"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

-Margaret Mead,
US anthropologist (1901 - 1978)

Vote to end moratorium & sell our PUBLIC highways to PRIVATE corporations IMMINENT!

The Texas House is poised to vote to sell our PUBLIC highways to PRIVATE, foreign corporations in sweetheart deals that will charge the traveling public 75 cents a mile to use our PUBLIC roadways. That's more than $3,000 a year PER COMMUTER on average. These bills have already passed the Senate so if they pass the House, they'll go to the Governor who will happily sign them into LAW!  Read more

Source:
http://www.texasturf.org
By: Teri Hall

Senate poised to hand public freeways to private toll operators

Texans don’t want their PUBLIC highway system sold to the highest bidder, nor do they want corporate-run toll roads that cost commuters 75 cents a mile to get to work. Private toll road contracts are due to sunset this fall. Today, the Texas Senate will vote on whether to extend these contracts called Comprehensive Development Agreements (CDAs) in Texas also known as public private partnerships (PPPs). CDAs need to sunset. In 2007, Texans stood-up and demanded a moratorium on CDAs and sent a bill to the Governor with a combined vote of 169-4.  Read more

Source:
http://www.texasturf.org
By: Terri Hall

Cintra lands 52 year deal on I-635 in Dallas

The Texas Transportation Commission Thursday conditionally awarded the LBJ Development Partners, a private-public partnership, a contract to finance, design, construct, operate and maintain the $4-billion, 13-mile LBJ-635 corridor in Dallas. The PPP’s main partner is Spanish toll road developer Cintra, which will lead the design and construction team. The 55-year contract is expected to be finalized in two months Read more

Source:
http://texas.construction.com/news/newswatch/archive/030909.asp
By: Eileen Schwartz

$700 MILLION EYED FOR TOLL PROJECTS

The Texas Department of Transportation has set aside more than $700 million in economic stimulus funds for toll road projects across the state, sparking criticism and questions about whether the pay-to-drive roads are an appropriate use of the federal dollars. Read more

Source:
Houston Chronicle
By: Rosanna Ruiz

'BLUE-RIBBON' PANEL ENDORSES ROAD PRICING, SHIFT FROM GAS TAX

A blue-ribbon federal transportation panel called today for a temporary gas-tax hike followed by a move toward charging drivers directly for every mile they travel -- two ideas that have been soundly rejected by the White House in the past week.  Read more

Source:
The New York Times
By: Josh Voorhees, Greenwire

AFTER HEATED DEBATE, COURT TAKES STEP PROPONENTS SAY MAY PUT GRAND PARKWAY UNDER LOCAL CONTROL

Over strenuous objections by two members, Fort Bend County Commissioners Court approved a complex agreement proponents said gives county officials their best shot at controlling development of the Grand Parkway locally.  Read more

Source:
Fort Bend Now
By: Bob Dunn

GOV. PERRY TAKING 'HARD LOOK' AT LOCAL-OPTION RAIL LEGISLATION

Gov. Rick Perry’s office is taking a "hard look" at a sweeping transportation bill that would finance roads and rail lines in North Texas out of concern that it will be widened to other areas of the state and will include taxes and fees that go beyond Perry’s "vision" of transportation funding.  Read more

Source:
Fort Worth Star Telegram
By: Dave Montgomery

MACQUARIE SHRUGS OFF DEFAULT CONCERNS

MACQUARIE Infrastructure Group has played down concerns its part-owned Indiana Toll Road is at risk of defaulting on a $US4.1 billion ($A6.4 billion) debt facility, after revealing cash flows from the road barely covered interest payments in the final months of 2008.  Read more

Source:
The Age (Australia)
By: Scott Rochfort

HOUGHTON, UNDERWOOD REAPPOINTED TO TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION

Gov. Rick Perry has reappointed Texas Transportation Commissions Ted Houghton and Fred Underwood to six-year terms that would expire in February 2015. Both appointments are subject to confirmation by the Texas Senate.  Read more

Source:
Austin American Statesman
By: Ben Wear

PACE OF TEXAS STIMULUS SPENDING CALLED 'STAGGERING'

Thanks to the federal stimulus package, the state budget deficit is all but erased and the Texas economy will see a quick injection of up to $70 billion. But oversight needs to be slammed into place quickly as the money begins flying, state lawmakers said Thursday.  Read more

Source:
The Dallas Morning News
By: Christy Hoppe