BORRIS L.

MILES
STATE SENATOR DISTRICT 13
COMMITIEES: AGRlCU LTURAL, WATER, & RURAL AFFAIRS. HEALTH & H UMAN S ERVI CES. NAT URAL RESOURCES & ECONOM IC DEVELOPMENT. NOMINATIONS

February 22, 2017

Chairman Tryon D. Lewis

Texas Department of Transportation
125 E. 11th St.
Austin, TX 78701

Dear Chairman Lewis:

I am disheartened and exacerbated by the continuous lack of commitment by the Texas

Department of Transportation (TxDOT) in utilizing the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise
(DBE) Program with its designated projects. The DBE program exists to ensure that local small,
minority, and women-owned companies within the state of Texas are given the opportunity to do
business with TxDOT. Unfortunately, this goal continues to be grossly underachieved in my
senatorial district and across the great state of Texas.

My concern with TxDOT can be specifically highlighted with the SH 288 Toll Lanes (SH 288)
project in my district in Harris County. Over the last year and a half, I have had a number of
meetings with top officials from TxDOT and Dragados (a Spanish-based construction company)
discussing the phases of design, construction, and operation and maintenance of the SH 288
project. Within these meetings, assurances were made that the DBE participation goal for this
project would be 12% for each phase of the project. To date, the design and construction phases
of the project have a DBE participation of only 4%. Moreover, of that 4%, less than 1% of the
DBE participation is from African-American companies. This is simply unacceptable, especially
when there are plenty of well-qualified local minority contractors within the state. It is also
troubling that contracting is being granted to companies outside of the state before considering
in-state and local contractors.

I am disappointed in TxDOT's continued inability to NOT meet its DBE goals and its
unwillingness to do anything about it. TxDOT's level of commitment to DBE participation has
not equated to the promises and assurances made by this agency. The SH 288 project disrupts a
local community that is predominantly minority and it is dumbfounding that the current vendors
do not reflect the community that is being affected.

CAPITOL OFFICE:
P.O . Box 12068 DISTRICT OFFICE:
Austin, Texas 7871 1 5302 Almeda Road, Suite A
(512) 463-0113 FAX: (512) 463-0006 Houston, Texas 77004
Dial 7 11 for Relay Calls (713) 665-8322 FAX: (7 13) 665-0009

borris.miles@senate.texas.gov
I am demanding that the necessary changes be made to increase the level of DBE participation
on the SH 288 project to its target, immediately. It is extremely imperative that TxDOT live up
to its assurances and make efforts to provide contracting opportunities for local and Texas DBE
compames.

Sincerely,

Texas State Senator, District 13

cc: Senator Robert Nichols, Chair, Senate Transportation

Representative Geanie Morrison, Chair, House Transportation
Senator Royce West
Representative Helen Giddings, Chair, Legislative Black Caucus