Company Studying I-35 Viability Facing Lawsuit

(Photo Credit: KLBJ Staff Reporter)

The company tasked with conducting a study on the viability of I-35 toll lanes is facing a lawsuit from a company in New York.  According to that suit, Macquarie Capital offered kickbacks in exchange for inflated traffic projections that allowed the firm to overbid for toll bridges in Alabama and a toll tunnel in Michigan.

The Statesman reports the Texas Department of Transportation entered into the $6.8 million contract with the firm in 2014, which is two years after the lawsuit alleges Macquarie Capital put forth those inflated numbers.

Texas State Representative Joe Pickett of El Paso, who chairs the House Transporation Committee, says the lawsuit should automatically disqualify Macquarie Capital from the study.  

TxDOT maintains it was unaware of the issues before entering into the contract.