Latest news with #PermianStrategicPartnership
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
PSP Chairman Evans issues statement addressing Texas Transportation Commission on energy sector, infrastructure needs
May 22—AUSTIN — Permian Strategic Partnership Chairman Don Evans was invited by the Texas Transportation Commission to represent the importance of partnerships between the energy sector and TxDOT. TxDOT has been steadily increasing funding the Permian Basin since 2019 and the PSP engages in ongoing efforts to educate Commissioners on the importance of the Permian Basin to the state. Resilient transportation infrastructure is critical to delivering the Permian Promise. In August TxDOT will adopt the 2026 Unified Transportation Plan, a rolling 10-year project funding guide, and the PSP will be advocating for the continued funding of priority roads such as Interstate 20, the Pecos Relief Route, U.S. 285, and State Highway 302. "Yesterday I had the honor of speaking before the Texas Transportation Commission to share the story of the Permian Basin — a region whose energy innovation and leadership fuels our state and national economy. In 2024 alone, the Permian contributed over $181 billion to Texas GDP and supported more than 645,000 Texas jobs. None of this is possible without strong infrastructure, and we remain committed to partnering with state and local leaders to ensure our roads are safe, reliable, and built for the future. I want to thank TxDOT for its collaboration with the Permian Strategic Partnership, and I extend my gratitude to the commissioners for their ongoing leadership and support in helping to deliver on The Permian Promise," Permian Strategic Partnership Chairman Secretary Don Evans said. "For over six years, the Permian Strategic Partnership has invested more than $11 million in road safety programs, equipment for first responders, and community initiatives aligned with TxDOT's goal to 'End the Streak' of daily traffic fatalities. The Permian can serve as a model for the rest of Texas, showing the power of partnership and the lasting impact of investing in transportation to strengthen both our communities and our economy."
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
HERO program announced
Mar. 20—MIDLAND — Several public-private partnerships on Thursday announced the launch of a free roadside assistance program to help travelers and prevent additional crashes along two of the busiest roads in the Permian Basin. The introduction of the Highway Emergency Response Operator Roadside Assistance Program was held at the Midland County Horseshoe Thursday. The pilot program is expected to start June 1. The initial rollout will focus on Interstate 20 and State Highway 191. Deborah Richmond, director of of road safety at the Permian Strategic Partnership, said the total funding for two years is $5 million with $3 million coming from PSP and $1 million each from Midland County and the Texas Department of Transportation. "Our HERO trucks patrol the highway to assist motorists in need and clear minor crashes from the roadways quickly, thereby providing some much-needed relief to our local law enforcement and first responders," said Eric Lykins, TxDOT Odessa District Engineer. A few of the services provided by the HERO program will include moving disabled vehicles to safety, removing minor crashes from the roadway, providing traffic and lane closures at crash scenes and removing debris from lanes, Lykins said. Tracee Bentley, president and CEO of PSP, said the introduction of HERO was an exciting moment for the community and an important step toward making the roads safer. "This absolutely would not be possible without member companies from the Permian Strategic Partnership ... more specifically, our Road Safety Committee, led by Deborah Richmond, our director of road safety. They have worked tirelessly to put this together, along with Midland County and TxDOT," Bentley said. The HERO Program, she said, is a roadside assistance service designed to improve safety and reduce the risk of secondary accidents and it will be free to motorists. "These secondary incidents make up one in five traffic accidents nationally, and unfortunately, can be fatal," Bentley said. "By quickly and safely removing stranded motorists and alerting drivers to stopped vehicles ahead HERO services will help prevent these very dangerous situations. The HERO program's goals are simple but very powerful — enhance roadway safety, ensure smooth traffic flow and minimize the risk of additional crashes," Bentley said. "Today's launch is historic. This is the first time HERO is operating outside of a metro Texas city. And again, this is possible because of our partnership with TxDOT and Midland County. Together, we've made it possible to bring this critical service right here to the Permian," she added. HERO trucks will patrol I-20 and State Highway 191, two of the area's most dangerous corridors with the highest crash rates in the district, Bentley said. There will be three trucks on I-20 and one on Highway 191, Richmond said. I-20 is longer than 191 and has a higher crash rate so it will have more HERO trucks. Anecdotally, she said, they have heard communities with HERO have experienced more road safety awareness and lower crash rates. Richmond said people also like having another public service available to them for free. They hope to expand the service eventually. "These trucks will provide free services like traffic control at crash scenes, flat tire changes, minor vehicle repairs, jump starts for dead batteries and support for first responders," Bentley said. "This will also allow law enforcement and emergency personnel to extend their resources and focus on more serious accidents. This will save lives." The program will also provide cell phone service and drinking water to stranded motorists, according to information from PSP. In 2022, she said, the Odessa-Midland area had the highest fatality rate among all 25 TxDOT districts. "While we've made progress, thanks to investments in infrastructure, enforcement, education and public engagement, there's still so much work to be done. Every time we drive on the Permian roads, we all can see these challenges firsthand. "We live in the largest, most secure energy basin in the world, and we deserve to drive on safe, reliable roads to get home to our families every night. HERO will help us achieve this goal," Bentley said. Alvin New, a Texas Transportation Commissioner, said the HERO program started in Austin in 2010. It's been picked up by El Paso and San Antonio, as well. "But to get it out here in 2025 is just amazing. I'm really excited for the safety implications. The program here will start approximately June the 1st. It will run seven days a week, from around 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., so it will pick up all of the to school, to work, home from work hours on these major corridors back and forth between these two cities," New said. "It will run from on I-20 from Penwell to Martin County, and on State Highway 191 from Loop 338 to (Loop) 250. ... I want to make sure that you know that safety really is something that we work on hard at TxDOT. Everything we do, from the way we engineer roads, from the way we try to get overpasses built to avoid major intersection problems, to building sidewalks to get pedestrians off of the roadway," New said. TxDOT recently launched a new safety program called Drive like a Texan, he said. "We're working very hard to end the streak, which is the number of deaths on Texas roadways," New said. He added that there has not been a single day since November of 2000 when there wasn't at least one death on Texas roadways. "Again, you see all of these efforts moving forward, and the HERO Program becomes one more tool in the toolbox of doing things to get people away from an accident, get the traffic cleared, get the people off the roadway, get the vehicles off of the roadway, and help people be safe. We're happy to have that new tool in the toolbox, and we're extraordinarily excited about the way you guys are coming together and making this happen," New added. Texas Department of Public Safety Sgt. Steven Blanco reminded the audience of the Texas Move Over or Slow Down law, which will also apply to the HERO program. The law requires all drivers to change lanes or slow down when approaching an emergency vehicle, including law enforcement, fire, EMS, Texas Department of Transportation vehicles, tow trucks and utility service vehicles. "Specifically, drivers must vacate the lane closest to the stopped emergency vehicle or slow down to 20 miles per hour below the posted speed limit. Remember, you should only move over if it is safe to do so. "If you cannot move over, you must slow down. Violators in the state's Move Over or Slow Down law can face fines of up to $1,250 for the first offense. Violators who cause serious bodily injury can be charged with a Class A misdemeanor resulting in possible jail time or up to a $4,000 fine. "It's also important to remind drivers about the dangers of distracted driving, and to give the act of driving your full attention. It's essential to keep your eyes on the roadway, not your phone or not other distractions in the vehicle. That way, the driver can take appropriate action when you come upon emergency vehicle, law enforcement, fire, EMS, or one of our HERO program vehicles," Blanco said. According to TxDOT, he said, nearly one in six crashes on Texas roadways was caused by distracted driving in 2023. Of those crashes, 399 people lost their lives, and more than 2,790 were seriously injured, Blanco said. "Sadly, Texas has lost at least one person every day on a road since November 7, 2000. By following the state's Move Over or Slow Down law and distracted driving laws, we can ensure that everyone gets home safely and that we are doing our part to end the streak. In closing, it's undeniable that the HERO Program will save lives and protect motorists stranded on our local roadways," Blanco said. HERO vehicles are equipped with digital message signs and cameras that can send live images back to help with incident management. TxDOT began tracking "secondary crashes" in crash reports on April 1, 2023. Since that time there have been 168 secondary incident crashes of varying severity in the Odessa District. In 2023 (latest data available), the Odessa District's fatality rate was 3.24 compared to the statewide average of 1.44 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles travelled (vmt). The crash rate was 88 crashes per 100 million vmt in the Odessa District compared to the statewide average of 116 crashes per 100 million vmt. There will be 4 HERO trucks operating on a fixed schedule seven days a week. — I-20 — 3 trucks; 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. — SH 191 — 1 truck; 6 a.m.-6 p.m. — Cost: $5 million over two years Funders: — PSP — $3 million ($1,500,000 per year) — Midland County — $1 million ($500,000 per year) — Ector County — $1 million ($500,000 per year) KPIs — Quarterly reporting on: — Call volume — Incident response volume — Incident and response type — Crash reductions and hot-spot comparison over time Funding Sustainability The PSP's model provides jump start funding to new ideas. Their goal is to pilot this program for two years. After that time, local officials and TxDOT will need to budget for the funds needed to continue the program. Additionally, during the last legislative session a bill was passed to allow for sponsorships of HERO programs to expand this proven traffic incident management solution across the state. TxDOT is currently working on rulemaking and the implementation timeline for the sponsorship program. The sponsorship program is expected to be rolled out by the end of 2025. This will allow for a public-private-partnership model to be used for long-term sustainability.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Permian Strategic Partnership to bring new charter school to Big Spring
Mar. 10—MIDLAND — The Permian Strategic Partnership (PSP) has announced its support to launch Pathway Academy, a new public charter school set to open its doors in August 2025 in Big Spring. This transformative initiative will serve up to 300 students in grades 7 through 12, providing high-quality education and innovative learning opportunities tailored to the needs of the community. "We are thrilled to support the launch of Pathway Academy and invest in the future of our community's students," Tracee Bentley, President and CEO of the Permian Strategic Partnership, said in a news release. "Education is the cornerstone of community development, and we believe that Pathway Academy will empower students with the knowledge and skills they need to thrive in an ever-changing world. This school represents a vital step forward in ensuring that every child has access to exceptional educational opportunities." Pathway Academy will focus on academic excellence, career readiness, and character development, offering a robust curriculum designed to prepare students for success in college, the workforce, and beyond. The school's innovative approach will include personalized learning plans, dual credit courses, and strong partnerships with local industries. "We are profoundly thankful to the Permian Strategic Partnership for their generous donation," Thaddeus McCalister, Superintendent of Pathway Academy, said in the release. "This funding kickstarts our capital campaign to create an inspiring facility and enhance our innovative teaching methods at Pathway Academy. It also assures that teachers under the Teacher Incentive Allotment who join our team will maintain their stipends. We hope this initiative serves as a beacon for others to join us in uplifting and empowering our educators and students alike." The PSP's $500,000 investment in Howard County reflects its ongoing commitment to strengthening the Permian Basin region through strategic public-private partnerships and impactful initiatives in education, healthcare, road safety, and workforce development. By supporting the launch of Pathway Academy, PSP continues its mission to enhance the quality of life and expand opportunities for families across the region. Enrollment is now open for residents in the Big Spring area for fall 2025. To learn more about the school, please visit
