Linda Koop named Chair of the NCTCOG RTC

Regional Transportation Council

The Regional Transportation Council is the independent transportation policy body of the Metropolitan Planning Organization. The RTC, which meets the second Thursday of each month, is comprised of 40 members: 33 local elected or appointed officials representing cities and counties, and seven transportation provider representatives. The RTC is responsible for overseeing the metropolitan transportation planning process. Primary activities include:

Providing guidance regarding the development of multimodal transportation plans and programs,
Programming federal and State funds for the implementation of transportation improvements,
Selecting specific federally funded projects and programs,
Assuring the coordination of services among transportation providers, and
Ensuring compliance with federal and State laws and regulations pertaining to metropolitan transportation and air quality planning.
SOURCE: NCTCOG WEBSITE

ByLaws and Procedures

RTC SUBCOMMITTEE INFORMATION
April 4, 2008

T. Oscar Trevino Jr., P.E., Chair
Mayor
City of North Richland Hills

Linda Koop, Vice Chair (named chair at June 10, 2008 RTC Meeting)
Councilmember
City of Dallas

B. Glen Whitley, Secretary
County Judge
Tarrant County

Ron Brown
Commissioner
Ellis County

Mike Cantrell
Commissioner
Dallas County

Sheri Capehart
Councilmember
City of Arlington

Maribel Chavez, P.E.
District Engineer
TxDOT, Fort Worth District

Maurine Dickey
Commissioner
Dallas County

Rudy Durham
Councilmember
City of Lewisville

Loretta Ellerbe
Councilmember
City of Plano

Charles Emery
Board Chair
Denton County Transportation Authority

Mark Enoch
Board Member
Dallas Area Rapid Transit

Sal Espino
Councilmember
City of Fort Worth

Robert Franke, P.E.
Mayor
City of Cedar Hill

Bill Hale, P.E.
District Engineer
TxDOT, Dallas District

Roger Harmon
County Judge
Johnson County

John Heiman, Jr.
Mayor Pro Tem
City of Mesquite

Kathleen Hicks
Mayor Pro Tem
City of Fort Worth

Vonciel Jones Hill
Councilmember
City of Dallas

Joe Jaynes
Commissioner
Collin County

Ron Jensen
Councilmember
City of Grand Prairie

Ron Jones
Mayor
City of Garland

Jungus Jordan
Councilmember
City of Fort Worth

Pete Kamp
Mayor Pro Tem
City of Denton

Mike Leyman
Councilmember
City of Mansfield

John Loza
Board Member
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport

Bill McLendon
Councilmember
City of Hurst

Pauline Medrano
Councilmember
City of Dallas

Becky Miller
Mayor
City of Carrollton

Rich Morgan
Citizen Representative
City of Dallas

John Murphy
Councilmember
City of Richardson

Ron Natinsky
Councilmember
City of Dallas

Robert Parmelee
Chair
Fort Worth Transportation Authority

Rick Stopfer
Councilmember
City of Irving

John Tatum
Citizen Representative
City of Dallas

Marti VanRavenswaay
Commissioner
Tarrant County

Paul Wageman
Chair
North Texas Tollway Authority

Cynthia White
Commissioner
Denton County

Bill Whitfield
Mayor
City of McKinney

Kathryn Wilemon
Councilmember

Regional Transportation Council considers how to pay for rail service

By MICHAEL A. LINDENBERGER - The Dallas Morning News - Thursday, June 12, 2008


If North Texans are going to see a new 251-mile network of suburban rail lines by 2030 – an idea that remains a cherished goal of elected officials and regional transportation leaders – they are going to have to pay for it, and pay steeply.

The project will cost about $9 billion – an amount that would be funded almost entirely by new fees and taxes


The question of what those fees should be took center stage Thursday as the Regional Transportation Council voted to authorize a plan that will cobble together a menu of possible tax increases to pay for what is being called Rail North Texas.

Among the fees that the staff has proposed are higher property taxes, higher vehicle registration fees, a new sales tax on gasoline and a new tax on new car purchases, a new resident impact fee, among others.

Between now and August, council members will meet with Texas lawmakers to find support for a menu that will produce the hundreds of millions of dollars needed each year while drawing the lowest possible amount of opposition from lawmakers and voters alike.

Several elected officials who spoke Thursday said public support for the rail idea has only increased in the wake of worsening traffic and soaring gas prices. But as always, the question came down to how to pay for it.

Plans had initially called for the rail expansion to be paid for by sales tax increases, a funding source that would require legislative approval. That idea – which would allow cities to hold sales tax elections to raise rates above the state cap of 8.25 percent – has failed in each of the past two sessions of the Legislature.

And while the sales tax idea remains officially a possibility, Thursday's action – which followed only cursory discussion – made clear council members have all but given up on winning lawmaker support.

"We've walked into several buzz saws with the sales tax idea, and we have been told that that is not the panacea that is going to get us through Austin," said Fort Worth Councilman Jungus Jordan, who led the planning group behind the idea to request a series of smaller tax increases instead of the sales tax hike.

The decision to seek a menu of easier-to-digest tax or fee increases is smart politics, said Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley. "It's a higher-odds proposition," said Mr. Whitley, who was elected vice-chairman of the RTC Thursday. Dallas City Council members Linda Koop and Ron Natinsky were elected chairwoman and secretary, respectively.

Still, each of the new fees will have their own and in some cases just-as-determined opponents who will have to be outfoxed in Austin, a prospect that has worried even some of the initiative's strongest advocates.

Car dealers, for instance, are hardly eager to support new taxes on vehicle purchases, Mr. Morris and Mr. Whitley each noted.

In the meantime, Mr. Whitley and others said, voters are ready to spend more on transportation – not just in spite of the higher gas prices and worsening traffic, but because of them. "If we don't have transit here eventually, there won't be any economic development," said Collin County Commissioner Joe Jaynes.

Mr. Morris added, "Four-dollar gasoline is really going to require all of us to look at our world in a different way. We may not need to have three or four cars in a single household. It just requires seeing our way forward."

Updates on TxDOT Sunset Review Recommendations and TTC Status

Click on link above to see:
Corridor Watch site for articles about:
Sunset Review Commission's May 29, 2008 Recommendations for TxDOT
International assessment of risk in PPP's (Private Public Partnership toll projects)
Other information about TTC-69 and other projects

Meeting Agenda Items to Watch

Texas Transportation Commission - Thursday, June 26, 2008 - 9:00 A.M.
125 East 11th Street, Austin, Texas 78701-2483
See full draft agenda at:
http://www.dot.state.tx.us/publications/commission/2008_meetings/jun26_agenda.pdf


Toll Road Projects

Various Counties - Act on the recommendation of department staff concerning: (1) the selection of the best value proposal for the planning, development, acquisition, design, construction, financing, maintenance, and operation of the Texarkana/Shreveport to Mexico element of the Trans-Texas Corridor system (I-69/TTC), and (2) the execution of a comprehensive development agreement for I-69/TTC (MO).

Transportation Planning

Various Counties- Approve projects in the competitive portion of the Border Colonias Access Program (MO).

Judge grants restraining order against critic of Denton mayoral candidate

By LOWELL BROWN - Denton Record-Chronicle - Sat., May 31, 2008

Denton mayoral candidate Mark Burroughs asked a judge Friday to stop a vocal critic from printing more ads attacking his campaign.

A state district judge granted Mr. Burroughs a temporary restraining order against the Watchdog Society of Denton and its leader, political activist Bob Clifton. A hearing to consider extending the order was set for June 12 – two days before the runoff election between Mr. Burroughs and incumbent Perry McNeill.

Mr. Clifton, who lost a mayoral bid in 2006, denied any wrongdoing.

He also criticized the restraining order, signed by visiting Judge Monte Lawlis.

"It's such a blatant violation of First Amendment rights it's unbelievable," Mr. Clifton said. "This is political desperation, because what he is doing is trying to stifle the truth."

The Watchdog Society funded two mailers before the May 10 election questioning Mr. Burroughs for alleged conflicts of interest. Mr. Burroughs, 50, a lawyer and former City Council member, said the mailers violated state laws that govern reporting of campaign spending.

"The intent [of the restraining order] is to prevent similar flaunting of the election laws," Mr. Burroughs said.

The Watchdog Society had not registered a campaign treasurer with the city secretary's office as of Friday afternoon. The state election code prevents political committees from spending or accepting more than $500 unless they file a campaign treasurer appointment.

Mr. McNeill, 72, a retired professor and engineer seeking a second term as mayor, said he was unaware of Mr. Burroughs' lawsuit and couldn't comment in detail.

Mr. Clifton has been working against Mr. Burroughs for months as part of a campaign against officials backed by former Mayor Euline Brock, Mr. McNeill's predecessor.

In April, Mr. Clifton sued unsuccessfully to keep Mr. Burroughs, Mr. McNeill and another candidate off the ballot for alleged violations of the city's term limits. A judge allowed the candidates to stay on the ballot, but the lawsuit over their eligibility is pending.

Later, the Watchdog Society funded two mailers questioning Mr. Burroughs over his law firm's government contracts. His firm, Sawko & Burroughs, collects delinquent taxes for many local governments, including the city of Denton, which some called a potential conflict of interest.

Mr. Burroughs has repeatedly said the contracts aren't a conflict because of how his firm is paid. The money comes from fees levied on taxpayers' past-due amounts, not from government coffers.

The judge's order Friday prevents the Watchdog Society from raising funds or distributing any materials related to the mayoral race. It also bars Mr. Clifton from collecting money or distributing political materials "without first complying with all applicable election laws."
Read more in the Dallas Morning News

NCTCOG PUBLIC MEETINGS

The Regional Transportation Council of the North Central Texas Council of Governments invites the public to learn what is happening with transportation in the region and help set priorities for the future.

PUBLIC MEETINGS

Monday, June 9, 6:30 p.m.
Lewisville City Hall
151 W. Church Street
Lewisville, Texas 75057

Tuesday, June 10, 10 a.m.
NCTCOG Transportation
Council Room
616 Six Flags Drive
Arlington, Texas 76011

Tuesday, June 10, 6:30 p.m.
Fort Worth Intermodal
Transportation Center
1000 Jones Street
Fort Worth, Texas 76102

For additional information about public meetings, visit: www.nctcog.org/trans/outreach/meetings . Please forward this e-mail to anyone who would be interested in learning more about transportation news.

PUBLIC MEETING TOPICS:

1. Air Quality Update: Ozone Season & New Ozone Standard
2. Long-range planning: Mobility 2030 Amendments
3. Status Report: Metropolitan Planning Area Expansion
4. Draft Recommendation: Congestion Managment Process
Resolution & Implementation Plan
5. Project Inventory: Transportation Improvement Program Modifications

Submit comments online.

For special accommodations due to a disability or for language translation, please contact Jahnae Stout at 817-608-2335 or jstout@nctcog.org at least 72 hours prior to the meeting. Reasonable accommodations will be made.

If you did not receive this e-mail directly, sign up at www.nctcog.org/transcomm to receive future public meeting notices and other transportation news.

Nomination for Top Bonehead Quote from local candidate during May 2008 Election

By Faith Chatham - DFWRCC - May 11, 2008
Candidate for District 6, Arlington City Council, Joseph Farah wins our "top bonehead" award for bonehead mentality in a local race.

Joseph Farah said Arlington badly needs a light-rail system, particularly one that runs from the city's entertainment district to Dallas. However, he opposes bus service circulating inside Arlington.

"We don't want to attract a city full of poor people," Mr. Farah said. He said that would hurt Arlington's finances.

Somehow Mr. Farah has failed to notice that Arlington already is a diverse city. The poor are already among us. Many clean our houses, serve our fast food, roof our dwellings, work in our hotels, and are (like myself) retirees who have slid down the economic scale. Arlington has the dubious distinction of being one of the largest cities in the USA without mass transit and is within the DFW metropolitian district which fails to meet EPA clean air standards. Arlington residents are tied to automobiles for commutes to work, school, and for daily errands. Mass transit could help relieve the stress on the air standards but Mr. Farah reflects the bonehead mentality which keeps fueling the anti-mass transit factions of the city.

Arlington is also tied to a multi-generational pattern of subsidizing billionaries in business with sale tax dollars and exercise of eminent domain for private profit enterprizes: (i.e., Texas Rangers Stadium, Dallas Cowboys Stadium and Glory Park). Other cities (such as Grapevine) use their sales tax dollars for rail solutions which benefit all sectors of their city while Arlington devotes the bulk of its sale tax dollars to construction of stadiums which provide minimum wage part-time employment.

Yes, Mr. Farah, there is a need for mass transit to the Dallas Cowboy's stadium in Arlington. Those poor people who will work at low hourly wages to operate that complex won't be able to afford the gasoline to drive or to pay tolls on I-30 and SH 161 to get to serve the elites who are being subdized so the rich can get richer and enjoy the status symbol which football and baseball has become!

The election returns for Alrington City Council District 6 were:
Robert Shepherd: 4,411
Dennis Hackler: 608
Joseph Farah: 374
Brian Willett: 511
Vera McKissic: 3,436

McKissic and Shepherd will be in a run-off.
They may mirror Mr. Farah's views on mass transit. Voters should question them and vote accordingly.

BIOS of two remaining in race:
Robert Shepard

Occupation: Lawyer

Age: 49

Academic: Bachelor's degree, University of Texas at Arlington, 1980; law degree, St. Mary's University School of Law, 1983

Career: Associate lawyer, 1983-85, Jones & Greene, P.C.; associate lawyer, 1985-87, Jones, Parks & Huffman, P.C.; lawyer and shareholder, Parks Huffman McVay Shepard & Wells, P.C., 1987 to present; member, College of Business Administration advisory council, University of Texas at Arlington, 1996-98; economic development committee member and executive committee chairman, Arlington Chamber of Commerce, 1997-2000; member, Arlington Library Advisory Board, 1998-2001; member, Citizens Bond Election Committee, 1998-99; board member and president, Downtown Arlington Inc., 1998-2003; member and chairman, Arlington Planning and Zoning Commission, 2001-07; Arlington Volunteer of the Year, 2007; no previous political races

Contact: robert@robertshepard.org, 817-861-1000


Vera McKissic

Occupation: Director of educational ministries, Cornerstone Baptist Church

Age: 50

Academic: Bachelor's degree, Henderson State University, Arkadelphia, Ark., 1978; some graduate classes, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2002-05

Career: Teacher, Dumas and Pine Bluff school districts, Arkansas 1979-83; teacher, Arlington Independent School District, 1984-92; ombudsman, Arlington ISD, 1998-2000; director of education and women's ministries, Cornerstone Baptist Church, 1994 to present; no previous political races

Contact: www.vera4council.com, vera4council@gmail.com, 817-288-8104

DART renstates service to southeast Dallas neighborhood

By CRAIG CIVALE - WFAA-TV - May 10, 2008
An old friend has come back home to Turner Courts. Buses are darting through the neighborhood, back online, and more importantly, back after dark.

"Most people have to walk home from the store, and it's dark, and they're afraid whether they come home from work or go grocery shopping, come into the complex," said Sylvia Baylor, a Turner Courts resident.

Buses were still coming to the area over the last year, but they would only pick up and drop off a few blocks away. The change is not only a matter of convenience, for some it is a necessity.

"From early in the morning, 8 o’clock, as late at 10:15, 11:30 sometimes. Only transportation I have," said Mayela Lopez, DART rider.

The only way Lopez has to get around, and if you don't think a couple of blocks matters, try traveling with 7 kids.

"It's going to be real nice and easy for me. Convenient, instead of walking 2-3 streets down, I can walk across to the apartment where I live," said Lopez.

The transit authority decided to give the route another try, but this time beef up awareness.

"One of the things we've done is step up security in that area. Having officers deployed in the area, it's a visible deterrent that's always good one for us," said Morgan Lyons, DART spokesperson.

Good for DART, and even better for residents in Turner Courts who fought so hard to get the busses back.

"We're just glad it's working, glad that everyone is coming together, that we seeing things being done,” said Baylor.
Read more on WFAA

NTTA May 7th Agenda

AGENDA
NTTA SYSTEM PROJECTS AND OPERATIONS COMMITTEE MEETING
NORTH TEXAS TOLLWAY AUTHORITY
BOARD ROOM, SUITE 200
5900 WEST PLANO PARKWAY
PLANO, TEXAS 75093
May 7, 2008
8:00 AM
All agenda items are subject to possible discussions, questions and actions by this
committee of the North Texas Tollway Authority Board of Directors. Agenda item
numbers are assigned for ease of reference only and do not necessarily reflect the order of their consideration by the committee. The committee reserves the right to discuss anyitems in executive session whenever legally justified under the Open Meetings Act.
Unless otherwise noted, a resolution recommending the award of a contract or any other action refers to the committee’s recommendation of the action in question to the NTTA Board of Directors.

CALL TO ORDER
1. Establishment of quorum
2. Resolution approving minutes of the April 2, 2008 meeting of the NTTA System
Projects and Operations Committee.

BRIEFINGS AND RELATED ACTION ITEMS
State Highway (SH) 121
3. Recommend authorization of a supplemental agreement to the contract with
Bridgefarmer & Associates, Inc. for revision to design of SH 121 main lanes at
future Exchange Parkway in an amount not to exceed $700,000.
3. Recommend authorization of a change order pertaining to the agreement with
Austin Bridge and Road L.P. for the relocation of a main lane toll gantry
additional construction of two ramp toll gantries on SH 121 in an amount not to
exceed $638,022.

President George Bush Turnpike Eastern Extension (PGBT EE)
5. Recommend approval of a work authorization with PBS&J for construction
management services on Section 30 of the PGBT EE and PGBT EE corridor
construction management oversight in an amount not to exceed $16,060,603.20.
6. Recommend authorization of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with
Dallas Area Rapid Transit (“DART”) in connection with adjustments of DART
facilities required for Section 30 of the PGBT EE in the amount of $4,500,000.
7. Recommend authorization of three contracts for asbestos abatement and
demolition of structures on PGBT EE to the lowest responsive, responsible bidder
for each such contract from among the following seven pre-qualified responsible
bidders: CST Environmental Inc.; F. Hall Mowing; Intercon Environmental Inc.;
J.C.’s Environmental Technologies; 1 Priority Environmental Services Inc.; Lynx
Contractors, Inc.; and RNDI Companies, Inc., in the amount of $1,100,000.

8. Recommend authorization of a contract for construction of PGBT EE Section 30
with Zachry Construction Company in the amount of $121,867,755.52.
9. Recommend authorization of an Interlocal Agreement (ILA) with the City of
Dallas regarding a permanent easement and a bridge and storm water retention system to be constructed in PGBT EE Section 32 over Lake Ray Hubbard.
10. Recommend approval of a work authorization with Jacobs Carter Burgess for
mechanically-stabilized-earth-wall design services on Section 30 of the PGBT EE
in an amount not to exceed $368,886.

Southwest Parkway
11. Recommend authorization of a utility agreement with Atmos Energy for
Southwest Parkway Section 4 regarding the relocation of a gas transmission line
in the amount of $935,500.
State Highway (SH) 161
12. Recommend authorization of a contract and work authorization with HDR for
corridor management services on SH 161 in an amount not to exceed $900,000.
Conversion to All-Electronic Toll Collection (all-ETC)
13. Recommend approval of a work authorization with HNTB Corporation for
preparation of a comprehensive project plan for conversion to all-ETC on the
NTTA System in an amount not to exceed $317,200.
14. Recommend authorization of a supplemental agreement to a contract with
Kimley-Horn Associates, Inc. for design modifications required for all-ETC
conversion of ramp toll plazas along the DNT from IH 635 to SH 121, and
development of precast gantry standard drawings in an amount not to exceed
$730,908.
15. Recommend authorization of a supplemental agreement to a contract with Halff
Associates for design modifications required for all-ETC conversion of ramp
plaza plans along DNT south of IH 635 in an amount not to exceed $290,558.
16. Recommend authorization of the purchase of Violation Enforcement System
equipment from Science Applications International Corporation, Electronic
Transaction Consultants Corporation, Northstar Controls, Davis Inotek, and
Graybar Electric to be used for all-ETC on DNT, AATT and MCLB for an
aggregate amount of $2,800,000.
17. Recommend authorization of a contract with MasTec North America, Inc. for
fiber relocation along the DNT, MCLB and AATT in the amount of $648,151.50.
Information Technology (IT)
18. Recommend authorization of the purchase of ONSSI software licenses required to
implement internet-protocol-based incident detection content analysis from
SecureNet, Inc. for the NTTA’s Incident Detection System from under its existing
NTTA contract at a cost not to exceed $500,000.
Maintenance
19. Recommend authorization of the purchase of dump trucks from Grande Truck
Center as part of the vehicle fleet to be used to maintain SH 121 in an amount of
$2,406,709.80.
Communications
20. Recommend authorization of a new trailblazer sign design to be utilized
throughout the NTTA system.

BRIEFINGS AND UPDATES
21. Project Focus
A. Southwest Parkway
B. DNT – 4A
C. DNT Phase 3
D. PGBT EE
22. Project Updates
23. EXECUTIVE SESSION - Pursuant to chapter 551, subchapter D, Texas Government Code:
A. Subsection 551.071(1), to receive advice from counsel about pending or
contemplated litigation and/or settlement offers
B. Section 551.072, to deliberate the purchase, exchange, lease, or value of
real property
C. Section 551.074(a)(1), to deliberate the appointment, employment,
evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline, or dismissal of a public
officer or employee
D. Section 551.076, to deliberate regarding security devices
24. CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION
A. Recommend authorization of the purchase of land for the location of a
maintenance center to be constructed to support maintenance of SH 121.
ADJOURNMENT

NOTES
A quorum of the Board of Directors may be present at this meeting for information-gathering purposes. However,NTTA Directors that are not Committee members will not vote on any Committee agenda items.
The North Texas Tollway Authority System includes the Dallas North Tollway (DNT), the President George Bush Turnpike (PGBT), the Addison Airport Toll Tunnel (AATT), Lewisville Lake Toll Bridge (LLTB) and the Mountain Creek Lake Bridge (MCLB).
The term TxDOT refers to the Texas Department of Transportation; NCTCOG refers to the North Central Texas Council of Governments.
SWP refers to the Southwest Parkway Project, State Highway (SH) 121 from IH 30 to FM 1187 in Tarrant County; EE refers to the Eastern Extension of the PGBT from SH 78 to IH 30 in Dallas County; SH 121 refers to SH 121 in Denton, Dallas, and Collin counties between Business SH 121 and U.S. 75; Chisholm Trail refers to SH 121 between
FM 1187 in Tarrant County and U.S. 67 in Johnson County; Trinity Parkway refers to the proposed Trinity Parkway project between SH 183/ IH 35E interchange and U.S. 175 in Dallas County; SH 161 refers to SH 161 between SH 183 and IH 20 in Dallas County; SH 170 refers to SH 170 between SH 114 and SH 199 in Denton, Tarrant and Parker
County; SH 360 refers to SH 360 between Green Oaks Boulevard and U.S. 67 in Tarrant, Johnson and Ellis County; SH 190 refers to SH 190 between IH 30 and IH 20 in Dallas County. Note that the end points for each of the referenced projects are approximate.
Persons with disabilities who plan to attend this meeting and who may need auxiliary aids or services such as interpreters for persons who are deaf or hearing impaired, readers, large print or Braille, are requested to contact Kiven.

Rep. MikeKrusee, Chair of House Transportation Committee jailed for drunk driving

By Isadora Vail and Tony Plohetski The Austin American Statesman The Blotter -Thursday, May 1, 2008
State Representative Mike Krusee, R- Williamson County, was swerving between lanes in his black BMW on the frontage road of U.S. 183 Wednesday night, according to officials and an arrest affidavit.

A Texas Department of Public Safety trooper arrested and charged Krusee in for driving while intoxicated. Krusee was booked into the Williamson County Jail at 11:15 p.m. Wednesday and was released at 8:55 a.m. today, officials said. His bail was set at $1,000.


Trooper Michael Scheffler wrote in the arrest affidavit that he followed Krusee down U.S. 183, after he noticed the serving, and saw that Krusse had expired registration, according to the affidavit.

After running his plates, the trooper pulled Krusee over on Black Oak Street near Jollyville, according to the affidavit.

Scheffler noticed a strong smell of alcohol and administered a field sobriety test, which Krusee failed, states the affidavit, and Krusse admitted to drinking one glass of wine.

He refused a Breathalyzer and blood test, according to the affidavit.

Neither Krusee nor his attorney, Jason Nassour, could be immediately reached for comment.

Krusee carried and passed legislation in 2003 that created something called the “driver responsibility program” to help fund the Texas Mobility Fund. That program included a number of surcharges for driving offenses, including $1,000 for a first conviction of driving while intoxicated.

Read more in the Austin American Statesman

Dallas Morning News Investigative Report on Trucking Hazards

Dallas Morning News investigative reporters spent over a year investigating safety problems involving 18-wheelers in Texas. Their reporting is based on federal, state and local accident and inspection reports and databases, court records, criminal public records databases and interviews with truckers, company owners, law enforcement, lawyers, academicians and other safety experts. This series focuses on the use of felons as drivers, the harsh working conditions truckers face and the industry's political influence in shaping laws and regulations.

Read full report in the Dallas Morning News

Why are we still paying for the Dallas North Tollway?

By David Schetcher - WFAA-TV - Tuesday, April 15, 2008
DALLAS — Believe it or not, the Dallas North Tollway was supposed to be free by now. That obviously didn't happen, and it never will.

With a drastic funding shortfall for new roads in North Texas, local leaders rely on toll roads to keep paying for what the state cannot afford.

Take State Highway 121 across Collin County. The North Texas Tollway Authority recently won the right to build what will be a concrete cash cow.

"It's the lure of money," said David Stall, a transportation watchdog with CorridorWatch.org. "It's the lure of big money."

In less than ten years, SH 121 is expected to bring in $223 million a year in tolls. One can also add $202 million for the Dallas North Tollway and $179 million on the President George W. Bush Turnpike.



DALLAS — Believe it or not, the Dallas North Tollway was supposed to be free by now. That obviously didn't happen, and it never will.

With a drastic funding shortfall for new roads in North Texas, local leaders rely on toll roads to keep paying for what the state cannot afford.

Take State Highway 121 across Collin County. The North Texas Tollway Authority recently won the right to build what will be a concrete cash cow.

"It's the lure of money," said David Stall, a transportation watchdog with CorridorWatch.org. "It's the lure of big money."

In less than ten years, SH 121 is expected to bring in $223 million a year in tolls. One can also add $202 million for the Dallas North Tollway and $179 million on the President George W. Bush Turnpike.


"It's important for the NTTA to be able to continue to provide transportation choices for drivers and alternative funding sources for the region," said Sherita Coffelt, a NTTA spokesperson, on why all that money is needed.

On SH 121, the NTTA has the authority to collect tolls for 52 years. In exchange, the NTTA wrote the region a check for $3.2 billion. The money will fund construction of non-tolled road projects the region needs, but that the state of Texas cannot afford.

"There is very little pressure to turn that money back, or lower the tolls or turn that road into a free road," Stall said. "There's a tremendous pressure to find more things to spend the money and grow your organization and your empire."

Originally, the idea behind toll roads in North Texas wasn't to generate revenue, but instead to build roads, pay them off and then eventually make them free.

In fact, the Dallas-Forth Worth Turnpike is a good example of just that. In 1977 it was paid off, became a free road and was renamed Interstate 30.

At the time, there were proposals to keep the tolls on and use them to pay for more roads.

Opponents lined up, including the city of Fort Worth, which complained about the "unlawful, illegal, immoral and fattening activities" of the toll authority. The opponents won and toll booths came off.

The Dallas North Tollway was built with the same promise: When it was "paid off" it would be "free," too.

That never happened.

"Before it was paid off, the decision was made to extend it," Coffelt explained.

To pay the bill, the NTTA used the revenue from the existing portion as collateral for the new loans. Since then, every time the NTTA builds a new road it uses existing toll revenue as collateral.

"Well, with the tremendous amount of money that comes in on a regular basis, you institutionalize it," Stall said. "You build an organization and a structure that is dependent on that revenue and constantly looking for new projects and new ways to spend that."

The NTTA has grown into an agency with more than 700 employees and a payroll of almost $27 million. And while the NTTA said it's an accountable and transparent organization, critics point out its board members are appointed, not elected by voters.

"You're not invited to the decision-making process," Stall said. "Those making the decisions know they're not accountable to you."

The NTTA is currently negotiating to build another new toll road that would lead to the new Cowboys stadium in Arlington: State Highway 161.

Transportation sources said during those negotiations, the NTTA asked for permanent tolling authority and has also asked to rewrite its 52-year deal for SH 121. It now wants permanent tolls there, too.

"As you know, there's a huge need in North Texas for additional transportation choices and additional funding sources," Coffelt said when asked if toll roads will ever be free. "And as long as that need exists, the NTTA will, too."
Read more on WFAA

Mass transit use hits 50-year high on pump prices

By Rebekah Kebede, Matthew Robinson and Matthew Lewis - Reuters - Monday, Mar 10, 2008
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The number of Americans hopping buses and grabbing subway straps has climbed to the highest level in half a century as soaring gasoline costs push more commuters to take mass transit.

U.S. mass transit ridership began to surge when gasoline hit the $3 a gallon level in 2005 and has continued to rise steadily ever since as pump prices top record after record, according to a report released on Monday by the American Public Transit Association.

"As people are struggling with the increase in fuel prices, they have to make adjustments, and one of the ways they are doing that is driving less and taking public transportation more," said William Millar, the president of the APTA.

Mass transit use increased by more than 2 percent in 2007 to the highest level in 50 years, with Americans taking more than 10 billion trips on public transport while the number of vehicle miles traveled was flat in the first 10 months of the year.

Even when gasoline prices dipped last year and some people returned to driving, others appear to have switched to public transport permanently, according to Millar.

"We started seeing gas prices consistently go above $3 a gallon (in 2005) and we noticed that overall transit ridership was going up," Millar said.

"When gas prices moderated, some of those people said, 'Hey, this works pretty good for me, I'll stick with it."'

The largest area of mass transit growth was in light rail use, which includes street cars and trolleys, with a 6 percent increase during 2007. Commuter rails were second with an increase of 5.5 percent in ridership and subway ridership had an increase of 3.1 percent.

Cities with less than 100,000 people also saw a large increase -- 6.4 percent -- in public transportation use.

With many analysts predicting $4 gasoline this summer, mass transit use is likely to become even more popular.

"If past experience is any indication, as the price of fuel goes up and particularly as it hits a psychological milestone, which I expect $4 is, I would expect that we would see a spurt in ridership," Millar said.

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Art Hall Accepts Thousands From Valero PAC, Employees

Hall Previously Claimed Valero Told Him His Wife's Position With The Firm Constituted No Conflict Of Interest
Vince Leibowitz - February 28, 2008

AUSTIN--Former San Antonio City Councilman Art Hall has accepted more than $5,000 in contributions from Valero Energy's political action committee and several of its employees, according to records from the Texas Ethics Commission.

On February 8, Hall received a $5,000 contribution from the Valero Political Action Committee, a PAC notorious for giving thousands of dollars to Texas' most conservative Republicans-- and Railroad Commissioner Michael L. Williams, the man Hall and Dale Henry (D-Lampasas) seek to replace in the November general election.

In addition to the $5,000 from Valero's PAC, Hall also took more than $2,000 from Valero employees and attorneys in late January and February. According to Hall's most recent filing with the Texas Ethics Commission, he received the following contributions from Valero employees and attorneys:


Robert Bower, Valero Attorney, $500 2/23
Theodore Guidry, Valero employee, $500, 1/26
Diane Hirsch, Valero Attorney, $300, 2/23
Martin Loeber, Valero Attorney, $500, 2/23
Rich Walsh, Valero Attorney, $1,500, 2/23
Parker Wilson, Valero Attorney, $500, 2/23


"The money that Art Hall has accepted from Valero's PAC and its employees is especially troubling given the fact that he is very connected to Valero through the fact that his wife is an attorney for Valero," said Vince Leibowitz, campaign director for Dale Henry, Hall's principal opponent.

According to Hall's Personal Financial Statement on file with the Texas Ethics Commission, Hall's wife owns between 5,000 and 9,999 shares of stock in Valero which, if sold, would represent a net gain of $10,000 to $24,999.

"All of this is especially disturbing given the fact that Art Hall is actually getting advice from Valero on what constitutes a conflict of interest for his campaign," said Leibowitz.

At a forum in Decatur on January 29, Hall was asked if he believed it constituted a conflict of interest that his wife, Stephanie Hall, is an attorney for Valero considering the Railroad Commission regulates the oil and gas industry. Hall told the audience that he had contacted Valero and that he was advised by the company that her work would not constitute a conflict of interest for him.

"Art Hall is getting ethics advice and money from Valero energy. What else is he getting from them? Are they advising him on energy policy as well? Art Hall represents no departure from the current rubber-stamp culture at the Texas Railroad Commission where Commissioners take thousands of dollars from oil company PACs and their employees and then give them whatever they want without regard for the best interest of Texas consumers or the environment," Leibowitz said.

"Valero's PAC is notorious for giving large sums of money to Republicans and pet conservative causes," Leibowitz said. "Valero has given Railroad Commissioner Michael L. Williams $20,000. Now Art Hall is taking Valero's money and telling Texans that he will bring 'balance' to the Texas Railroad Commission. What kind of 'balance' is that, exactly? The kind of 'balance' where Hall will simply be another hand out taking money from the oil industry? That's not 'balance,' that is merely more of the same," Leibowitz continued.

Valero has given incumbent Railroad Commissioner Michael L. Williams $10,000 on two occasions: once less than a year ago on June 28, 2007, and once on June 7, 2002. Valero has also contributed to some of Texans most anti-consumer, counter-progressive Republicans and Republican causes.

The company's PAC gave $15,000 to Tom Craddick's "Stars Over Texas" Leadership PAC ($10,000 on 10/11/06 and $5,000 on 10/25/04), and $30,000 to Speaker Craddick's personal campaign account since 2004 ($10,000 on 11/08/05 and $10,000 on 11/5/07, and $10,000 on 11/10/04). A small sampling of Valero's contributions to Republicans include:


Texas Conservative Coalition ($2,500 on 9/10/07)
Former State Rep. Joe Nixon ($1,000 on 3/5/04)
Lt. Governor David Dewhurst ($10,000 on 11/6/03)
Attorney General Greg Abbott ($10,000 on 7/11/03)
Railroad Commissioner Victor Carrillo ($5,000 on 1/29/04)
U.S. Senator John Cornyn ($2,500 while Cornyn was Texas' AG on 11/7/2000)
State Rep. Phil King ($2,500 on 10/23/07)
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples ($5,000 on 11/27/07)
Former State Rep. Talmadge Heflin ($1,000 on 11/9/04)

The Valero-tied contributions aren't the only suspect contributions Hall has received as a candidate. While on the San Antonio City Council, Hall accepted money from executives and employees of the HB Zachry company, a San Antonio-based company which has paired with Spanish company Cintra and, in March 2005, signed a comprehensive development agreement authorizing $3.5 million in planning for the first phase of the controversial Trans-Texas Corridor. Hall accepted a $500 contribution from HB Zachry on April 26, 2005 and a $250 contribution from J.P. Zachry on August 8, 2005. As a San Antonio City Councilman, Hall also took money from Valero's PAC on May 3, 2005 ($500).

At the January 29 forum in Decatur, Hall also failed to state a position on a question that asked whether or not he favored continued development of the Trans-Texas Corridor, which will include "designated utility zones" which will facilitate the transport of oil and natural gas and could have a significant negative impact on Texas' environment and groundwater.

Henry faces Art Hall of San Antonio and Mark Thompson of Hamilton in the March 4 Democratic Primary. The winner of the March 4 Democratic Primary will face Commissioner Michael L. Williams in the general election.

Reuters Reports TxDOT Audit

The great audit of TxDOT's fluffed up numbers (to support the TxDOT craving to toll our freeways) made national news! My favorite snips from the Reuters article:

"The transportation agency projected a $3.6 billion shortfall by 2015. But Lt Gov. David Dewhurst and Speaker Tom Craddick said it failed to include a total of $8 billion of transportation bonds and faulted its forecasts for higher maintenance costs."

"Texas has the nation's biggest privatization program -- a $50 billion multiyear plan -- that Republican Gov. Rick Perry says is needed to keep traffic from stalling growth.

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