Transportation News, Volume 27, Number 5, January 2002 Page: 2
This periodical is part of the collection entitled: Texas State Publications and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
2 lansportatilon News
Straight Talk4
'
Let's keep focused on what's before us
A year ago, who could have thought that
January 2002 would have arrived so quickly?
Whew!
I know people are saying the same thing,
because many - TxDOT folks among them
- have told me how quickly time is flying
by in their lives.
Wouldn't it be nicer, instead, if they would
tell us how easily (that means quickly) they
were able to drive to work, to school, to
church, or to the grocery store?
As nice as that may be, now is not a time
to recount the challenges of the past. And
let's not get too far ahead of ourselves by
looking very far into the future. Instead, let's
look to the challenges right in front of us.
The challenge is mobility. The problem is
congestion. The challenge is bringing new
transportation systems into operation. The
problem is finding ways to pay for those sys-
tems. The challenge is finding ways to make
our air cleaner. The problem is that some of
our state's air has been polluted for too long.
The challenge is making our highways safer
for motorists. The problem is that too many
people die in highway accidents. The chal-
lenge is providing safe, effective, and efficient
movement of people and goods. The problem
is providing safe, effective, and efficient
movement of people and goods.
TxDOT made a great impression with
delegates to the annual meeting of the
American Association of State Highway andTransportation Officials
(AASHTO) in late
November and early last
month.v
TxDOT has been a
member of this impor-
tant association for
decades. We got together
in Fort Worth with our
friends from around the
nation and had ourselves Mike Behens
a great time because of
the energy of TxDOT people who helped
bring the conference to reality.
It was my pleasure to welcome some 1,400
delegates to the conference and to Texas. By all
accounts, everyone had a great time. Thanks to
everyone who helped to make it happen.
Some of the visitors got to see the inaugu-
ral run of the Trinity Railroad Express, the
country's newest commuter rail system. It's
been seven decades since Fort Worth and
Dallas have been joined by commuter rail.
It's a great transportation alternative for
motorists who want to ease highway conges-
tion between the two cities.
Others who attended learned about the
special efforts being undertaken to enhance
transportation security in the face of the ter-
rorist threat that aims to attack our nation.
Without giving away secrets, let's just say we
are alert and that we are prepared to respond
to any challenges that would limit how we
provide transportation systems for Texas.Then there were those at the conference
who heard about the ins and outs of reautho-
rization of federal transportation funding.
Such funding is the lifeblood of many of our
transportation systems. The topic may sound
boring, but it is vital for anyone who worries
about where the money will come from.
You might say the AASHTO conference
had a bit of something for everyone.
In light of national events, we're aware
that several TxDOT people have been called
to military duty. Several more are on standby.
A few who were called up have since been
able to return to work, pending the course of
our nation's response to terrorism. I'm told
that TxDOT has 135 employees subject to
being called to active military service. We are
mindful of the special demands placed on
these TxDOT people. They should know
they have our encouragement and support.
We know they will respond to a call for ser-
vice to the nation, even as they serve the
people of Texas - that's with purpose, with
pride, and with professionalism.
My hope is that the year ahead for you
and your families will be health-filled, chal-
lenge-filled (but not too much), solution-
filled, and happiness-filled. May we all have
a Happy New Year. *
Mike Behrens is executive director of the Texas
Department of Transportation'Database on flood-damaged vehicles available on Internet
AUSTIN - Floodwaters from Tropical
Storm Allison that hit last June long ago
receded from Southeast Texas. But flood-
damaged vehicles remain - and they have
spread well beyond Texas.
Many flood-damaged vehicles are being
purchased in Texas and then sent out of state
for resale. Texas law requires the titles of flood-
ed vehicles to be marked as such. Sometimes,
however, that disclosure is not retained when a
new title is issued in another state.
TxDOT recently compiled a list of nearly30,000 vehicles branded as flood-damaged.
The list is available on TxDOT's website
(www.dot.state.tx.us). Users may click the
"Vehicles" link and then select "Flood
Damage Database." This site provides a list-
ing to help determine if a vehicle was titled
as "flood damaged."
The database can be searched by model
year, make of vehicle, and vehicle identifica-
tion number.
Further, insurance records indicate more
than 45,000 claims have been settled inSoutheast Texas, while only about 30,000 sal-
vage documents have been issued.
Consumers who bought a vehicle with a
"flood damaged" title, and if that information
was not disclosed before the purchase, may
contact the attorney general's office in the
state of purchase.
People who need information about vehi-
cle titles and registration in Texas should
check with their county tax assessor-collector.
Added information is available through the
TxDOT help line at (512) 465-7611.*Transportation News is published for employees and retirees of the Texas Department of Transportation.
views of TxDOT. Published by the Public Information Office, 125 E. 11th, Austin, TX 78701-2483.Contents do not necessarily reflect the official
Circulation: 18,369Pmu
Randall Dillard
Eourn Ennwa
Tim Cunningham
QRAPM oE m
Buddy Allison
@ Recycled
PaperSmw SwRm
Mark Cross
Gabriela Garcia
Al Glasscock
Wendy Hopper
Amanda Martinez
Quevarra Moten
Kerry Neely
Bill Powell
Monica Reyes-Guerrero
Diana Ward
Cheryl Williams
Ann ZeeckGot news?
Did your district newsletter run a story you think other TxDOT employees would enjoy reading? Do
you know of a co-worker with an interesting hobby? We want your story ideas. To contribute, con-
tact your district public information officer. He or she can pass it along to us. Or you can contact
Editor Tim Cunningham by phone at (512) 463-8955.
Submission info
District employees should discuss potential submissions with their public information officer.
Submissions must be received by the second Friday of the month preceding publication.
Copy: send as e-mail attachment to TCUNNIN as Microsoft Word document (.doc) files.
Photos: send electronically in high resolution .jpeg or .tif format.Copies of this publication have been deposited with the Texas State Library in compliance with the State Depository Law.
02002 by Texas Department of Transportation; all rights reserved.Trouble getting Transportation News?
Call (512) 463.8588I
I
2
fl
January 2002
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Periodical.
Texas. Department of Transportation. Transportation News, Volume 27, Number 5, January 2002, periodical, January 2002; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth576339/m1/2/: accessed April 20, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.