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North Texas Highway Crews Prepare Response To Dreaded “Wintry Mix”

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As an unpredictable mix of wintry weather bears down on the region, North Texas Tollway Authority and TxDOT crews have been spraying highways with a briny solution to help cut down on potential ice accumulation, NBC News Dallas-Fort Worth reports. “‘That’s going to help us get a little bit of advantage over the ice once it starts happening, but we do want to remind drivers it’s not a cure all,’ said Kenna Mitchell, spokesperson for TxDOT’s Dallas district.”

NTTA spokesperson Michael Rey also stressed that drivers need to watch their speeds, no matter how much the agency responds to poor driving conditions. “We’ll prepare for a slow speed environment but there’s only so much we can do in this type of weather,” Rey stated.

Editorial: Pennsylvania Open-Road Tolling Is “A Step Toward Sanity”

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In a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette editorial, the Pennsylvania Turnpike’s ongoing conversion to fully electronic, open-road tolling is held up as one important step for the turnpike commission (PTC), which is just starting to climb out of a debt burden traced to the state legislature’s passage of Act 44 in 2007. “For 15 years, the PTC was forced to shell out $450 million a year for other transit priorities, which led to huge annual toll increases, deferred maintenance on Turnpike roadways, and the delay of expansion projects.” That mandated payout has since been reduced to $50 million.

Open road tolling, expected to reach western Pennsylvania by 2027, will allow for new collection points while also easing congestion for drivers. However, the editorial board cautions, higher-than-inflation rate increases likely will be needed for years to come as the agency retires debt. The editorial board notes that a 2022 audit found PTC held $13.2 billion in debt — more than the state government itself.

Along the way, the editors say, PTC will need to be vigilant in its efforts to minimize leakage. “Toll-by-plate systems must become more efficient, especially as the PTC continues to ask for more from toll-payers.”

Mark Gillett Retires As Wyoming Chief Engineer

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Wyoming DOT announced the retirement of its chief engineer, Mark Gillett. Mr. Gillett started his career at WYDOT in 1980, immediately after graduation from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. He held increasingly responsible engineering posts before being appointed chief engineer in 2020.

Gillett was responsible for overseeing transportation planning, highway design, and operations statewide, including highway construction, winter maintenance, highway safety, highway and bridge design, and equipment and building maintenance.

WYDOT executives will work with the state transportation commission on selection of a new engineering chief.

FHWA Grant Will Help New York State DOT Increase Low-Carbon Materials Use

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New York Governor Kathy Hochul (D) announced this week that a $32 million grant from FHWA’s Low-Carbon Transportation Materials Grants program will help NYSDOT continue its work to reduce the “embodied carbon” footprint of construction materials. “Whether it’s droughts, wildfires or record-breaking snowstorms, New Yorkers are feeling the effects of climate change in their daily lives, and these low carbon grants are an important tool in our efforts to stop it,”Hochul stated.

As the news release explains, “Embodied carbon refers to the estimate of the greenhouse gas emissions that are produced during the stages of a building or infrastructure’s life cycle. Embodied carbon accounts for about one-third of the carbon emissions from the construction industry.” The New York grant is part of a $1.2 billion program distribution FHWA announced in November.

ASECAP Selects Konstantinos Koutsoukos To Lead Toll Organization

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ITSInternational.com reports on the appointment of ASECAP’s 2025 leadership team. ASECAP (European Association of Operators of Toll Road Infrastructures) represents tolled infrastructure operators and industry partners in 17 countries.

Konstantinos Koutsoukos, CEO of Egnatia Odos, Greece’s A2 Motorway, will serve as president. Appointees to the organization’s board are:

  • Julián Núñez, Seopan president and ASECAP Immediate Past President
  • Christophe Boutin, Asfa executive director and ASECAP First Vice-President
  • Manuel Melo Ramos, Apcap president
  • Herbert Kasser, Asfinag CFO
  • An Aiscat representative will serves as ASECAP Second Vice-President

An ASECAP news release provides information about Mr. Koutsoukos’ career and planned emphasis areas.