TxDOT Executive Director, Innovative TxDOT Projects

The American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) named Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Executive Director Amadeo Saenz, Jr. Public Sector Entrepreneur of the Year on Thursday. In addition, ARTBA honored the LBJ Express and North Tarrant Express (NTE) comprehensive development agreement projects in the Dallas-Fort Worth region as the Public-Private Partnership (P3) Projects of the Year. The awards were presented at the 22nd Annual ARTBA P3s in Transportation Conference held in Washington, DC.

“Amadeo Saenz has implemented innovative strategies to improve our roadways and bring congestion relief to Texas communities,” said Gov. Rick Perry. “TxDOT and their private sector partners are bringing the LBJ Express and North Tarrant Express projects to the DFW region much earlier than would otherwise be possible, which will help keep our Texas residents and economy moving forward.”

Saenz was named the 19th executive director of TxDOT in 2007. He is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and a native of Hebronville. Also in July, Saenz was elected President of the Western Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. His term will run through July 2011.

Both NTE and LBJ rank high on the state’s list of the 100 most congested roadways, and addressing this congestion has long been a regional transportation priority. NTE reached financial close in late 2009 and the LBJ Express reached financial close in June. Both development teams are led by Cintra US, and together, will deliver over $4 billion in infrastructure to the Dallas-Fort Worth region for less than $1 billion in public investment.

ARTBA was founded in 1902 and their primary goal is to aggressively grow and protect transportation infrastructure investment to meet the public and business demand for safe and efficient travel. Honorees for these awards were selected by a committee comprised of ARTBA members.