local government – Page 28 – InfoHive

How One County Filled a Rail Revenue Deficit with a Property Tax Increase. Special Districts.

The County: Dade County Florida

The revenue deficit: In 2002, the County promised that an 8% increase in sales tax rate would build 90 miles of rail. They’ve built 3 miles.

Are property taxes going to go up? No, the property taxes near the proposed rail lines will be captured by special districts.

Are P3s involved? Yes. The transportation special districts will work with private interests to pursue private financing & operation of new transit projects within the special…

5 Things to Know about Port of Houston Sale of Bayport Terminal.

Houston’s foray into the cruise ship industry included the Bayport Cruise Terminal, a $108 million project
Critics of the Bayport Cruise Terminal called it a “boondoggle”
Other critics said the problem was the industrial environment is not the scenery for a cruise ship terminal
In 2012, the Port approved $6.7 million in incentives to Norwegian Cruise Line and Princess Cruises
The numbers couldn’t compete with Galveston’s cruise data:
- In 2016 Galveston will…

6 Reasons. Texas High Speed Rail is Right Time. Right Way. Right Project.

economic powerhouse
will create local jobs
will generate community tax revenue
will create Texas’ newest industry
rigorous study chose to connect the economic powerhouses of Houston & Dallas
Texans will not foot the bill

Ft. Worth Star Telegram | Opinion | Texas’ high-speed train: Right project, right way, right time

2 Reasons the Surface Transportation Board Declines Oversight of Texas Central High Speed Rail

The proposed high speed rail between Houston and Dallas will not be under the oversight of the Surface Tranportation Board because:

The project is completely within Texas precluding oversight by the federal Surface Transportation Board
Connectivity to Amtrack, the argument for federal oversight, was not persuasive

Is this decision permanement? No, if Texas Central “develop[s] concrete plans that would make the Line part of the interstate rail network…”

Houston Chronicle | Federal…

LOCAL Gov. TREND. Road Safety. Mandatory Safety Classes for Cyclists.

The City: Sacramento, California

The bike safety proposal: Unsafe bicyclists would be sent to mandatory traffic safety school instead of fining the cyclists.

The current fine for unsafe bicyclists: $5

The new propsoed fees:

$25 first offense
$100 for 2nd offense within 1 year
$250 for 3rd offense within 1 year

Sacramento Bee | Should rule-breaking cyclists be sent to bike traffic school?

Port Traffic Expands Exponentially Due to Energy Market. Your informed Intel:

Why is port traffic increasing because of wind energy? The parts necessary to build a wind turbine are large and transported via port.

Let’s look at the impact on the Port of Corpus Christi:

99,300 tons of wind energy-related equipment and materials in 2015
Wind energy parts gobbled up port space and the Port had to us a 200-acre parcel on the north side of the Corpus Christi Ship Channel for storage of wind energy parts

Corpus Christi Caller Times | Wind energy exports making…

Texas Hyperloop. Yes to Royalties. No to Eminent Domain. The Informed intel:

The start up: Transonic Transportation LLC

The rail project: A hyperloop connecting Austin & San Antonio

The use of royalties instead of eminent domain: Instead of acquiring land, the model involves giving dividends and profit sharing to landowners

The pro-private proeprty rights angle: Since hyperloop track would be build on pylons, there is no barrier to access to land, unlike when tracks are laid on the ground.

San Antonio Business Journal | Exclusive: Making way for…