New TxDOT director has long history in Valley

AUSTIN — State officials have selected a man with years of work experience in the Rio Grande Valley to lead the Texas Department of Transportation, just as the area prepares for some massive road projects.

The Texas Transportation Commission announced Thursday that Amadeo Saenz, 51, will be TxDOT’s next executive director. He starts in that position Oct. 1, bringing with him 24 years of work experience in the Valley.

“The Valley is always going to be near and dear to my heart,” said Saenz, who will now oversee all 25 of TxDOT’s districts. “That’s where I started my career.”

He said he plans to work with local officials on major projects, such as the Hidalgo County Loop, a planned 175-mile roadway encircling the Greater McAllen area.

Estimates put the cost of the project’s early phase around $600 million, including construction and engineering costs for 50 to 65 miles of roadway south of Expressway 83 between Mercedes and Mission. Construction is expected to begin as soon as 2012.

Local transportation officials said they realize Saenz’s appointment will not give them special treatment, but they appreciate his experience with the area.

“I don’t know that it means that we get more money, but it’s good for us to have an ear in Austin,” said Dennis Burleson, the chairman of the Hidalgo County Regional Mobility Authority. He expects Saenz to be easy to work with, and he praised him as intelligent, capable and familiar with the Valley’s needs.

Saenz’s son and daughter live in McAllen, and he said he visits at least once a month. The Hebbronville native came to the Valley in 1978 to work for TxDOT’s Pharr district. In 1993 he became Pharr’s district engineer, leading all the projects in the eight-county area.

Saenz left Pharr in 2001 to become the assistant executive director for engineering operations statewide. Mario Jorge, who is Pharr’s current district engineer, praised Saenz as hardworking and dedicated.

“It’s a big plus for the Valley from the standpoint that he’s very familiar with our transportation needs,” Jorge said.

Saenz is also TxDOT’s first Hispanic leader in its 90-year history.

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Zack Quaintance covers law enforcement and general assignments for The Monitor. You can reach him at (956) 683-4447.