In addition to managing the TxTag program, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) operates and maintains toll facilities across the state, including the Central Texas Turnpike System (CTTS), a $3.6 billion project that opened in 2006. The CTTS consists of the following roadways in the Austin area: SH 130, SH 45N, Loop 1, and SH 45SE. TxDOT also operates the Grand Parkway (SH 99 Segments D, E, F-1, F-2, G, H, I-1 and I-2) in the Houston metro area. TxDOT has supported in the past and will continue to support the development of toll projects by Regional Mobility Authorities (RMAs) and other entities throughout the state.
2024 | TxDOT transitions back-office operations to the Harris County Toll Road Authority (HCTRA) on November 9, 2024 and customer service operations as of December 2, 2024. |
2024 | TxDOT finalizes buyback of SH 288 toll road, terminating the SH 288 Comprehensive Development Agreement (CDA) effective October 8, 2024. |
2022 | The Toll Operations Division integrates into the Project Finance, Debt and Strategic Contracts Division. |
2022 | Segments H, I-1 and expansion of Segment I-2 of the Grand Parkway (SH 99) in the Houston region opens to traffic. |
2022 | TxDOT issues its three-millionth TxTag. |
2021 | SH 249 Segment 1 Section B from FM 1488 in Magnolia to FM 1774 near Todd Mission (Montgomery County) opens to traffic in the Houston region. |
2020 | SH 249 Segment 1 Section A from FM 1774 in Pinehurst to FM 1488 near Magnolia opens to traffic in August, with tolling beginning on December 1. |
2020 | TxDOT transitions to a new back-office vendor. |
2018 | TxDOT becomes interoperable with Oklahoma Turnpike Authority. |
2017 | I-35E TEXpress Lanes opens May 20 in Dallas. It is 18 miles, two reversible lanes from Swisher Rd. in Corinth to I-635 in Dallas. Concurrent lanes through the I-635/I-35 interchange. |
2017 | TxDOT issues its two-millionth TxTag. |
2017 | TxDOT becomes interoperable with Kansas Turnpike Authority. |
2016 | TxDOT implements the Truck Toll Discount Program (trucks with a toll tag pay the 2-axle rate) for SH 130 and SH 45SE (November 1, 2016-August 31, 2017 or until funds allocated have been depleted). |
2016 | I-30 TEXpress Lanes opens August 1 in Dallas. It is 12 miles, one lane in each direction from west of Center Street to west of SH 161. Two reversible lanes from west of SH 161 to near Sylvan Avenue. |
2016 | I-635 TEXpress Lanes opens October 1 in Dallas. It is 9.3 miles, one lane in each direction on I-635 from US 75 to I-30. |
2016 | TxDOT implements the Truck Toll Discount Program (trucks pay the 3-axle rate) for SH 130 and SH 45SE (April 18, 2016-October 31, 2016). |
2016 | Segments F-1, F-2, and G of the Grand Parkway open, completing 53 miles of the stretch of the Grand Parkway across west and northwest Houston between I-10 and 59N. |
2016 | TxDOT celebrates the 10-year anniversary of the CTTS opening. |
2015 | TOD's TxTag program receives awards for its "Labor" and "Santa Mechanic" TV spots, including the National Association of Government Communicators Award of Excellence and a Telly Bronze Award. |
2015 | TxTag and CTRMA co-locate at the TxTag Customer Service Center. |
2015 | In recognition of federal mandate MAP-21 (Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century), TxDOT joins with HCTRA, NTTA, CTRMA, GPTRA, Oklahoma Turnpike Authority, and the Kansas Turnpike Authority to establish the Central United States Interoperability Toll Agencies, working together toward becoming nationally interoperable. This team joined with eastern U.S. tolling agencies from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, and South Carolina to craft the ground rules for national interoperability in the southern United States. |
2014 | TOD receives its third Mission Zero Award for Best Safety Record. |
2014 | The initial Dallas Fort Worth Connector (DFWC) project opens, doubling the size of the highway system around the north entrance of the DFW International Airport. |
2014 | NETRMA assumes responsibility for operations of Loop 49. |
2014 | TxDOT issues its one millionth TxTag. |
2014 | TxDOT transitions to a new back-office vendor. |
2013 | TOD receives its second TxDOT Mission Zero Award for Best Safety Record. |
2013 | Texas Senate Bill 1792 authorizes new toll enforcement tools aimed at frequent toll violators, and TOD implements its Habitual Violators Program. |
2013 | Segments D and E of the Grand Parkway open, connecting I-10 and US 290 on the west side of Houston. |
2013 | Segment 3B of Loop 49 opens in Tyler. |
2013 | TxDOT implements the Trucker Incentive Program on SH 130 and SH 45SE, first as a month-long pilot (February 4, 2013-March 3, 2013) and then for a full year (April 1, 2013-March 30, 2014). |
2013 | The CTTS is converted to a cashless toll system with tolls no longer collected at toll booths. |
2013 | Fort Bend Grand Parkway Toll Road Authority (GPTRA) joins TxDOT, HCTRA, NTTA, and CTRMA by becoming a party to Texas' statewide interoperability agreement. |
2012 | TOD receives the Mission Zero Award for Best Safety Record in TxDOT history. |
2012 | TOD implements the Veteran Discount Program that waives tolls on TxDOT roadways for disabled veterans and recipients of the Purple Heart or Legion of Valor. |
2012 | TOD begins supporting CINTRA and the opening of SH 130 Segments 5 and 6, which extend from the Austin area to I-10 near San Antonio. |
2012 | Segments 5 and 3A of Loop 49 open in Tyler. |
2012 | The Texas Turnpike Authority Division is renamed the Toll Operations Division. |
2011 | TxDOT implements a rate change for SH 130 and SH 45SE that permanently lowers the toll rates for 5-axle and 6-axle vehicles to the rates that 4-axle vehicles are charged. |
2011 | TxDOT implements a month-long Trucker Incentive Program for SH 130 and SH 45SE (December 21, 2011-January 25, 2012). |
2011 | The TxTag Fleet Program is implemented and the following year is recognized with the IBTTA Toll Excellence Award in Customer Service and TxDOT's Journey Toward Excellence Award. |
2011 | TxDOT celebrates the five-year anniversary of the CTTS opening. |
2010 | TxDOT TTA is awarded the IBTTA Toll Excellence Award for Toll Operations and the TxTag In-Lane Sales Program. |
2010 | TxDOT implements the Camino Colombia Day Pass Program, which provides a convenient way for drivers from the U.S. and Mexico to prepay tolls. |
2010 | TxDOT implements Court Program. |
2009 | SH 45SE opens to traffic and, with SH 130, completes a 55-mile bypass around central Austin. |
2009 | TxDOT implements the Toll Violation Recovery Program (TVRP). |
2009 | Tolling begins on Segment I-2 of the Grand Parkway (SH 99) in Houston, TxDOT's first roadway without cash or Pay By Mail transactions. |
2009 | TxDOT transitions Camino Colombia (SH 255) into the first all-electronic toll road on an international border. |
2008 | Segment I-2 of the Grand Parkway in the Houston region opens to traffic. |
2008 | The North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA) assumes responsibility for operating SH 121. |
2008 | TxDOT opens Segment 2 of Loop 49 in Tyler. |
2008 | The CTTS is successfully completed ahead of schedule as the final segment of SH 130 from SH 71 to US 183 (Segment 4) opens in April. |
2007 | The Sulphur Regional Mobility Authority and Camino Real Regional Mobility Authority are created. |
2007 | The TxTag program is recognized with the Davey Award for "Campaign Promotional Branding" and Summit Creative Award for "Austin Dash Statewide" TV spot. |
2007 | TxDOT TTA is awarded the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association (IBTTA) Toll Excellence Award for Customer Service. |
2007 | TxDOT opens Segment 3 of SH 130 from US 290 to SH 71 near Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. |
2007 | CTRMA's 183A toll road opens and TxDOT begins supporting the processing of transactions and violations. |
2007 | Toll collecting on the CTTS begins in February, and within 120 days toll transactions exceed projections by 63 percent. |
2007 | TxDOT enters into an Interlocal Agreement with HCTRA, North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA), and CTRMA to enhance the 2004 MOU and create a foundation for future tolling entities to join in Texas toll interoperability, making travel between facilities seamless to their customers. |
2006 | Three interlocal agreements with CTRMA, NETRMA, and the Harris County Toll Road Authority (HCTRA) are executed to support their facilities. |
2006 | In the same year, TxDOT opens Segment 1 of Loop 49 in Tyler, another all-electronic toll road. |
2006 | TxDOT opens SH 121 in Dallas, the first all-electronic, cashless toll road in the country, and implements the Pay By Mail (PBM) program for drivers without toll accounts. |
2006 | TxDOT launches the TxTag program and within 90 days of the opening of the CTTS, there are more than 200,000 funded TxTags on vehicles. |
2006 | TxDOT opens the first toll roads in the Austin area-a total of 41 miles, including Loop 1, SH 45N, and Segments 1-2 of SH 130 (from I-35 to US 290)-less than four years from the start of construction of the CTTS. |
2005 | The Hidalgo County Regional Mobility Authority is created. |
2004 | TxDOT purchases the Camino Colombia Toll Road (SH 255) and begins managing toll operations. |
2004 | The following RMAs are created: North East Texas Regional Mobility Authority (NETRMA), Cameron County Regional Mobility Authority (CCRMA), Alamo Regional Mobility Authority (ARMA), and Grayson County Regional Mobility Authority (GCRMA). |
2004 | TxDOT enters into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the North Texas Tollway and Harris County Toll Road authorities, setting the ground rules for interoperability and use of the TxTag logo as the identifier for transponders used for electronic toll collection services among the agencies and for the citizens of the State. |
2002 | TxDOT begins work on the Central Texas Turnpike System (CTTS), referred to as the Central Texas Turnpike Project during construction. |
2002 | The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority (CTRMA) is created. |
2001 | The TTA Board is abolished, and the TTA Division begins reporting directly to the Texas Transportation Commission. |
1998 | The TTA merges with TxDOT, and the TTA Board is created. |
1997 | Senate Bill (SB) 370 abolished the TTA and established the Texas Turnpike Authority division of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) along with the North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA). All assets, rights, and obligations of the TTA in Collin, Dallas, Denton, and Tarrant counties were transferred to NTTA, with all other TTA assets, rights, and obligations transferred to TxDOT. SB 370 also authorized TxDOT to study, design, construct, operate, expand, enlarge, or extend a turnpike project as a part of the state highway system. |
1977 | The bonds issued for the Dallas-Fort Worth Turnpike are retired, tolls are removed, and the roadway becomes a state highway, designated as Interstate 30. |
1957 | The Dallas-Fort Worth Turnpike, the first toll road in Texas, opened to traffic by the former Texas Turnpike Authority (TTA). |