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Regional Transportation Council brief: HB 1288, formula funding and a new traveler information app

2153866 · January 27, 2025

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Summary

Commissioner Williams said the Regional Transportation Council opposes HB 1288, which would remove a 10% cap on discretionary transportation commission funding and shift more control away from formula funding; the council also previewed a 511 DFW traveler information app for roadside assistance information.

Commissioner Williams reported to the Collin County Commissioner's Court on a light agenda at the Regional Transportation Council (RTC) and identified two items of interest to Collin County.

"There is legislation, HB 1288, that would eliminate the limit that's currently placed on formula funding," Commissioner Williams said. He explained that under current practice the Texas Transportation Commission reserves discretion over roughly 10% of TxDOT's transportation budget, with the remainder distributed by formula; HB 1288 would remove that cap and give the commission broader control over spending decisions.

Williams said the RTC is not in favor of HB 1288 and that the council would formulate a response. He also said the RTC announced a new app, the "511 DFW traveler information system," aimed at agency users and the public to provide roadside assistance locations and performance data; Williams described the app as intended to help cities, counties and TxDOT identify roadside assistance options rather than to compete with navigation apps.

No formal county action was taken; the report was informational and commissioners were invited to watch for further RTC activity and staff recommendations.