Texas Transportation Commission and Ted Houghton, in His Official Capacity as Chair of the Texas Transportation Commission v. City of Jersey Village

OPINION

William J. Boyce, Justice

The Texas Department of Transportation is constructing additional lanes along U.S. Highway 290, which requires the relocation of utility lines owned by appellee, the City of Jersey Village. At issue in this interlocutory appeal is whether the Department is obligated to reimburse Jersey Village for the costs of acquiring new easements along which Jersey-Village intends to lay replacement utility lines.

Appellant, the Texas Transportation Commission, governs the Department. See Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 201.201 (Vernon 2011).1 Appellant Ted Houghton was chair of…