Category Archives: funding

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…

Lege Trend: Transportation Funding Options in Graceland

Tennessee needs transportation funding. It’s also 1 of 5 states that holds no debt for roads. 

Transportation options on the table in Tennessee:

  • increase the gas tax (TN gas tax is the 13th lowest)
  • tolls
  • developing a mileage-based tax system
  • debt financing through general obligation bonds and public-private partnerships.

The Daily Herald: Senator pushes for transport tax reform

Trend: 2 Texas Senators Continue Opposition to Toll Roads

Which road project? LBJ Freeway expansion

Which Senators? Both Senator Van Taylor and Senator Bob Hall reiterated their opposition to the use of toll roads. 

What do local transportation officials say? The transportation director for the North Central Texas Council of Governments also wants pay-as-you go and not tolls to expand LBJ. But, the Council needs $1.4 Billion for the project.

Senator Bob Hall’s comment: if two-thirds of the project can be built without tolls, why not the…

New High Speed Rail Project Pops Up with an ingenious American-made funding plan

How do you get more people to the gambling oasis in the desert? High speed rail between Los Angeles and Las Vegas.

Which entities are involved in the high speed rail project? XpressWest partnership with China Railway International

Foreign investment? Yes

What’s their high speed rail plan look like?

  •  $100 million in seed money, to “accelerate launch” of the line.
  • The September 2016 target date to start construction
  •  the project’s environmental documents are already in…

5 Points from Gov. Abbott Transportation Talk this Week

  1. New Governor’s Directive to TXDOT. It is less than an excutive order, more than cocktail conversation, but will:
    1. Require the identification of the state’s most congested chokepoints
    2. Address the chokepoints by working with transportation planners and local communities
    3. Goals: reduce congestion & get new roads built as soon as possible.
  2. Building roads is economic development & creates jobs
  3. Congestion has an economic impact of over $1,000 for the average “rush hour”…

Lege Trend: Gas Tax Reforms in a Southern State Improve Transportation Funding

This year Georgia tinkered with its gas tax to address a transportation funding deficit.

Georgia’s Gas Tax Reform looks like this: “Drivers pay 26 cents for every gallon of unleaded gasoline and 29 cents per gallon for diesel fuel. The new single fuel tax replaced a system of excise and prepaid local and state taxes.”

Georgia threw in some other tax reforms too:

  • A new $5 nightly fee on hotel and motel overnight stays generated $14.9 million in revenues last month. 
  • A new highway…

Another State Moves Toward Gas Tax Reform

Tennessee is primed to be the next state to support gas tax reform. Here’s what’s happening in the home of the Volunteers:

  • Republican Governor supports gas tax reform
  • State Comptroller report says the gas tax isn’t meeting transportation needs  
  • Transportation Coalition of Tennessee formed 
    • its a bunch of organizations representing construction, local governmental entities, engineers, American Heart Association, AARP and more

To meet the 20 cent level of 1989, the new gas tax will…

TX High Speed Rail On Schedule. The To-Do List for the Rail. 2 Potential Blocks.

Texas Central Rail CEO Tim Kieth says the remaining steps to move forward on high speed rail are:

  •  the environmental impact statement approval focus of the next next 90 to 180 days
  • need to conclude work with the Federal Railroad Administration “as it relates to our rules for operating the high-speed rail system,” 

Two potential snags:

  • farmers and ranchers who are unwilling to sell land
  • Texans Againt High Speed Rail say the problems are 3 fold: Budget viability, eminent domain and…

House Select Transportation Committee. 4 Take Aways. TTI & Collin County Judge.

  • The TTI study is going to factor into 2017- big time. See their recommendations from a few weeks ago below.
  • The Committee focused on the value of transportation funding- especially, in 1991 20cents to transportation now = 6.8 cents for transportation today
    • Chair Simmons pointed out that the state has added funding
  • 7 states recvently indexed gas tax- its trending- big time- even in Republican states
  • 40% of transportation funding should be local government funding
    • Collin County Judge…

3 Takeaways from Speaker Straus: Transportation Reforms Continue with HB 20 Report.

  • Its how Texas utilizes its funding that matters, “The Legislature provided significant new resources for transportation this year,” said House Speaker Joe Straus, San Antonio. “But it’s just as important to make sure that those resources are used in an appropriate and efficient way that will relieve congestion in the state. That’s why House Bill 20 was important.”
  • Texas is increasing transportation funding. “Over the last two sessions, the Legislature has acted to increase transportation…