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Virginia Department of Transportation has implemented a new priority system for fudning transportation projects. VA will score a project on the following criteria:
Economic Development is a trend we’re seeing in Texas. It was included in the rational for the Tomball Tollway. Tollways have vocal opposition, but economic growth can serve to offset opposition.
This week the State Public Works Board in California adopted condemantion resolutions for 16 more properties. Taking the total pending and potential eminent domain cases to 246 since December 2013. Fresno Bee
California’s experience is teaching us that high speed rail is a process. To move high speed rail along more quickly, the California legislature added a budget rider that will:
To those who say transperancy is cut, the California politicians say- it doesn’t harm transperancy, it enhances efficiency.
The US Supreme Court sided with Texas denial of the confederate license plate design. One would naturally think the ruling hinged on free speech, but alas, one would be wrong.
The US Supreme Court decision found that Texas could deny the licnese plate because the license plate itself is the property of Texas and refelct government speech.
On Wednesday, California Labor Commissioner ruled that ride share drivers are employees. Its a ruling some say upends the business models for ride-share. The Regulatory rational:
Ride Share companies are involved in every aspect of the operation.
Ride Share companies dictates such things as how old a driver’s car can be and who is qualified to offer services through the Uber platform.
The Labor Commissioner ruling arose from a wage and reimbursement dispute. It also applies only to the 1 wage dispute. State and federal lawsuits are also pending on this issue.
Senator Nichols has requested an Attorney General opinion as to METRO’s role in a rapid transit bus project down Post Oak in the Uptown Management District.
The background:
What inquiring minds want to know: Can the voter approved light rail be converted to buses and there still be an existing, enforceable contract?
The statement below, which may be attributed to Bill Hammond, CEO, Texas Association of Business (TAB), is as follows:
“According to some news reports, questions have been raised with regard to the CTRMA procurement of the 183 Bergstrom Expressway project. We need to focus on building roads instead of intrigue. TAB encourages the CTRMA to address these questions in a timely manner so that we can get back to the important job of getting Texans moving and keeping our economic development engine strong.
“Our fast-growing state leads the country on bringing innovative roadway projects to market. Given this growth and the enormous need to relieve traffic congestion in Texas, it is imperative that the industry has confidence in our public procurement processes for roadway infrastructure projects.
“We need industry confidence and the public trust. We support a transparent and fair process when it comes to addressing the need for improved transportation resources in Texas.”
An editorial at the Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel recommends 3 ways to increase trasnportation funding:
“Officials at the Texas port are rethinking how they use their land amid a flurry of construction by energy companies and soaring volumes of oil and petroleum products moving through the port, Executive Director John LaRue said in an interview with WSJ Logistics Report. A 40% plunge in the price of crude in the last year hasn’t dented traffic, he said.”
The details:
Texas Oil Boom Fuels Corpus Christi Port Growth | WallStreet Journal
Vic Suhm, the executive director of the Tarrant Regional Transportation Coalition, believes in his heart of hearts that Texas “still needs to figure out a long term funding mechanism that is less dependent on gas tax.”
“That’s clearly something that I think will not go away,” he says. “That’ll be here next session, too.”
IH-635 East Legislative Caucus formed to continue development of the highway, running from U.S. 75 to I-30.
The caucus members: