"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)

STATE FACES MANY RURAL ROADBLOCKS

Texas Gov. Rick Perry wants to build a big highway through the Lone Star State. No, make that a really big highway, as in a monstrously big highway.  Read more

Source:
Amarillo Globe-News
By: John Kanelis

ANTI-CORRIDOR RALLY TIMED FOR GRADUATION DAY

While Gov. Rick Perry was in Johnson Coliseum addressing SFA graduates, on the other side of campus a group of citizens were not so happy about his appearance in Nacogdoches.  Read more

Source:
The Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel
By: Michael Rodden

TOLL HIKES USED TO BOOST FOREIGN COMPANY PROFITS

Drivers in North America are paying higher fees to cover the red ink of a Spanish infrastructure firm. Global toll road giant Cintra announced yesterday that its first quarter revenue had jumped 15.3 percent thanks in part to toll hikes on roads in the US, Canada, Chile, Ireland and Spain. Read more

Source:
The Newspaper.com
By: Staff

PUBLIC WARY OF INCREASING EFFORTS TO LEASE ROADS

An increasing number of international companies are looking to make multibillion-dollar investments in U.S. roads and bridges. But a brewing fight in Pennsylvania offers a test of the American public's willingness to give up control of vital infrastructure -- and potentially pay higher tolls.  Read more

Source:
The Wall Street Journal
By: Santiago Perez

ACT NOW TO STOP OKLAHOMA NAFTA SUPERHIGHWAY

Despite massive public opposition, on Tuesday, April 29th, the Oklahoma state legislature approved a bill to allow creation of “Smart Ports” and continuation of the NAFTA Superhighway system in Oklahoma.  Read more

Source:
Canada Free Press
By: Tom Deweese

LAWMAKER TARGETS AGENCY

The Texas Department of Transportation has done more harm to the public's trust of state government than any other agency and needs to be overhauled, state Rep. Linda Harper-Brown, R-Irving, said Wednesday.  Read more

Source:
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
By: Gordon Dickson

MACQUARIE CIRCLES AIRPORT IN TEXAS

The Macquarie Group's airport ambitions in the US have spread to Texas, where its infrastructure division is in talks to lease all or part of the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in the Texas capital, Austin.  Read more

Source:
The Australian
By: David Nason

WHY DOES THE LONE STAR STATE ALLOW TXDOT'S BUREAUCRATIC ARROGANCE?

The headlines might have read, “No Hope, No More,” but we have been on a collision course over the future of TxDOT ever since Gov. Perry's dismissal last week of interim commissioner Hope Andrade.  Read more

Source:
San Antonio Express-News
By: Ken Allard

CAN DELISI STEER TRANSPORTATION THROUGH ALL THE POTHOLES?

As the new chairwoman of the Texas Transportation Commission, Deirdre Delisi has to convince a corps of skeptics that she is up to the job.  Read more

Source:
Austin American-Statesman
By: The Editorial Board

STATUS QUO AT TXDOT

On Wednesday, Texas Gov. Rick Perry announced he had appointed Deirdre Delisi, his former Chief of Staff, as the new Chairman of the Texas Transportation Commission, which oversees the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). As of today, I will not vote to confirm her appointment in the next Legislative session.  Read more

Source:
Texas Weekly
By: Sen. Glenn Hegar, District 18