AUSTIN The Texas Department of Transportation presented Javier Molinar, employee of TxDOT’s Odessa District, with the 2019 RAMP (Routine Airport Maintenance Program) Coordinator of the Year award.
RAMP Coordinators are TXDOT district-designated employees who work with the TxDOT’s Aviation Division to provide assistance to airports located within their districts.
Molinar has worked with Texas airports in his district for more than 10 years as a special crews department head and most recently as the official RAMP coordinator.
“He covers a district that has a heavy load, with 11 airports located within the region,” said David Fulton, TxDOT Director of Aviation. “During the last five fiscal years the airports in his district performed over $1.6 million total in eligible RAMP projects. Of that amount, Molinar helped coordinate $39,000 in special projects like pavement rehabilitation and herbicide treatment. These special projects resulted in considerable cost savings for both the state and sponsors compared to design/bid alternatives.”
Molinar has a reputation for always being responsive to requests from the airports in his district. On a recent pavement improvement project, he inspected and followed up with city and TxDOT planning staff on his recommendations. After he recommended adding the work to the District’s contract for the project, he attended the preconstruction meeting and provided guidance and clarity for stakeholders. The project has resulted in the extended usability of the airfield pavement until funding to rehabilitate it becomes available.
RAMP was established in 1996 as a grant program to support general maintenance and improvement projects in the airport system. The program is supported by all 25 TxDOT districts and is available to nearly 300 airports statewide.
The award was presented at the 37th Annual Texas Aviation Conference in April.
For more information, contact TxDOT Gene Powell at [email protected] or (432) 498-4746.
