Texas Attorney General Opinion Request: Port Authority. Hiring Resigned Congressman.

Background:

  • Calhoun Port Authority wants to know about whether it hired Blake Farenthold illegally.
  • Independently, Calhoun Port Authority is being sued for violating the Open Meetings Act in the hiring

What’s the question for the Attorney General? Whether the hiring of Farenthold, as a lobbyist, erquired posting that the hiring was specific to services as a lobbyist

What’s the brouhaha over the Open Meetings Act? Those who say the Act was violated say there was no posting for the hiring of…

Anatomy of a Transportation Tax Increase Coalition in a Flyover State

Colorado has a new statewide coalition supporting more transportation funding.

Coalition members:

  • Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce
  • Denver South Economic Development Partnership
  • Club 20, an association of counties in Western Colorado

The tax increase supprted by the coalition: 0.62 increase in sales tax dedicated for transportation, raising the statewide sales tax to 3.52 percent starting Jan. 1, 2019 for 20 years.

Why are contractors supporting the coalition? maintenance and construction…

3 Supporting Reasons for an EV Charging Rebate Program. Electric Vehicle Charging Association.

The Electric Vehicle Charging Association supports AEP Ohio’s first approved utility rebate program for electrical-vehicle charging because:

  • MORE EVs. will improve Ohio’s electric vehicle adoption
  •  Fewer Charging Anxieties. deployment of hundreds of charging stations where EV drivers live, work, and play
  • Good for Businesses. lower barriers for businesses, workplaces, and municipalities to offer electric vehicle charging for customers, employees, and everyday drivers

Norwalk Reflector | EV…

3 Reasons why a Ride Share Cap is Bad

Where is this happening? NYC

What is happening? A locla official has proposed a cap on ride share rides to alleviate congestion in the central business district

What group is behind these 3 points of opposition to the cap?The Urban League

Why would a cap on ride share would be bad?

  • It would eliminate a transportation option for the outer boroughs and minorities
  • these areas are currently underserved by traditional transportation options like taxis and public transportation
  • the most…

4 Actions Cities Can Impact Ride Hailing Apps + 2 Ways Ride Hailing Companies Can Impact Local Ordinances

4 Ways Cities Can impact Ride Hailing:

  • zoning regulations
  • parking
  • curbside allotment
  • city messaging

2 Ways Ride Hailing Services can impct local policy by:

  • participating in land development code amendments
  • engaging in long-term discussions on city problems

Automotive News | Austin, we still have a problem: Return of ridehailing services masks lingering tensions over mobility models

4 Point Opposition to Houston to Dallas High Speed Rail. 3 Counterpoints of Support. High Speed v. Higher Speed.

Who is making these statements? SNCF America, Inc  in written comments to Federal Railway Administration (FRA) Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS) for the Dallas to Houston High-Speed Rail Project

What is causing the impending “doom” on passenger rail in Texas?

  • 1 Company benefits. The Texas Central Rail Project is “designed around the best interest of a single company, not what is best for Texans or the state’s rail transportation future.”
  • Limited Area. Modern rail is only…

High Speed Rail in the Land of Poppies Triggers Audit. 3 Factors Triggered the Audit.

California High Speed Rail, Phase 1, will  face an audit after these 3 things happened:

  • Projected costs for phase 1 of California’s high speed rail have risen by $3 Billion
  • A bipartisan group of legislators requested a formal audit
  • Concerns that the project will need state subsidies

Due to the projected cost increase, the audit will make the following recommendations:

  • how to accelerate the project’s timeline
  • reduce costs and identify other sources of revenue
  • best practices for approving…

1 Federal Rail Administration High Speed Rail Public Meeting. 12 Objections.

The Federal Rail Administration public meeting in Madison, County TX resulted in the following lists of objections:

  • The route uproots 2 cemetaries
  • The construction phase will require a 2 mile per side buffer zone 
  • unfounded economics
  • route opposition
  • opposition to land acquisition by s privste company using eminent domain
  • the large cost to be borne by taxpayers- eventually
  • the project does not serve the public
  • electromagnetic emissions
  • noise pollution
  • reduced land values
  • environmental…