As the NTTA prepares to select a design-build firm for Phase 4 of the State Highway 161 project in western Dallas County, I began reflecting on how this construction project demonstrates the NTTA’s progress in the region – not just in new mobility solutions but in cultivating valuable diversity among our contractors.
 

I firmly believe that business diversity is not just about numbers and reaching quotas. And it’s not just about skin color or gender. The NTTA wants to align its diversity strategy with the industry’s best practices to bring a balance of expertise and viewpoints to its roadway projects. It’s about finding and using the best resources available to us and delivering the best value for our customers.
 

The percentage of diverse businesses obtaining contracts with the NTTA rose by 3 percent between 2004 and 2008. That may not sound like much of an increase, but the amount of money the NTTA spent on road projects during that time nearly quadrupled, from $20 million in 2004 to almost $80 million in 2008. Nearly 20 percent of the NTTA’s contracts went to diverse businesses in 2008, which means almost $16 million flowed directly to small businesses and minority- and woman-owned businesses in our community. Our hope is that those businesses continue to expand and thrive.
 

The Texas Department of Transportation started the SH 161 project with the goal of giving 11 percent of its contracts to disadvantaged business enterprises. The NTTA enhanced that goal by five percent. The NTTA’s Business Diversity Department worked with industry and advocacy groups to make sure its members were aware of the opportunities appearing on the horizon as a result of that goal. And we stand ready to work with small and minority- or woman-owned businesses to ensure they are able and prepared to accept new opportunities.
 

SH 161 is the first design-build project the NTTA has tackled, so it presented new challenges and new opportunities for us. The design-build construction model allowed the NTTA work with the three finalist firms to set diverse participation expectations prior to selection of a best value proposal last month. We also worked with the firms to identify areas where they may have needed help expanding their pool of subcontractors to meet the NTTA’s expectations.
 

I believe the result will be a success story we can all be proud of as a community, and I look forward to sharing more stories like this with you in the coming months.