Category Archives: 2013 Legislation

3 Pieces Informed Intel. DMV Lawsuit by Auto Title Companies.

What‘s the lawsuit about? 8 auto title companies say the TX DMV auto title fees limits put the companies out of business

When did Texas Legislature pass a law to allow DMV to limit the fees? 2013

What’s the pro argument for private auto title processors? It will be an added cost to the counties if they begin processing all auto titles

Texas Tribune | Auto Title Companies Sue Texas DMV Over New Fee Limit

Comptroller Highlights Road Funding. The Intel:

The May issue of Fiscal Notes from the Office of the Comptroller concerning greater transportation infrastructure by the numbers:

  • 38% of Texas  major roads are poor or fair condition 
  • 800 million daily vehicle miles by 2040
    • 455 million daily vehicle miles in 2014
  • 19% of Texas bridges are deemed “structurally deficient” or “functionally obsolete” in 2015
  • $2.5 billion of net revenue from the sales tax will be moved to the State Highway Fund beginning in Fiscal Year 2018 (Prop. 7)
  • …

Business Trend. Drones. Transportation Aerial Mapping. Inspections. Property Rights. Data Collection & Security.

Which texas companies were certified under the new drone certification system in Texas? HUVRdata (Austin) & Aviation Unmanned (Addison)

What entity does the drone certification? Texas A&M University System via its Corpus Christi campus and its engineering extension service

How is industry using drones?  wind-power, oil and gas and transportation industries to provide aerial inspections and mapping, and for port and border security and coastline monitoring

Data security and drone…

7 Results of Texas Variable Speed Pilot Study. 3+ Procurement Opportunities Abound.

What group studied variable speeds on Texas roads? Texas A&M Transportation Institute

Why? HB 2204 from 2013 legislation required it.

What roadways did TTI study? 

  •   Urban Congestion Site: Westbound (WB) State Loop (SL) 1604 between US 281 and IH-10, San Antonio

  •   Construction Work Zone Site: IH-35 northbound (NB), MM 297 – MM 301, Temple

  •   Weather-Related Site: Eastbound (EB) and WB IH-20 at Ranger Hill, Eastland County

What was the result? Yes,…

TXDOT Sunset Commission Self Evaluation. Transportation Reinvestment Zones.

TXDOT submitted its Self Evaluation for its Sunset Review for the current cycle.  

Let’s see what they said about Transportation Reinvestment Zones.

Refresher about TRZs:  Collin County told the House Select Committee on Transportation Funding that they like this option.

What did TXDOT mention to Sunset? 

  • Recitation of the legislation that created TRZs:
  • Texas Transportation Institute Texas A&M University System has a $181,600…

Shale Roads: Lower Speed Limits. More Funding.

Roads in oil and gas producing areas of the state are receiving 2 new safety benefits:

  • By emergency rule TXDOT lowered the speed limits on dangerous roads in oil and gas producing areas of the state by as much as 12 mph.  
    • The process to lower speed limits can be lengthy and crash data shows higher accident rates on these heavily traveled roads. 
  • 15-20 % of the $1.7 Billion from 2014’s Prop.1 funding will go to the roads in oil and gas producing …

Texas Transportation Funding in Governing Magazine

Governing looked at how well transportation measures fared during the election. Pretty well, it seems as roughly 2/3 passed. Governing highlights facts about Texas transportation dollars and Governor-Elect Abbott’s transportation funding strategy: 

  • “Texas A&M University say the state needs $5 billion more a year just to keep congestion at current levels.”
  • “Abbott has proposed changes to the state budget to direct more money toward transportation. He would put str…