Rep. Simmons (AKA Likely Republican Caucus Position on): Let's talk Transportation Funding

How the Republican Caucus is talking about transporation funding from the 2015 Legislature:

“SJR 5 is a bipartisan resolution that transfer up to $2.5 billion annually of general sales tax revenue to the State Highway Fund, beginning in 2018. Given conservative estimates, this measure could increase transportation funding by $3 billion annually beginning in 2020.

“SJR 5 would allocate more funding for much-needed transportation projects without raising taxes or fees,” s…

Rapid Buses Coming to Post Oak Blvd. 1,000 property owners Sign Protest.

Uptown District and Metro have developed a plan to use the center lane of Post Oak Blvd in Houston as a dedicated bus lane. 

It is said the proposal will reduce congestion, as more Houstonians opt for park and ride. Uptown Houston PAC has gathered signatures from 1,000 businesses and property owners in opposition to the proposal. 

Transportation Controversy is nothing new to Houston. Empower Texas points instead to the Uptown TIRZ and argues that:

“We have mentioned…

6 Points from The Transportation Funding Deal

  • Projected $3 Billion boost in funding, possibly more
  • Funding will shift to  construction and maintenance of toll-free roads
  • Will require voter approval in November 2016
  • Funding will rely on general sales tax and the motor vehicle sales tax
  • The funding mechanism: “starting in 2018, TxDOT would get up to an additional $2.5 billion a year in general sales tax revenue once that pot reached $28 billion a year”
  • “Starting in 2020, the highway…

Transportation Funding Dies in the Rockies

The Colorado Legislature failed to reach an agreement on transportation funding.  The House & The Senate both wanted to ensure ensure $1 billion in general-fund transfers to the Highway Users Trust Fund. How they got to that point varied.

The House wanted to address a hospital provider fee and turn it into an economic development fund to free up a revenue cap.

Colorado hasn’t spent state general revenue onn transportation since 2007.

adminPosted infunding, legislative trend, roads