AUSTIN -Texans have a new way to stay informed on statewide transportation issues: The Texas Department of Transportation Podcast Program. TxDOT, through its http://www.keeptexasmoving.com/ Web site, is offering a weekly podcast covering a wide variety of statewide transportation-related topics.

The Texas Transportation Commission is looking for interested citizens to form new advisory committees for the major transportation corridors, a move to give more Texans a seat at the table in developing statewide transportation corridors. The advisory committees will assist TxDOT with planning and decision making on statewide initiatives, such as the Trans-Texas Corridor.

AUSTIN - The Texas Department of Transportation today announced selections for the final three members of Executive Director Amadeo Saenz's leadership team. The new Assistant Executive Director for Engineering Operations is John Barton of Beaumont. The newly-formed office of Assistant Executive Director for District Operations will be lead by David Casteel of San Antonio. The newly-formed office of Assistant Executive Director for Innovative Project Development will be lead by Phil Russell of Austin.

AUSTIN - "Ric Williamson was a visionary. As a member and chairman of the Texas Transportation Commission, he brought passion and focus to meeting many of the challenges facing Texas today and for generations to come. The entire TxDOT family will miss his dedication and his leadership. At this time, our thoughts are with his wife, children and grandchildren."

During the next two months, Texans will be able to shape the state's future transportation system during an unprecedented public comment period for Interstate 69. Beginning January 15, the Texas Department of Transportation will hold 11 town hall meetings followed by 46 public hearings beginning on February 4. (See attached list for a complete schedule)

AUSTIN - Advisory committees are being developed to provide public input on where the Trans-Texas Corridor should be located and what it should look like. The committees will enhance public involvement during on-going Trans-Texas Corridor environmental studies and provide guidance on how the corridor can be developed to best serve local communities.

AUSTIN - To help inform the public of the dangers of drinking and driving, a new program is being implemented by the Texas Department of Transportation that will allow friends and family members of DWI victims to purchase memorial signs to be placed near the location of fatal crashes. The program is the result of legislation aimed at reducing the more than 1,670 traffic fatalities in 2006 that involved drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

AUSTIN - Continuing its high priority effort to develop a 650-mile interstate quality highway from south Texas to northeast Texas, state transportation officials are taking a step further in the search for a private sector partner who can best devise a plan to build this critical facility. Today, a formal request for proposals will be issued by the Texas Department of Transportation to two private developer teams for detailed plans on how to finance, design, construct, operate and maintain I-69/TTC.

AUSTIN - State transportation officials are reminding citizens of the opportunity to offer comments on proposed rules for allowing electronic billboards along Texas highways. In August, the Texas Transportation Commission voted to propose the rules that would allow changeable electronic signs to be located only in municipalities or their extraterritorial jurisdiction and the municipality must approve each one. No changeable electronic signs would be allowed in unincorporated areas.

AUSTIN - State transportation officials today approved sending $28.7 million to public transportation providers for FY 2008. The action follows recent work by legislative leaders to restore $17.6 million in state grant funding for small urban and rural transit providers for the FY 2008 - 2009 biennium. "Legislative leaders restored funding for these transit providers to historical levels," said Eric Gleason, TxDOTs director of public transportation.