5 Business Groups Support Texas Central Rail.

  • Cy-Fair Houston Chamber of Commerce
  • Greater Tomball Area Chamber of Commerce
  • Transportation Advocacy Group-Houston Region
  • Bay Area Houston Transportation Partnership
  • Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership

The businesses support high speed rail in Texas because:

  • high speed rail is “a catalyst for economic development “
  • represents “an innovative alternative for Texans’ growing transportation demands”

Cypress Creek Mirror | Houston-area business groups support for Texas’ high-speed train

Regulatory TREND. TxDMV Fee Increase. County Tax Assessors Opposed.

What fee does Texas DMV want to increase? DMV proposes a $5 processing and handling fee, with a $1.25 discount for online renewals

Why are county tax assessors/collectors opposed to the $5 processing fee? The move to encourage online renewals, would cause counties to lose fees. 

Houston Chronicle | Texas auto registration fees would jump $5 in DMV plan; tax collectors opposed

Republican State Chooses Road Bonds. Gives Governor More Power.

HOW: South Carolina legislature chose bond funding for transportation by:

  • Allocating $216 million in recurring funding for $2.3 billion in bonds over 10 years
  • Freeing up state funds to repair roads, interstates, and bridges

WHY did South Carolina opt for bonding?

  • 399 deficient bridges
  • The Governor is granted more power to appoint trasnportation commissioners, removing power from the joint legislative panel that selects commissioners
  • The legislature had the backing of the state’s chamber of commerce

Greenville Online | Road-funding, DOT reform bill headed to Haley’s desk

How the Proposed Harris County Toll Rate Hike Failed.

The toll rate hike would cost more to implement than it would bring in.

What costs are considered when implementing a toll hike?

  • cost to update internal, roadside and back-office tolling systems
  • cost to purchase new permanent roadside signage
  • cost to update external digital and print materials
  • cost to complete testing of the tolling infrastructure system
  • cost to conduct transactional audits to ensure accuracy of the system changes once implemented

Houston Chronicle | Harris County keeps toll rates unchanged

Revenue Source. Gas Tax Alternative. 4 Pieces Intel from the West's Pay as You Drive Plans.

Which state is at the forefront of pay by the mile policies? Oregon has pursued this option for  the last 10 years & charges 1.5 cents per mile driven with a gas tax credit

Which state begins a pay as you drive pilot program in July 2016? California
 

Why is California looking for gas tax alternatives for transportation funding?

  • By 2035, California will lose 1/2 of its gas tax revenue to fuel efficieincy
  • Federal Funding
    •  The FAST Act offers $95 million in funding availability to test gas tax alternatives

What will the California pilot program look like?

  •  Drivers will choose either a decal for an allotment of miles or using GPS-enabled systems to tally miles

Governing | Oregon Gets Company in Testing Gas Tax Alternatives

ROUND 2. The Texas Congressman vs. High Speed Rail. 3 Pieces of Intel.

Which Texas Congressman wrote to the Surface Transportation Board about opposing high speed rail in Texas? Congressman Brady

What is Congressman Brady’s opposition to high speed rail in Texas? 

  • Congressman Brady opposes accelerated use of eminent domain or construction
  • Congressman Brady says the route is wrong
  • Congressman Brady opposes financial loans for high speed rail from the federal government

What is Congressman Brady’s opposition to the high speed rail route? 

  • The route “splits and really damages our rural communities”
  • The route will devalue land 

Is this a consistent position for Congressman Brady? Yes, he opposed a similar project as a state senator

Madsonville Meteor | Brady comes out against rail plan

Cleveland Advocate | Brady: Yes to tax cuts and troops, no to high-speed rail

7 Points. Mayor Turner Mobility Plan

  • Land Use decisions will be front and center. Limited Land. Lots of Transportation projects.
  • Wider streets can be less appealing
  • Not every street needs a bike lane
  • Light rail should be where people want it, not in neighborhoods that don’t want light rail
  • Buses will be the backbone of mass transit
  • 2 Way HOV lanes on ALL freeways
  • Culture Change– remove the stigma that buses are for the poor & hipsters

 

Mass Transit | TX: Seven Points of Conversation From Mayor Turner’s Houston Mobility Plan