[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 117 (Friday, July 15, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E739]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                RECOGNIZING BILL HALE'S SERVICE TO TxDOT

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MICHAEL C. BURGESS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 15, 2022

  Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Bill Hale 
as he retires from public service. Throughout his nearly four decades 
with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), he has been highly 
regarded for his leadership and innovation on concession and design-
build projects within the State of Texas. He oversaw many crucial 
initiatives, including the LBJ Express project and the Clear Lanes 
program.
  After graduating from Samuel High School in south Dallas, Hale 
entered the University of Texas at Arlington. He earned both his 
bachelor's and master's degrees in civil engineering on that same 
campus. Hale began at TxDOT in the Ellis County Area Office in 1983. He 
went on to become the Ellis County assistant area engineer and was 
appointed the Southeast Dallas County Area Engineer (AE) in 1992. One 
of Hale's most significant milestones as the county's AE was the 
building of TxDOT's first movable barrier high-occupancy vehicle lane 
on Interstate 30. In 1999, Hale's work earned him the title of Abilene 
District Engineer (DE), and in late 2003, he was promoted to the post 
of Dallas DE. In late 2014, he was appointed Chief Engineer.
  During his tenure as TxDOT's Chief Engineer, Hale has been 
responsible for the management and control of the Bridge, Construction, 
Design, Maintenance, Traffic Opps and Right of Way divisions as well as 
the Local Government Projects office. He has managed the construction 
of the Margaret Hunt Hill and Margaret McDermott bridges, two cable-
stay structures that define the Dallas skyline. He also oversaw the 
building of Texas' first deck park and led TxDOT's evaluation of a 
private-sector proposal to expand State Highway 121. Hale's work on 
both the LBJ Express project and the Clear Lanes program led to 
significant congestion relief in North Texas' five largest 
neighborhoods. In addition to his construction efforts, Hale launched 
the TxDOT Connect web-based project information program, which became 
incredibly vital to the department's operation.
  Hale is a ``civil engineer's engineer'': a hard-working professional. 
Those colleagues who worked with him on the projects he spearheaded 
both respect and admire him. He's been instrumental in how every major 
transportation project in the metropolitan areas in the State of Texas 
have taken shape. Hale's effective leadership and networking 
capabilities have been critical in bringing together public and private 
sectors and affected communities to move necessary transportation 
projects forward.
  My office has been privileged to have a congenial working 
relationship with Hale over the past two decades, and his experienced 
input and support of our joint annual Transportation Summits 
contributed highly to our success in educating local elected officials 
on upcoming transportation projects affecting Denton, Tarrant and other 
North Texas counties. I am thankful for Bill Hale's 39-year career in 
public service, and I wish him all the best in his retirement.

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