Governor Perry has named Texas Transportation Commissioner Hope Andrade as interim Chair to succeed Ric Williamson, who died December 30. Andrade has been a member of the Commission since 2003 when she was appointed by Perry after the Commission was expanded from three to five members.
Perry names Andrade interim transportation chairman - Houston Chronicle
Interim chair named at transportation commission - Austin Business Journal
Volume 2, Issue 1 of the All Systems Go newsletter has been released. Fred Gilliams’ monthly update reports on the progress of CapMetro’s commuter rail line.
Texas Transportation Chair Ric Williamson died last night from an apparent heart attack. Williamson was appointed to the Commission by Gov. Rick Perry in March 2001 and became the Chair in January 2004.
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With TXDOT budget cuts trickling down to the local levels, Austin District Engineer Bob Daigh predicts that the district could rely on the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority (CTRMA) to pick up the slack.
The Austin District’s right-of-way budget has been cut in half and the consultant budget was decreased by 57%. As of February, added capacity projects will be halted through the end of the fiscal year. Worse news: budget reductions could remain in place through 2009.
To help ease the burden, the Austin District is negotiating with the CTRMA to begin design work on projects that the District no longer has the budget for, including five toll projects approved in the CAMPO 2030 Plan and MoPac managed express lanes.
CAMPO Executive Director Michael Aulick notified CAMPO Chair Kirk Watson on Friday of his intent to resign as of January 15, the day after the CAMPO Transportation Policy Board’s next meeting (the December 10 CAMPO TPB meeting has been cancelled). Aulick has served as head of the agency for 15 years.
CAMPO director Mike Aulick resigns - Austin Business Journal
Aulick to leave CAMPO after 15 years - Austin American-Statesman
On December 1, US 183A toll rates for four-axle vehicles will drop about 33% in an effort to provide fairness to vehicles that are just slightly bigger or heavier than cars. The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority anticipates that this change will encourage use of the toll road by boat owners, landscapers and general contractors whose vehicles do not cause as much damage as the heavy trucks which are charged higher rates to make up for the greater damage these vehicles inflict on the road.
In addition, the CTRMA is eliminating the toll collectors at Brushy Creek, which has the effect of eliminating the multi-axle toll rate altogether. All vehicles will pay the two-axle rate of 50 cents cash or 45 cents with the TxTag.
Texas voters approved Proposition 12 by 63%, paving the way reducing the state’s multi-billion dollar transportation shortfalls. The constitutional amendment allows the state to issue $5 billion in bonds to fund road construction and maintenance.
The Texas Legislature must now approve the authorizing legislation before the bonds can be issued.
Despite conjecture that residential growth would precede retail in the SH 130 corridor, the Austin Business Journal reports on the development of over three million square feet of mixed-use development at the intersection of SH 130, Parmer Lane and U.S. Highway 290.
SH 130 Retail Boom - Austin Business Journal
“Take on Traffic” announced the group’s intention to continue battling congestion. The group will focus on downtown light synchronization, turn lanes, land use planning and other alternative strategies.
‘Take on Traffic’ Campaign Aims to Reduce Austin Road Congestion - Fox 7 Austin
The City of San Marcos will take over pass-through financing agreement from Hays County for improvements and expansion of FM 1626 and FM 110. Hays County Commissioners had approved the pass-through agreement in 2006, but the bond proposal package failed to pass muster with Hays County voters in May 2007.
Estimated cost for both projects is $153 million; under the terms of the agreement the Texas Department of Transportation will reimburse $133 million based on traffic estimates on the new road sections.
Hays County Road improvements move one step closer - Austin Business Journal