Immediate Release February 7, 2012

TxDOT Pursues Design-Build Strategy for Grand Parkway in

Houston

$1.4 Billion Project to Break Ground in Early 2013

AUSTIN – The greater Houston area is one step closer to reduced traffic congestion for more

than 2.5 million people as the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) accelerates plans

for the completion of the next phase of State Highway 99 (the Grand Parkway).

TxDOT announced it is moving forward with a design-build strategy for the next sections of the

Grand Parkway and is expected to issue a draft Request for Proposals (RFP) for this project in

early March. This RFP is for a project to develop approximately 37 miles of new toll road for

segments F1, F2 and G of the Grand Parkway in Harris and Montgomery Counties. This part of

the Grand Parkway project will create a major link in the regional transportation system

connecting US 59 North to US 59 South.

A Request for Qualifications (RFQ) was published last November to solicit qualification

statements from teams interested in entering into either a design-build contract or a concession

agreement for this project. Those submittals allowed TxDOT to evaluate both delivery methods

and were due earlier this month. Based on the current financial environment for major projects

like the Grand Parkway as well as the strength of the traffic and revenue studies conducted for

this project, TxDOT has decided to move forward using the design-build method. In February,

TxDOT will review and select the best teams from those that responded to the RFQ to compete

for the design-build contract.

“This is a win-win situation for drivers and businesses in Houston,” said Ned Holmes, Texas

transportation commissioner. “The design-build option is an ideal approach for this project to

provide a high quality facility and the best value for the state.”

“The timing couldn’t be better for TxDOT to undertake a design-build strategy for this project,”

said Ted Houghton, Transportation Commission chairman. “Area contractors are motivated to

work and interest rates are quite favorable for TxDOT to move this project forward.”

TxDOT received authority from the 82nd Texas Legislature under Senate Bill 1420 to develop

11 specific projects, including the Grand Parkway, through comprehensive development

agreements. Although these partnerships allow the department to contract with the private

sector for the design, construction and possibly financing, operation and maintenance of a

project, the state retains ownership of the project at all times.

“We review and manage each one of these priority projects based on their own merits and think

the design-build option is the best way to go forward on the Grand Parkway,” said Phil Wilson,

executive director of TxDOT. “Our goal is to provide safe, reliable and economical transportation

solutions for Texas.”

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Texas Department of Transportation

Senate Bill 1420 also called for the creation of local committees to make determinations

regarding the best path forward on each of the 11 large projects. For the Grand Parkway,

Houston-Galveston Area Council Transportation Policy Committee member and Fort Bend

County Commissioner James Patterson led the 1420 committee.

“I commend all the committee members and volunteers who put so much time and effort into the

1420 committee,” said Commissioner Patterson. “We’re at a great milestone in this project and

look forward to continuing to work with TxDOT to begin construction of this critical phase of the

Grand Parkway quickly.”

TxDOT will continue acquiring right of way needed for the project throughout the RFP process.

TxDOT expects to award a contract for this phase of the Grand Parkway by the end of the year

and break ground in early 2013.

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For more information call TxDOT’s Communications Division at (512) 463-8700.

The Texas Department of Transportation

The Texas Department of Transportation is responsible for maintaining 80,000 miles of road and for supporting

aviation, rail and public transportation across the state. TxDOT and its approximately 12,000 employees strive to

empower local leaders to solve local transportation problems, and to use new financial tools, including tolling and

public-private partnerships, to reduce congestion and pave the way for future economic growth while enhancing

safety, improving air quality and preserving the value of the state's transportation assets. Find out more at

www.txdot.gov. Fan us on Facebook www.facebook.com/txdot. Follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/txdot.

Waterfront 1-story Village Builders ''Cezanne'' shows better than new! Spacious open floorplan features huge island kitchen with SS appliances, granite countertops, tumbled marble backsplash and sought after whitewash cabinets. Wideplank hardwood flooring throughout entry, dining, great room, kitchen, breakfast area, master & study. Gorgeous master suite and bath w/large walk-in closet, oversized shower & whirlpool tub. Lovely wrap around waterfront lot with lovely views!

http://www.wasteconnections.com/

We love to hear that companies are finding The Woodlands planned community and making it their #1 choice for relocation their families and employees.  We welcome Waste Connections to our area and hope they find it to be a wonderful place to live and work.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsGjX1hhf0k&feature=player_embedded

I just had my first Fairfax, Virginia Exxon-Mobil transferee family close on their home yesterday and so far, they are loving The Woodlands.  I would like to welcome them to the community and look forward to helping other Exxon-Mobil employees make the move.

 Lovely home with contemporary flair offers outstanding curb appeal on a huge, private, culdesac lot in a small enclave area of estate homes in Windrose. Home features 2-story entry with sweeping staircase, 8' doors, walls of windows, island kitchen w/custom built cabinets, open dining with butler's pantry, granite countertops, built-in entertainment in family room with surround sound, large master suite w/sitting area & built-in dressers in closets. Spacious outdoor area with swimming pool/spa.

Lovely 1-story split floorplan home has been lovingly cared for and maintained by original owner. Island kitchen with recently replaced SS appliances, extensive oak laminate flooring and ceramic tile in kitchen, updated faucets & lighting, A/C '08, water heater '07, radiant barrier in attic w/solar fan and sprinkler system and Flat Screen TV, refrigerator/washer/dryer stay. Lovely landscaped, easy maintenance backyard with wood deck, pond with fountain and winding pathway.

RPC, Inc. is a holding company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol RES. The Company provides oilfield services and equipment to independent and major oilfield companies in exploration, production and development of oil and gas properties, domestically and in selected international markets. RPC offers a wide range of oil and gas services required throughout the life cycle of a well. The Company has a history of acquisitions and transactions to increase shareholder value, while maintaining a conservative balance sheet. RPC plans to continue its growth through increasing market share, completing acquisitions, and expanding geographically. The Company’s operating business units include Cudd Energy Services, Patterson Services, and ThruTubing Solutions.

The company will be leasing 79,000 sq. ft. of office and warehouse space on Technology Forest Drive.

Below is an article from the Houston Business Journal regarding RPC, Inc's move to The Woodlands:

RPC leased a 79,000-square-foot building at 2828 Technology Forest Blvd. for 150 employees to begin occupying in February.

The company is leaving behind a 7-acre facility it owns at 15015 Vickery Drive with 31,000 square feet of office space and 12,000 square feet of warehouse space. The property is being marketed for sale by Bandier Realty Partners. RPC also will vacate 13,000 square feet of office space at 16770 Imperial Valley Dr.

RPC needs more square footage to keep up with growth in the energy industry, said Richard Hubbell, RPC’s president and CEO in Atlanta. The company’s largest office is in Houston, but most of its facilities are located in oil and gas fields throughout several states.

While RPC’s executive team and board of directors are in Atlanta, most of the major decisions are made in Houston, Hubbell said.

I would personally like to welcome RPC, Inc. and all the employees to The Woodlands!

I know that relocation to a new area is never an easy thing to do, but when people see The Woodlands, they are usually happy to see that it's a very nice place to live and has a lot to offer.  The schools are excellent, there is lush landscaping and like the names says, there are a lot of trees and plants.  The climate is nice for the most part although the summer does tend to get pretty hot.  July and August being the hottest months, but winter is mild and most northerners don't complain about the lack of snow.

There is a lot of useful information available for anyone relocating to The Woodlands area.  I have a relocation package that I send out upon request.  I work with all the relocation companies such as Prudential Relocation, Sirva, Cartus, MI Group, Brookfield, etc.  When an employee is transferring to a new area, the relocation company requires that they register their preferred Realtor so that the relocation company can get reimbursed a portion of the Realtor's commission to cover some relocation expenses.  This is something that I gladly do to allow me the opportunity to work with the client.  It's important to remember that as a transferee, you can select your own agent as long as the agent will cooperate with the relocation company and pay their fee.

Many times the agents that are assigned to a transferee may not be the most experienced real estate agent in a community.  For this reason, it's important to do your homework and find an agent that knows the area and community you're moving to so that you will make the best home selection for you and your family.

Gorgeous John Post soft contemporary 1-story home on over 1 acre in prestigious Grogan's Point neighborhood of The Woodlands. Double cantera doors lead into foyer allowing breathtaking views thru living room picture window of swimming pool & backyard park-like oasis. Island kitchen features wine cooler, double ovens & gas cooktop for outstanding entertaining. Sitting area in master bedroom, oversized walk-in shower, upstairs bedroom/gameroom/media room & covered lanai in back. Must see!

Texas created 19.4 percent of total jobs created in the United States from September 2010 to September 2011. Texas gained 248,700 nonfarm jobs during the period, an annual growth rate of 2.4 percent compared with 1.1 percent for the United States. The state's private sector added 281,400 jobs, an annual growth rate of 3.3 percent compared with 1.7 percent for the nation's private sector.

by Ali Anari and Mark G. Dotzour

Click here for full report.

This is living! Lovely waterfront home shows like new construction w/breathtaking views of the lake and marina in a 24/7 manned security lakefront community. This open concept home features extensive hardwood and travertine flooring, high ceilings, master down, gameroom & 3 bdrms up. Great home for entertaining w/spacious balcony up and downstairs patio areas surrounding sparkling pool & spa w/rock waterfall. Recent updates include roof, paint, fixtures, appliances, etc. A must see!

From 11am to 5pm, neighborhoods throughout The Woodlands are joining in this Community Fall Festival & Fundraiser for a U.S. soldier who was severely wounded in battle while defending American freedom in a foreign war zone.    
“This is all about giving back to someone who has given so much in the cause of preserving our liberty,” said event chair Tami Buron (tburon@mtgtx.com).  
 
“One Hundred per cent of funds raised will directly benefit the Woodlands Texas Sentinels Project, through which our community is coming together to provide a wounded U.S. solder and their family a new mortgage-free home, and a springboard into a new civilian life.”

There will be live entertainment by local groups in The Woodlands with dancing and music.  A midway with carnival games for children and lots of food.

I will be personally sponsoring the Cake Walk so come out and see me and I will have free wrist bands to give out to the kids so they can participate in all the events at no cost.  It's guaranteed to be a fun-filled day with fun things for the whole family to do!

Homes are selling for value based on comparable sales and appraisals.  This is where the mortgage industry has tightened down on the real estate market.  For the most part, it's under control and fair.  The appraisal process is not what it used to be and is going to need some adjustments, but we have to deal with it best we can for now.  It's important to have an experienced agent who knows how the process works and anticipates any problems before they occur.  Although you may have to settle for a fair price on your home when you sell it in today's market, most likely, you will also get a fair price on the home you purchase.  Since most people move up when they sell their current home, the advantage is actually yours in a buyer's market.   

In regards to refinancing your home, I think it's something for everyone to consider, especially if you think you're going to stay in your current home for an extended period of time.  It would be a good idea to take the opportunity to do some updates at the time you decide to refinance.  You may want to ask your lender about the possibility of cashing out some of that equity so you can make improvements to your home.  This is a great time to do it with interest rates so low.  I am always available to discuss what home improvements are worth doing to increase the value of your home.  I do real estate because I like people and I like homes and the greatest joy I have is helping people find their perfect home or business opportunity and once they find it, I like to help them improve it and have it appreciate as much as possible.

One thing everyone can agree on is that The Woodlands area is a great place to be right now and with the Exxon-Mobil move happening and the many companies that are moving to the area in the next few years, owning real estate in The Woodlands is probably one of your best investments.

Gorgeous Hallmark-Rueby custom patio home in sought after golf course neighborhood of Somerset Pond. Open concept split floorplan features high ceilings, 8 ft. doorways, exquisite mouldings/millwork, accent columns and arched doorways. Ceramic tile and wood flooring; carpet only in secondary bedrooms. Granite island makes quite the statement in this spacious kitchen that overlooks the large family room with walls of windows overlooking the two separate outdoor entertaining areas.

Firemen are working around the clock to try and get the fires contained.  They are in need of donations and there are a couple of sites I have found very helpful in keeping in touch with what's going on with the fires.  This site is a Texas A&M forestry site that has some very helpful information:

http://texashelp.tamu.edu/004-natural/fires.php

There is another site that is providing up to the minute information on the wildfires and many people that are in need of help.  This site is on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/#!/Montgomerycountyfireinfo

There is a great need for donation items and this site will tell you what is needed and where you can drop it off.  I am going to be collecting items and dropping them off, so contact me if you want me to take donation items for you.  Let's keep all the people and their pets in our prayers.

  http://www.woodlandsalert.org/selectalert/login.aspx

Since I joined, I have only received one alert but it was important and was related to the Texas Wildfires and I can tell you that this one post is the reason I feel so compelled to let others know about it.  I would like to know how others feel about this system and is it a sufficient way to keep the residents of The Woodlands informed?  

TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

STATE HIGHWAY 242 AT INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 45 TOLLED DIRECT CONNECTORS PROJECT PUBLIC

HEARING

On August 18, 2011 the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) held a public hearing to receive

comment on the State Highway 242 at Interstate Highway 45 Tolled Direct Connectors Project. TxDOT

reviewed three options for the Direct Connectors and the preferred alternative, along with findings of

the Environmental Assessment (EA) that was required as a part of the project. No environmental

impacts, including noise increases, were identified in the EA that would require remediation in order to

build the Direct Connectors.

Three individuals offered oral comments at the hearing. Representatives of Sen. Tommy Williams and

Montgomery county Precinct 3 Commissioner Ed Chance spoke in support of the project. Mr. Bob Bagley

expressed concern regarding the ability of ambulances to access St. Luke’s Hospital with the selected

Direct Connector alignment.

TxDOT was not allowed to comment during the hearing, but did address concerns after the hearing

closed.

The three proposed Direct Connectors will be tolled via electronic overhead gantry as used on the Hardy

Toll road. The toll amount has not been set, but will vary depending on traffic demand. Tolls ranging

from 50 cents to $1.50 would be similar to those found for similar traffic situations in the Houston metro

area.

The estimated construction cost is $49.2 million for the IH 45 Northbound to SN 242 Westbound, and SH

242 Eastbound to IH 45 Southbound connectors. The two connectors have been funded. Estimated

contract let is fall/winter 2011.

Funding is not available for the IH 45 Northbound to SH 242 Eastbound connector at this time. It is

estimated that the construction cost for this connector will be $12.7 million.

The public has until September 1, 2011 to submit comments to TxDOT via email or U.S. mail. Written

comments must be received or postmarked on or before September 1, 2011 to be included in the

official public hearing record.

Comments for the public hearing record must be submitted to the attention of the Director of Project

Development, Texas Department of Transportation, P.O. Box 1386, Houston, Texas 77251-1386 or emailed

to –

Houston Business Journal - by James Aldridge, San Antonio Business Journal

Wall Street bond rating agencies have assigned their highest possible rating to Texas’ $9.8 billion in short-term debt.

Each year, Texas sells Tax and Revenue Anticipation Notes (TRANs) to provide funding to public schools at the beginning of the school year. The TRANs will be sold on Aug. 23 and are rated SP-1+ by Standard & Poor’s Standard & Poor’s Latest from The Business Journals Fitch says U.S. debt is AAATexas earns highest ratings on school-finance debtTexas earns highest ratings on school-finance debt Follow this company , MIG 1 by Moody’s Investors Service Moody’s Investors Service Latest from The Business Journals Texas earns highest ratings on school-finance debtTexas earns highest ratings on school-finance debtMoody’s may cut defense contractor ratings Follow this company and F1+ by Fitch Inc. Fitch Inc. Latest from The Business Journals Fitch affirms U.S. AAA ratingFitch affirms AAA credit rating for U.S.Fitch affirms U.S. AAA rating Follow this company The debt will be paid back later in the school year once tax revenues come in. The notes should be repaid in full on Aug. 31, 2012.

“These ratings reflect confidence in Texas’ economic resilience and conservative fiscal management,” says Texas Comptroller Susan Combs. “Texas has outperformed the nation as both economies recover from the recession. The state has regained 88 percent of the jobs that were lost during the recession, while the nation has recovered 22 percent. However, we will also continue to monitor factors such as the housing market where new home construction and existing home sales remain slow.”

Texas has used short-term TRAN notes to fund public schools and meet other cash flow needs since 1987.

July sales of single-family homes in Houston totaled 5,034, up 16.7 percent from July 2010. This marks the third increase of the year after an 8.4 percent gain in January and 0.5 percent bump in June. The July number represents the second highest sales volume month of the year. June was higher with 5,570 homes sold.

On a year-to-date basis, sales are down 2.2 percent. When compared to July of 2009, a year in which there were no unusual real estate market influences such as Hurricane Ike in 2008 and the 2010 home buyer tax credit, single-family home sales were down 12.2 percent.

Broken out by segment, July sales of homes priced below $80,000 rose 15.8 percent; sales of homes in the $80,000-$150,000 range climbed 17.7 percent; sales of homes between $150,000 and $250,000 increased 18.5 percent; sales of homes ranging from $250,000-$500,000 advanced 13.7 percent; and sales of homes that make up the luxury market—priced from $500,000 and up—soared 25.7 percent.

http://swamplot.com/welcome-to-the-land-of-exxonmobil-a-tour-of-the-companys-new-north-houston-campus/2011-06-07/