AUSTIN – Texas Governor-elect Greg Abbott met this morning with the leadership at the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to discuss transportation-related priorities for the upcoming legislative session. TxDOT officials attending the meeting included Executive Director Lieutenant General Joe Weber, Deputy Executive Director John Barton, Chief of Staff Rich McMonagle, Chief Financial Officer James Bass, General Counsel Jeff Graham and Special Advisor Jerry Haddican.
Improving Texas’ transportation infrastructure is a key component of Abbott’s “Working Texans” plan, which seeks to build more roads without raising taxes, fees or tolls. Abbott has also proposed designating a portion of the Motor Vehicle Sales Tax and Oil and Gas Severance Tax, as well as ending diversions from the State Highway Fund, to build roads. Read Abbott’s “Working Texans” plan here.
“What Texans expect is good stewardship,” Abbott said during the meeting. “If we hope to receive support and more funding – whether it be for building new roads or improving our schools – government must show good stewardship of taxpayer money.”
Abbott’s meeting with TxDOT officials is the latest in a series of meetings with the leadership of each state agency he has pledged to hold during the transition process. He met with leadership at the Texas Health and Human Services Commission last week.