The 26th District of Texas is among the fastest growing areas in the nation. This growth demands innovative expansion of our transportation infrastructure, and the dedication of your legislative representatives.

Over the past four years I have committed myself to bringing the transportation issues concerning north Texas to the attention of my colleagues in Congress. For the past three years I have hosted the Annual 26th Congressional District/TXDOT Transportation Summit at the University of North Texas, where local, state and federal transportation experts and elected officials have met to discuss and develop ideas on how to improve transportation within north Texas. Among the principle areas of focus at the summit were the improvements to be made on Interstate Highway 35 and State Highway 183, and these discussions directly led to increased federal assistance for several of north Texas’ major thoroughfares.

With the recent passage of H.R. 3, Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (P.L. 109-59), more Texas tax dollars from the federal gasoline tax will start returning to Texas for the use on our own highway projects. This legislation also provides states with additional flexibility on project bid and development processes, which will allow many of the state highway projects to be built more quickly and efficiently.

During my time in Congress, I also have supported the development of mass transit systems throughout the metroplex area, which will provide north Texans with cost effective alternatives to traditional modes of transportation. Many north Texas communities will soon begin seeing the construction of light rail lines, which within a decade will allow thousands of North Texans to make their daily commute without the headache of congested highways.