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TXDOT Sunset Nuts and Bolts. Report Available. 24 Recommendations.

Sunset Staff Report

Sunset timeline:

  • Submit responses to staff report through Novmeber 30th.
  • December 8th and 9th Sunset hearing

24 Sunset staff recommendations:

Require TxDOT to adopt one consistent set of statewide transportation goals, revise its approach to distributing funding to better align with these goals, and better analyze and report on the impact of funding decisions.

Require TxDOT to update its approach to project prioritization, evaluating a project’s strategic need…

+1 City Council Supports Dallas Houston High Speed Rail

Add Plano City Council to the supporter list for Texas Central Rail Dallas to Houston high speed rail.

How did Plano City Council express support for high speed rail? By resolution, passing 7 to 1.

What reasons for supporting high speed rail were given by City Council?

  • boost regional economy
  • help alleviate traffic congestion

Dallas Morning News | Plano city council signals support for high-speed rail between Dallas and Houston

3 Pieces of Intel. Each New Texas Legislator.

+26 House: 

  • Valoree Swanson
    • Baylor. Concerned Women of America. Real Estate Broker.
  • Shawn Thierry
    • Attorney. Howard Univ. & South TX College of Law. Big Borther Big Sisters.
  • Mary Ann Perez
    • U of H. Insurance. Former HCC Trustee.
  • Jarvis D. Johnson
    • Former Houston Council Member. Restraunteur & Consultant African Trade. Texas Southern.
  • Tom Oliverson
    • Anesthesiologist. Home Schools. Baylor College of Medicine.
  • Briscoe Cain
    • U of H. South Texas College of Law. Raised working…

West Coast High Speed Rail Asks Feds for Permission to Buy Train

Why does California’s high speed rail need federal permission to buy a train? Because the Federal Railroad Administration must comply with federal law’s Buy American standard.

Why not buy an American made high speed rail? They don’t exist like the easter bunny or freddy krueger.

Silicon Valley Business Journal | Here’s why California’s high-speed rail system wants permission to buy foreign train components

Maritime Person of the year- A Texan

The 2017 Maritime Person of the Year is Janiece Longoria, Chair of the Port of Houston Commission.

Longoria’s background:

  • 2013 unanimously appointed as Chairman by the City of Houston & Harris County
  • 2002 began serving on the Port Commission 
  • J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law in 1979

Under Longoria’s leadership the Port of Houston has:

  • record high loaded container units, exceeding 2 million
  • increased revenue
  • improved its infrastructure
  • improved the ship channel with…

Informed Intel Gave you the Ride Sharing Trend First. This Week the Bill Gets Filed.

Senate Bill 176 by Schwertner follows the trend by Palm Springs, California to require drug testing for drivers.

SB 176

Dallas Morning News | Texas lawmakers want to settle the fight over regulating Uber, Lyft

November 3, 2016 informed intel:

Palm Springs will be voting to allow ride share at its airport, if and only if, the drivers…

LOCAL TREND. Ride Share for Seniors. The Details you Need to Know Now to Adopt in Your City.

Where is this happening? Atlanta metro area has adopted  Seniors Go, a ride share program for persons over 55

How does the ride share program for seniors work?

  • Rides are booked Uber through Common Courtesy
  • Discounted fare of $2 for the first 15 miles and 85 cents per mile after that
  • No restrictions on locations
  • Limited to two round-trip rides a week.
  • Seniors must be members of the Senior Citizen Council of Cobb County
    • ​ The Senior Council has membership fees are $12 for a…

5 Points to Know. County Lawsuit v. Texas High Speed Rail.

Which county filed suit? Waller County Sub-Regional Planning Commission

The suit is against: Texas Department of Transportation

Where did it file suit? Travis District Court

What claims are made? The County opposes a state law that requires it to coordinate planning on the high-speed rail, but TXDOT refused to work with the County claiming that it was ordered not to by the  Federal Rail Authority

What does the county want? Proper participation/coordination under the law

Click2…

The Transportation Needs of Business and Texas Ports. 3 Pieces of Intel.

Where did the issue of transportation needs at Texas ports arise? The Harris County International Trade and Transportation Conference

Why is more transportation infrastucture needed? nflux of petrochemical-related cargo

What are trains saying? 

  • trains take big trucks off the roads
  • big trucks don’t pay their fair share for road damage

What does a petrochemical logistics manager say about the need for roads? A dedicated corridor for trucks carrying heavier loads would be an…