Trusted Right-of-Way Partners for TxDOT

Trusted Leadership to Achieve TxDOT’s Right-of-Way Goals

Shenelle Graves, LGPP, R/W-NAC

Senior Associate, Right-of-Way Practice Leader

Shenelle has more than 15 years of experience working in the ROW industry. Shenelle’ experience includes managing the acquisition process to acquire a variety of real estate interests including, fee simple interest, and various easements including roadway, conservation, recreational, drainage, water line, soundwall, detention, and temporary construction easements. She has acquired the necessary property rights from residential, commercial, industrial, and vacant/ undeveloped sites, and is experienced in managing projects with interlocal agreements and adhering to all State and Federal guidelines attached to funding partnerships. Experience includes:

·         FM 664, Ellis County, TX TxDOT Dallas District

·         Hardy Toll Road Extension, Harris County, TX

·         Aldine Mail Route, Houston, TX

·         Halls Bayou Bond Implementation Program, Harris County, TX

Kerry Fulton, SR/WA, LGPP

Senior Associate, Right-of-Way Practice Leader

Kerry has more than 42 years of ROW and land management experience. He served TxDOT for 27 years, with 16 years as Deputy Director of ROW for the Strategic Projects Division. Kerry was responsible for managing and overseeing the right-of-way and utility program on design-build (D-B) and concession projects. The success of his projects are enhanced by his ability to build long-term relationships and solve complex issues with roadway developers, public officials, and property owners. Kerry has an extensive background with solving complex issues with developers, public officials, and property owners. As the Acquisition Manager/PM for TxDOT, he is responsible for managing and overseeing LAN right of way staff to ensure TxDOT processes and procedures are followed in accordance with the Uniform Act. Experience includes:

·         FM 2100 Widening, Crosby, TX, TxDOT Houston

·         US 69 Widening, Zavala, TX, TxDOT Lufkin

·         US 59 Widening, Cleveland, TX, TxDOT Lufkin

·         US 377 Widening, Denton Co, TX, TxDOT Dallas

·         IH 45, Segment 2A, Huntsville, TX, TxDOT Bryan

·         FM 2551, Widening, Parker, TX, TxDOT Dallas

Caden Stevens, SR/WA

Senior Associate, Right-of-Way Practice Leader

Caden specializes in the acquisitions of fee simple and easement ownership of property owners and businesses. Caden’s background includes years of experience acquiring properties for TxDOT ROW which includes negotiating terms of sale for real property involved in federally-funded projects. This experience also includes analyzing appraisal and title records, liaising with attorneys and owners, and resolving any issues related to acquiring properties. Experience includes:

·         US 377 Widening, Denton, Co, TxDOT Dallas

·         FM 664 Widening, Red Oak, TX, TxDOT Dallas

·         IH 45 Widening, Huntsville, TX, TxDOT Bryan

·         I-35E Managed Lanes, Dallas and Denton Co, TX, TxDOT Dallas

·         FM 55 Widening, Waxahachie, TX, TxDOT Dallas

·         US 59 Widening, Wharton County, TX, TxDOT Yoakum

·         FM 2344 Widening, Fort Bend Co, TX, TxDOT Houston

Eminent Domain

Title Review

Marty Kobs, JD

Marty has more than 40 years of right-of-way acquisition and project management experience, including service as a Right-of-Way Agent and Acquisition Supervisor in the TxDOT Houston District. Since joining LAN in 1999, he has managed right- of-way projects involving the acquisition of more than 500 parcels for TxDOT, Hays County, and the cities of Houston, Del Rio, and Pearland, in addition to providing condemnation support and management assistance for TxDOT projects. Mr. Kobs has been a project manager for most of his career, with a focus on resolving complex negotiation issues, title curative, and condemnation support. Experience includes:

·         IH 35 Widening, Temple, TX, TxDOT Austin

·         SH 99 (Grand Parkway – Segments F-1, F-2, and G), Harris County, TX, TxDOT Houston

·         FM 2514, Collin County, TX, TxDOT Dallas

·         IH 35 Widening, Waco, TX, TxDOT Waco

·         Telge Road Widening, Harris County, TX

·         Road Bond Program, Hays County, TX

Reece Fickes

Reece has 10 years of experience providing professional ROW acquisition, project management, title services, and land management to both the public and private sectors. His attention to detail and experience has given him the ability to identify and resolve complex issues that can arise during all stages of acquisition. Reece is a member of the International Right-of-Way Association (IRWA) and the American Association of Professional Landmen (AAPL). Experience includes:

·         Sam Houston Tollway East Ship Channel Bridge, Harris County, TX

·         West Road (Segment A, B &C), Harris County, TX

·         Greens Bayou Federal Flood Risk Management Project, Harris County, TX

·         Cypress Creek ROW Acquisition & Floodplain Preservation, HCFCD, Harris County, TX:

·         Countywide Floodplain Preservation and Right of Way Acquisition, HCFCD, Harris County, TX

·         Castlewood Subdivision ROW Acquisition, HCFCD, Harris County, TX

Jerry Graham

Jerry’s experience includes more than six years as a right-of-way attorney working for TxDOT. He supervised a staff of one attorney and nine professionals; technical and clerical employees engaged in activities related to state and federally funded right-of-way acquisition projects. For State and Federally Funded ROW Acquisition Projects, Jerry reviews and monitors the preparation, processing, and maintenance of right-of-way documents. He implements TxDOT ROW policies and procedures related to right-of-way acquisitions and condemnations to ensure compliance with applicable state and federal laws. Experience includes:

·         Districtwide, State and Federally Funded ROW Acquisition Projects, TxDOT, Houston

·         Halls Bayou Implementation Program, Harris County, TX, Harris County Flood Control District

·         Westchase District Real Estate Support, Houston, TX

·         Easement Acquisition Houston, TX, Coastal Water Authority

·         On-Call ROW Services, Brazoria County, TX

Megan Gilliand, SR/WA

Megan has more than 11 years of experience providing turn-key ROW acquisition and eminent domain services, as well as administrative project support. Her predominant responsibility is document control and she ensures that all required paperwork, both electronic and hard copy, is filed correctly. She also verifies that all files are up-to-date and accurate to provide effortless retrieval in the future. Megan attends hearings in special commissioners courts and is knowledgeable of project file setup and maintenance, managing appraisers and title companies and project close-out activities. Experience includes:

·         FM 2100 Widening, Harris Co, TX, TxDOT Houston

·         US 69 Widening, Anglina Co, TX, TxDOT Lufkin

·         US 69 Widening, Cherokee Co, TX, TxDOT Brownwood

·         SH 6 Widening, Cherokee Co, TX, TxDOT Brownwood

·         SH 6 Widening, McLennan Co, TX, TxDOT Brownwood

·         FM 2514 Widening, Collin County, TX, TxDOT Dallas

·         SH 276 Widening, Hunt Co, TX, TxDOT Paris

Spencer Cocheu

Spencer is a Right of Way (ROW) Agent experienced with project administration, title research, eminent domain services, document processing, and reporting. He has a proven track record of successfully acquiring property for water drainage, retention, and public roadways. His background includes projects for the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and various cities and municipalities to acquire residential and commercial properties for public use. Prior to joining LAN, Spencer served as a Right of Way Agent for various providers, acting as a liaison between clients and landowners to negotiate property acquisitions. Experience includes:

·         North Houston Highway Improvement Project (NHHIP), Harris County, CO, TxDOT Houston

·         IH-10 Widening, Colorado Co, TX, TxDOT Yoakum

·         IH-20 (South East Connector), Fort Worth, TX, TxDOT Fort Worth District

·         FM 1925 Widening, Hidalgo Co, TX, TxDOT Pharr

·         IH-20 Widening, Terrell, TX, TxDOT Dallas

·         Loop 9, Dallas/Ellis Counties, TX, TxDOT Dallas

·         US-87 Widening, Wilson County, TX, TxDOT San Antonio

Condemnation Support

Project Gallery

  • FM 664 ROW – TxDOT Dallas District

    LAN performed ROW acquisition for 60 parcels impacted by a project to widen a two-lane undivided rural roadway to a six-lane rural, curb and gutter divided facility with a raised median. A 2.5-mile bypass south of the City of Ferris will be constructed on new location to connect to a new interchange at IH 45.

    Major interchanges are proposed at IH-35 on the western terminus and at IH-45 on the eastern terminus.

  • US 377 ROW – TxDOT Dallas District

    The US 377 project consists of 98 parcels, stretching 4.3 miles from Aubrey to Pilot Point. It involves reconstructing, realigning, and widening approximately 13.7 miles of US 377 from BUS 377 to US 380.

    The road improvements will expand the current two-lane rural road into a six-lane urban road with a raised median, enhancing capacity and safety. The project also includes installing a curb and gutter drainage system, a storm sewer system, crossing culverts, and constructing 5-foot sidewalks with ADA-compliant curb ramps on both sides.

  • FM 2551 ROW – TxDOT Dallas District

    LAN managed ROW acquisition for the FM 2551 realignment from FM 2514 to FM 2170, improving mobility and safety by accommodating traffic volumes, which are expected to increase by 75% at this section of FM 2551 in the next 20 years. This project converts a two-lane undivided rural road into a six-lane divided urban road with a 16-foot raised median, impacting 43 parcels in the Parker area. LAN provided appraisals, negotiations, relocations, condemnations, and property disposal services.

    LAN’s ROW agents, understanding roadway design and land impacts, used firm and efficient negotiations, resulting in less than a 10% condemnation rate.