $131.1 million highway reconstruction project by TxDOT in Lubbock.

The project will upgrade a 4.9-mi. portion of U.S. 82 to a limited access freeway facility (East-West Freeway). The project includes construction of frontage roads, mainlanes and cross street overpasses.

The project is the third of the East-West Freeway construction projects to be awarded to Granite in Lubbock. Work on the project began in March with completion estimated for fall 2008.