Since the 1991 merger of the former Department of Aviation and the Department of Highways and Public Transportation to form the Texas Department of Transportation, aviation functions formerly carried out by the Department of Aviation have been the sole responsibility of the Aviation Division of the Department of Transportation.
Realizing that the Department’s involvement in air transportation matters must grow in order to become a “true transportation department”, the Texas Department of Transportation began an investigation to determine how Department resources could best be used in support of airport and aviation development.
As a result of that effort, beginning September 1, 1995, local citizens interested in improving their airports will be able to obtain assistance from their local transportation district offices in addition to the assistance pro- vided by the Aviation Division in Austin. In the future, state assistance will be available within local communities in a manner similar to the assistance now being provided for highway and public transportation.
Types of assistance which will become available at the district level will be airport program information, project development, construction management, land acquisition assistance, technical assistance, and airport safety and compliance inspections. Additionally, the Department is continuing to investigate ways to assist communities in meeting their routine maintenance requirements.
The changes underway will provide an excellent opportunity to utilize the substantial resources of the Texas Department of Transportation in pursuit of state- wide air transportation goals and objectives.
Legislative Summary
Although the Texas Department of Transportation was unsuccessful in obtaining dedicated funding for the aviation program, significant gains were made during the past legislative session. A legislative study was commissioned to investigate statewide airport needs and financing options, to recommend a funding mechanism to establish adequate funding for the Texas Air Transportation System, and submit that information to the 75th Legislature.
Even though federal funding for airport develop- ment in future years looks relatively dismal at this point, significant gains have been made in state funding. The Texas Department of Transportation’s commitment in- creased from a total of $8.5 million for FY 94-95, to a total of $20.7 million for FY 96-97. Hopefully, an increase in federal airport funding can be achieved as we remain far short of $50 million per year in funding needs.
Other legislative successes include a resolution of flight school sales tax inequities, authorization for expediting emergency airport project funding, and simplification of administrative procedures for enacting airport hazard zoning. And finally, Texas has an Aviation Hall of Fame!