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2008 Transportation Short Course:
For Chairs and Co-Chairs

Speaker Information and Needs

Session 6
Project Development
Tuesday, October 14
Room: 301 Rudder Tower

Speaker: Michelle Veale
Title: Bridge Senior Project Manager
Company: Texas Department of Transportation
Location: Austin, TX
Presentation Title: Getting Railroad Projects To Letting
Presentation Summary: A discussion on what is required to get a railroad project to letting and the funding limitations that the project may encounter.
Bio/Expertise Highlights: As a bridge project manager, with over 8 year's experience, I assist districts in getting railroad bridge projects to letting. I work with the district railroad coordinators, district design engineers, district bridge engineers, the RR section of Traffic Operations Division, and with RR project managers to ensure the bridge plans meet state, federal, and railroad guidelines.
A/V Needs: podium with microphone
PowerPoint Presentation
Moderator: Russel Lenz
Title: District Engineer
Company: Texas Department of Transportation
Location: Corpus Christi, TX
Presentation Title:
Presentation Summary:
Bio/Expertise Highlights:
A/V Needs:
Speaker: James Koch
Title: Director of Design
Company: Texas Department of Transportation
Location: Houston, TX
Presentation Title: ProtoCost - Total Project Cost
Presentation Summary: The goal of the presentation is to familiarize attendees with how the ProtoCost program can assist them due to the legal changes, expectations, and implications associated with developing construction estimates.
Bio/Expertise Highlights: The ProtoCost program was originally developed for use on the Houston District Katy Freeway Reconstruction project in an Excel spreadsheet format. The program has evolved into an application which runs on a structured query language database platform with user interface provided through internet based active server pages. We have used this application for the past two years to develop all of our project estimates.
A/V Needs: podium with microphone, LCD projector
Speaker: Delvin Dennis
Title: Interim District Engineer
Company: Texas Department of Transportation
Location: Houston, TX
Presentation Title: Grand Parkway - The Houston Experience with Market Valuation
Presentation Summary: The Houston District's experience negotiating Market Valuation as dictated by Senate Bill 792.
Bio/Expertise Highlights: Legislation provided that a Market Valuation process must be undertaken for toll projects involving local entities. This was brand new to most of TxDOT. This presentation will speak towards our 9+ month experience in the process.
A/V Needs: podium with microphone
Speaker: Susan Theiss
Title: Environmental Supervisor
Company: Texas Department of Transportation
Location: Houston, TX
Presentation Title: Regional Environmental Centers
Presentation Summary: Provide a briefing of the Regional Environmental Centers concept and status of implementation.
Bio/Expertise Highlights: I am currently the environmental supervisor for the Houston District's project development group. I oversee District staff and outside consultants responsible for preparation, coordination and further processing of environmental documents for the District. I participated in the workgroup that developed TxDOT's PCE program that is being run out of the Regional Environmental Centers. I have over 18 years experience in the environmental planning field working for consultants, a municipal planning department, the military and now TxDOT.
A/V Needs: podium with microphone, LCD projector
Speaker: Robert Brown
Title: Deputy District Engineer
Company: Texas Department of Transportation
Location: Mesquite, TX
Presentation Title: SH 161 - The Road to the Superbowl
Presentation Summary: This presentation will provide a high level overview of the public involvement, environmental, legal, and engineering challenges with developing a toll project in the DFW area.
Bio/Expertise Highlights: 25 Years experience in transportation project development with an emphasis in the past 5 years on toll project development and alternative project delivery.
A/V Needs: podium with microphone
Speaker: Frank Holzmann
Title: San Antonio Mobility Initiative Office Supervisor
Company: Texas Department of Transportation
Location: San Antonio, TX
Presentation Title: US 281- Revenue Negative Market Valuation
Presentation Summary: Discussion on process used to determine the market valuation for the US 281 project with the Alamo Regional Mobility Authority.
Bio/Expertise Highlights: I have over 20 years with TxDOT in all aspects of design, construction and maintenance. I am responsible for toll related projects in San Antonio including all aspects of toll roads(design-build, finance etc.) I am also the Project Manager for the SH 130 Segments 5 and 6 CDA.
A/V Needs: podium with microphone, LCD projector
Moderator: William Hale
Title: Dallas District Engineer
Company: Texas Department of Transportation
Location: Mesquite, TX
Presentation Title: N/A
Presentation Summary: Moderator of Session 6, Project Development from 1:30-3:00 p.m.
Bio/Expertise Highlights: N/A
A/V Needs: podium with microphone, walk-around microphone

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