2015 legislation – Page 5 – InfoHive

Private Public Partnerships- Good. Privately Owned Toll Roads- Bad.

One transportation & eminent domain bill is very popular: HB 565 by Burkett. The bill revokes eminent domain authority from a private toll company.

Here’s why Burkett says it is important:

The problem is a private company overseeing a project with eminent domain authority (hello, pipelines, are you listening?)
If property is taken for public needs, it should be “fair and transparent”
Toll roads are wearing out their welcome
It will b…

Electronic Road Enforcement? Bill Says No.

One of the most elegant amendments in recent years was the amendment authorizing red light cameras. The amendment made no mention of red light cameras, cameras, or electronic enforcement.

SB 340 wants to be the final nail in the coffin to all electronic traffic enforcement and electronic license plate readers. The bill by Senator Huffines would end fines & violations based on these electr…

TPPF: Transportation Recommendations for 2015

TPPF’s recommendations for transportation in 2015:

Remove governmental restrictions on the development of innovative practices in the financing, design, building, and private ownership/operation of Texas’ transportation infrastructure.
Extend and expand design-build contracting after it expires in August 2015.
Rising federal aid funding for transportation and other s…

HB 572: Sunset the Toll Authorities

Toll Authorities subject to Chapter 366, Transportation Code, will undergo Sunset review, at their own cost, under HB 572.

Tollroads are as popular with Texans as garlic is with vampires.

HB572 by Burkett

Leach: 3 Transportation Funding Solutions & Bill to be Filed

Leach’s transportation funding solutions:

“Stopping diversions from the State Mobility Fund
Dedicating some of the motor vehicle sales tax to the State Highway Fund (SHF) and
Dedicating a larger percentage of the general revenue to the state’s transportation fund.” Community Impact for Collin County

Leach’s soon to be filed transportation …

Nichols & Metcalf Support Vehicle Sales Tax Dedication to TXDOT

Take aways from a Conroe forum featuring Senator Nichols and Representative-Elect Metcalf:

$3.5Billion can be added to road funding by dedicating vehcile sales tax to TXDOT
Cut unnecessary spending
To offset the hit to general revenue from dedicating the vehicle sales tax, Metcalf is quoted as saying “Our plan is to add 10 percent of the funds to the road funds over a 10-year span.”

[ Posted by adminDecember 11, 2014Posted in2015 legislation, funding, roads

Abbott Supports $4Billion in Transportation Funding

On Monday, Governor- elect Abbott announced staff and legisltive plans, including adding $4Billion to the transportation coffers. He hopes to accomplisht his by:

Dedicating sales taxes collected on vehicle sales to road construction and maintenance.
Resulting in more than $2 billion a year added to the highway fund.
Ensuring more of the gasoline taxes go to roads, without touching the gasoline taxes that fund DPS. [ Posted by adminDecember 11, 2014Posted in2015 legislation, funding, roads

Sen. Schwertner Bills End Highway Fund Diversions

SB 184 and SJR 15 seek to:

Increase budgetary transparency
Add millions to highway coffers
No new taxes, tolls, fees or debt [Austin Business Journal]