TxDOT "too big for their britches"

Texas Public Radio reports that members of Texas Congress received a letter from the Texas Department of Transportation demanding that they seek approval of ALL transportation projects with them before obtaining federal funding.

Republican Congressman Ted Poe of Texas:

“They’ve gotten too big for their britches. Obviously, TxDOT is an administrative group and they are to spend the money as we direct that they are to spend it, whether they like it or not. Their responsibility is not to determine projects. Their responsibility is to build bridges and roads and freeways.”

Democratic Congressman Charlie Gonzales:

He thought TxDOT’s letter was strange, and says the agency’s position could hurt the state.

“For TxDOT to basically say ‘don’t send us any federal dollars’ is not truly in the best interests of Texans and our communities…..”

Democratic Congressman Henry Cuellar:

Said he is also upset at TxDOT.

“I understand and respect the Department of Transportation for the position that they’ve taken. But for us to pre-clear everything through them – it’s just not the way things are done,” Cuellar said.

Lawmakers argue that TxDOT officials aren’t elected, so they shouldn’t choose which projects are built. They wrote a letter to TxDOT explaining their concerns. Gonzales says, “I thought it was a very polite letter saying, ‘look, what do you mean by this and it doesn’t make any sense.” “Do you really want us to stop attempting to gain federal dollars for Texas highway dollars when we have every other state in the union fighting for the same dollar?’

TxDOT issued a statement saying the “intent is just to make sure that we can advance transportation projects here in Texas,”

Most lawmakers think their dispute with TxDOT can be worked out before federal transportation dollars are threatened. But almost a month after their letter was sent, they say they have not even received a response.

Source: Texas Public Radio