CATC Mobility Headlines

The Governor’s office announced a special session of the Texas Legislature scheduled to begin July 1 at 10:00 AM to deal with extension of the operation of five state agencies, including TXDOT, and options for financing state’s highways.

The special session will consider the following issues:

• Legislation extending the existence of five state agencies that were subject to sunset review by the 81st Legislature that would otherwise be abolished without legislative action, and to change the review schedule for certain state agencies to balance the Sunset Advisory Commission’s workload. These agencies include the Texas Department of Transportation, Texas Department of Insurance, Texas Racing Commission, Office of Public Insurance Counsel and Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation.
• Legislation allowing the Texas Department of Transportation to issue general obligation bonds, which have already been approved by voters, for highway improvement projects, and for the creation, administration, financing and use of a Texas Transportation Revolving Fund to provide financial assistance for transportation projects.
• Legislation extending the authority of the Texas Department of Transportation and a regional mobility authority to use comprehensive development agreements to design, finance, build and maintain transportation infrastructure

Press Release on 81st Lege Special Session

Perry proclamation announcing the special session

Special session starts July 1 - Austin American-Statement Postcards from the Lege

TXDOT Executive Direct Amadeo Saenz announced internally today that long-time TXDOT employee Carlos A. Lopez, P.E., will be the new Austin District Engineer, effective July 1, 2009. Lopez currently serves as director of the TXDOT Traffic Operations Division.

The Highway Emergency Response Operator (HERO) program received $1.4 million in funding from the ARRA allotment.  HERO was the very last of the fourteen projects funded and then only on an 11-9 vote.  HERO received the remaining balance of funds available, short of the already reduced request of $2M.  It would not have been approved at all except for the determined support of Travis County Judge Sam Biscoe.

Other ARRA projects approved:

Other CAMPO news:

• Executive Director Joe Cantalupo framed the CAMPO $1.9M budget of which $1.3M is a direct Federal allocation with the balance coming from STPMM or local discretionary Federal funds.
• Bastrop and Caldwell Counties have accepted invitations to eventually join CAMPO.
• Senator Kirk Watson summarized the dismal results of the Legislative session. The major positive results were the Capital Metro legislation and the possible funding of the Rail Relocation Fund. Major failures were TxDOT Sunset Bill, local option and lack of funding. He noted that transportation funding was in a drought and getting worse. Cuts at the State level and rescissions at Federal level were more than offsetting gains from stimulus funding.
• A report was made on the status of the SH 45SW Committee by its Chairman Sam Biscoe. The committee is focusing on two options. Both have four tolled lanes. One would have stand alone financing; the other “toll system” financing. The latter would require a change in CAMPO policy to allow the toll road to use revenues from other toll roads to be considered as security for its bonded debt. SOS and Sierra Club presented a minority report with the conclusion that vehicle trips were declining and we didn’t need new roads (very insightful and creative alternative).
• Approved a $100K contract with Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) for forecasting bicycle and pedestrian usage.
• Approved a $30K contract with TTI for air quality emission analysis in case CAMPO must meet air quality conformance.
• Approved a $39K sole source contract with Eastern Research Group to refine greenhouse gas analysis of CAMPO transport model.
• Authorized Executive Director to sell air quality campaign material to San Antonio.

Community Impact News has an article regarding the big push initiative, which is being led by the Clean Air Coalition.   The threat and impacts of nonattainment are serious:

“We are exactly right on the edge of nonattainment,” said Cathy Stephens, environmental program manager of the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization. “All of the requirements that come with being designated nonattainment — the transportation requirements, the industry offset requirements — those apply for 20 years after you come back into compliance.”

Big Push initiative aims to improve air quality in Central Texas

On Monday, June 8 the CAMPO Board will vote on which projects to fund with the federal economic stimulus allotment. One project under consideration is the Highway Emergency Response Operator (HERO) roadside assistance program. CATC and other business organizations are advocates of this cost-effective strategy to reduce congestion on IH-35.

With a $2 million jumpstart using American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (AARA) funds, the HERO program can provide relief almost immediately for the heavily congested segment of IH-35 in Hays, Travis, and Williamson counties. The program can be sustained with a combination of future local Federal discretionary funds (STPMM) and private sponsorships. The most recent example of this is the Georgia Department of Transportation’s collaborative sponsorship with State Farm Insurance, in which State Farm will provide $5.1 million ($1.7m/year) in sponsorship fees over the next three years to support the Georgia DOT HERO program.

Fiscal constraints curtail the region’s ability to add enough road capacity to meet demand, so we must use make the best use of existing roadways. Roadway operational improvement is THE most effective means of reducing congestion. HERO should be implemented and the stimulus money allows us to do it now.

The City of Austin has created a website to provide information about special event street closures in Austin. The site will will help drivers plan the best traffic routes to avoid delays, and allows visitors to track road closures with an interactive map or via calendar.

Austin Special Events portal

Gov. Rick Perry appointed local real estate professional Ray Wilkerson as chair of the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority, replacing current Chair Bob Tesch, who is not seeking reappointment. Wilkerson is the president and CEO of real estate investment firm Ray Wikerson Companies.

Ray Wilkerson to chair CTRMA

In Monday’s Ben Wear “Getting There” column, Wear recounted the third installment of the rush-hour road race series pitting SH 130 against IH-35. The first and second races were split, though there was controversy over the initial race in which IH-35 came out ahead, because the competition occurred between college semesters (thus devoid of the usual student traffic on IH-35), and in the morning, rather than the more congested evening, rush-hour traffic. In the third race, which took place on the afternoon of May 7, the longer SH 130 route beat the IH-35 route by 22 minutes, despite the race taking place between semesters of most local universities.

Wear notes that SH 130 revenues are 12% below TXDOT projections, likely due to less-than-expected numbers of large trucks, which pay more than cars, which is not altogether surprising in a recessionary economy; however, overall traffic is almost 18 percent above projections so more car drivers are finding the quicker trip worth the cost.

We’re not surprised - CATC has always been a big fan of SH 130. CATC coordinated support for public hearings and critical votes for all phases of the Central Texas Turnpike Project roads, including SH 130. CATC spearheaded the effort to raise public awareness and education regarding the project by creating and maintaining the sh130.org website (archived here) and the SH 130 information hotline, and promoted bond initiatives to pay for local participation. As a result of these efforts, SH 130 and the other CTTP projects garnered unprecedented funding from local, state, and federal resources for construction and right-of-way. With the aid of innovative financing, SH 130 was on the ground and in use decades before it would have using traditional pay-as-you-go methods. CATC lobbied for the road to be named in honor of J.J. “Jake” Pickle, and HB 2296, designating of a portion of SH 130 as the “Pickle Parkway was signed in by Governor Perry in May 2007. We’re proud to be a part of the success of SH 130 and happy to see it operating just as we knew it would - saving time (and money) for those who use it.

There will be a major press event in support of the Texas Local Option Transportation Act (TLOTA) on the south steps of the Texas Capitol at 1:00 PM Friday.   Senator Carona is asking for a strong showing at this event to demonstrate support of local option transportation funding. The Conference Committee for CSHB 300, the TxDOT Sunset Bill, which includes provisions for local option transportation funding, will be appointed tonight after 10:10 PM. We must show them that there is widespread and deep support for TLOTA.

On Monday, May 11, the CAMPO Board will hold a public hearing regarding proposed CAMPO federal economic stimulus projects.  One project under consideration is the Highway Emergency Response Operator (HERO) roadside assistance program.  CATC and other business organizations are advocates of this cost-effective strategy to reduce congestion on IH-35.

HERO is one of only two applications for stimulus money involving operations. Normally, CATC doesn’t recommend using one-time Federal funds for ongoing expenses, but in this case it is imperative we make an exception. The HERO program (#13 on the proposed project list) is critical for the safe and effective operation of our roadways. When agencies face severe budget problems, seemingly mundane operations programs often get the ax. Construction programs are important and are more visible to the public but when it comes to safety and congestion reduction, real life examples have demonstrated that roadway operational improvement is THE most effective means of reducing congestion. Federal and State governments will once again underfund mobility, which means we cannot add enough capacity to meet demand. Until this changes we must make the best use of our existing roadways.

HERO should be implemented and the stimulus money allows us to do it now. If you support better mobility, urge CAMPO to fund HERO.

The public comment period is open through Wednesday, May 13 at 5:00 PM. To provide comments to CAMPO in support of the HERO program, you many testify at the May 11 public hearing OR submit comments at the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=xIY3CU696ydL0_2f9SbLrFkA_3d_3d.