Category Archives: local government

+1 Texas County Commissioner Court Vote Supporting High Speed Rail. The facts only:

Texas County: Brazos County

Brazos County Commissioner Court Dissent:

  • 1 Commissioner
    • Commissioner Sammy Catalena
  • Dissent based on:
    • Brazos County has no “dog in the fight” as the rail will not traverse Brazos County
    • Concerns of rural landowners

Statements of Brazos County Commissioners in favor of Supporting Texas Central Rail:

  • “Southwest Airlines on the ground,” will be good for all texans
  • “economic boon”
  • it will “allow more students to commute to the Texas A&M University System’s…

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…

Anatomy of a Smart City Road System. Funding. Procurement. 6 Goals. 1 Governor Order.

Funding:  $40 million federal grant and $10 million from Paul G. Allen Philanthropies

Goals of Smart Cities:

  • reduce collisions
  • speed first responder response times
  • curb freeway delays
  • get products to consumers faster
  • how to use data to improve city services and quality of life for residents
  • easier access to healthcare services

Procurement Oppostunities:

  • transportation technologies:
    • integrate self-driving cars
    • connected vehicles
    • smart sensors
    • developing transportation technologies

      • …

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…

Anatomy of a Transportation Proposal. 2:1 Defeat in a Fast Growing City.

The transportation proposal:

  • ambitious $5.4 billion transit expansion

The vote: 36% : 64%

Are there extenuating circumstances?

  • City & County government is consolidated
  • Most population lives outside the city proper
  • The proposal was promoted by the mayor who resigned in March

Transportation Proposal supporters:

What do opponetns say?

  • No public input after the plan was formed
  • transportation policy should be incremental not…

4 Reasons to Allow Cities to tax Ride Share in the Lone Star State

Background: HB 100 (TX | 2017) establishing ride share laws does not permit local taxation of ride share

4 Supporting arguments for local taxation of ride share:

  • Texas cities are losing out on millions in tax revenue occuring within their boundaries
  • Other cities are doing it
  • Cities are utilizing the revenue to improve transportation and safety
  • Other states have allowed cities to tax ride share to cover the cost of street maintenance, vehicle traffic, and registering drivers

 

Rivard…

Lege TREND. Model e-bike legislation. No local preemption. What you need to know:

9 states have passed model e-bike legislation, including:

  • AZ HB 2266 (AZ | 2018) 
  • CO
  • CA
  • AR (that’s Arkansas)
  • IL
  • MI
  • TN
  • UT (Utah, not any of the universities with these initials)
  • WA

The model legislation does this:

  • defines e-bikes as motorized electric bicycles with a watt definition
  • establishes Class 1, 2, or 3 e-bikes
    • Class 3 e-bikes would be restricted to on-road usage
    • Class 1 and 2 e-bikes may be ridden on bike paths
  • grants e-bikes the same rights of the road as traditional…

Funding for the Bluebonnet State High Speed Rail on I-35 Corridor. Who. What. How much.

What I-35 high speed rail project in Texas? high-speed trains connecting Dallas, Arlington and Fort Worth — and eventually Waco, Austin, Laredo and possibly Monterrey, Mexico

Who approved funding for the 1-35 corrdior high speed rail? The Regional Transportation Council

How much funding and for what purpose? $500,000 to study the viability of the project

Ft. Worth Star Telegram | Full steam ahead for high-speed rail to Arlington, Fort Worth, Waco, Austin, Laredo