3 New Kids on the Block at Texas Central Rail

3 New Kids Joined Texas Central Rail this week:

  • New CFO: Lori Wilcox
    • 25 years in accounting and finance
    • formerly senior vice president and CFO for Balfour Beatty’s Central region
  • Managing Director of Deisgn Build Program: Doug Jones
    • 38-year veteran of the construction industry
    • formerly with Balfour Beatty Construction
  • Managing Director of External Affairs: Holly Reed
    • 25 years with AT&T 
    • formerly AT&T’s regional vice president of external affairs

Dallas Business Journal | Texas Central Partners names 3 new executives at high-speed rail developer

Progressive Railroading | Texas Central expands executive team with new hires

 

East Texas Mayor vs. Toll Road. 6 Opposition Groups & Issues.

Who? Vidor Mayor Robert Viator Jr. has “trust issues” with the Texas Turnpike Authority proposed 10 mile toll road from Vidor to Beaumont

Why does the mayor have trust issues? The company altered its projections to add 25 years to reach $9 billion in profits.  The company projects that it will take a total of 75 years for the private toll company to reach $9 billion in profits.

What opposition groups and issues are emerging? 

Those challenging the project include:

  • Vidor Mayor Robert Viator Jr.
  • Jefferson County Judge Jeff Branick
  • environmental groups concerned about the Big Thicket National Preserve

The issues challening the project:

  • the use of eminent domain for the project by the private toll company, if the company partners with TXDOT or a local governmental entity
  • the corporation has never successfully completed a toll road project 
  • Environmental Concerns about putting a toll road through Big Thicket National Preserve

The Examiner The Indendent Voice of SE Texas | Vidor concerned about toll new toll road could take on community

Private Toll Road to Utilize Agreements to Condemn Land

Weren’t private toll roads stripped of their eminent domain power by the 2015 Texas Legislature? Yes.

So, how is a private toll road near Beaumont building a new toll road? The private toll comapny asked local governments to enter into an intrerlocular agreement. If, eminent domain needs to be exercised, it will be through the local governmental entities.

What’s the reception to the private tollroad in SE Texas? SE Texas appears to have learned from 2014 Dallas area defeat of the Texas Turnpike Authority. A group, Citizens in Southeast Texas, has been organized to oppose the project. 

Is the issue just eminent domain? No, the proposed toll will also run through Big Thicket National Preserve, drawing concerns from conservationists.

Port Arthur The News | Big Thicket National Preserve threatened by proposed 105 toll road 

$40 M additional Funding to Central TX High Speed Rail

 Japan Overseas Infrastructure Investment Corporation for Transportation & Urban Development (JOIN) has agreed to contribute $40 million in funding for Texas Central Partner’s high speed rail.

Texas Central funding to date?  $75 million from Texas based investors

Total Estimated cost for the Dallas to Houston segment?  $10 to $12 billion for the 240 miles

 Texans Against High-Speed Rail, an opposition group, wants:  An assurance that no taxpayer funding will go to the project.

NBCDFW | Texas High-Speed Train Receives More Cash

 

Texas & Self Driving Cars. 4 Results from the Laissez-faire Libertarian Approach.

Google cars are maneuvering Austin roadways while Texas’ regulation of self-driving cars is laissez-faire libertarian.

4 Reasons Why the libertarian approach has prevailed:

  • Texas laws & regulation have no obvious restrictions on self-driving vehicles
  • Google is frustrated with a year delay in California’s state regulation of self driving cars
  • DPS is reportedly working with other states on the issue
  • TXDOT says it is waiting for legislative guidance

Statesman | In Texas, debate continues over Google self-driving cars

Car Hacking Top Security Risk for McAfee

McAfee Labs 2016 Threats Predictions puts hacking cars as the top security risk, & here’s why:

Findlaw | Technologist | Car Hacking Tops List of 2016 Cybersecurity Threats

Trend: Self Driving Cars. New Fed Rules. 3 Points to Know.

Background

  •  In 2013, the feds were super cautious about self driving cars. 
  • States stepped up and began creating regulatory frameworks
  • Then, California asked the feds for advice & the feds began rethinking their position

New Federal Guidelines Emerging for Self Driving Cars that will:

  • Transportation Secretary has directed National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to get moving on self driving car rules
  • The new rules will: “reflect today’s technology and his sense of urgency to bring innovation to our roads that will make them safer.”
  • Feds are likely to endorse self driving cars in the new rules

State Regulation Leader:

  • California will release new rules to move self driving cars to a broader use in California by the end of 2015.

APNewsBreak: Feds revising wary stance on self-driving cars

New High Speed Rail Group Forms to Bring Golden State to the Silver Mines. 9 Quick Facts. No State Dollars.

What’s the new high speed rail project? High Speed Rail from Los Angeles to Las Vegas

What group is behind the project? Nevada High-Speed Rail Authority

9 Facts to Know about the Project:

  • It has an exclusive relationship with XpressWest ( a Las Vegas based company)
  • no state dollars are pledged or committed 
  • NV Governor’s Office of Economic Development is engaged in the project
  • zero-emissions train
  • cuts in half the time of the travel to 80 minutes
  • tickets will cost less than $100 round-trip
  • will ultimately connect with the California High Speed Rail Project
  • Estimated to cut road traffic by 25%
  • Partnership with a Chinese firm that has pledged $100 million for the $8 billion project

Sacramento Bee | Project to link Vegas and California with train gets boost