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April 22, 2008 | NO COMMENTS | TAGGED AS:
Networking the key to Transportation Forum
Talking to those who attended the Third Annual Texas Transportation Forum April 20-22, the opportunity to network with transportation officials, private-sector representatives, and lawmakers was worth the time spent in Austin. Most everyone I talked to said the message that we have a funding problem concerning transportation has been clearly stated. The issue now is what to do about it. But the networking opportunites were very worthwhile.
Matt Mohr, president of Thompson Marketing - "The opportunity to get first-hand insights on transportation issues is invaluable. The networking opportunities were worth the price of admission."
Barbara Seal, TxDOT Childress District public information officer - "Networking with my peers and with others I met for the first time was the most valuable aspect of the conference for me. I learned a great deal talking one-on-one with some very talented and dedicated people."
Joe Jaymes, Collin County commissioner - "The networking with other local officials and TxDOT representatives gave me an idea of what may be coming the next legislative session. It's clear from talking to others here that there is a funding problem with transportation, but where do we go from here? I got valuable insight from most everyone I talked to."
Patrick Driscoll, San Antonio Express News transportation reporter - "I got at least one story and a few blog issues out of my visit here. The public's awareness to transportion issues has been raised, and I look forward to a vigorous debate in the coming year as to what will be done about transportation challenges. This will be an important chapter in the future of transaportation in Texas."
All four said they were looking forward to hearing what Texas Governor Rick Perry has to say at the closing lunch later today.
April 22, 2008 | NO COMMENTS | TAGGED AS:
Federal Transportation Bill - It's so easy, even Congress can do it!
With his prepared remarks discarded, Congressman John Mica (R-FL), the ranking membert of the House Transportation Committee, went off the cuff last night to discuss what Congress must do to get a new transportation bill done in the next 18 months. At the Third Annual Transportation Forum's dinner gathering in Austin, TX, Mica said the country needs $1.5 trillion just to maintain current transportation assets. He also said the way to get there is by doing what small businesses and families have been doing all along...make a financial plan and stick to it!
The first step, Mica said, is to develop a blueprint for national priorities. Next, a policy must be set to achieve that blueprint, and then a plan created to finance the blueprint. He said gas taxes will only supply 1/3 of the $1.5 trillion. The rest must be raised through alternative financing plans and public-private partnerships. The congressman added a big part of the plan is to reduce the federal red tape that drives construction costs higher but slows down projects, while maintaining environmental safeguards.
TxDOT is well ahead of the game. The Texas Transpoprtation Commission has directed the agency's administrative team to implement alternative financing plans approved by the legislature, such as pass-through financing. TxDOT has also started funding projects through public-private paretnerships, although that concept will get a closer look in the 2009 legislative session.
Is it really that simple?
April 21, 2008 | 2 COMMENTS | TAGGED AS: congressfundinggas taxroadwaystoll roads
Transportation Forum Opening Day
Hello blog readers. I'm Paul Braun, the public information officer for the Amarillo District of TxDOT. I'll be blogging from this year's Transportation Forum, so feel free to weigh in with your comments about what we are presenting on this blog.
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| Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson |
The Third Annual Transportation Forum opened with a call to arms (so to speak) for Texas to continue to improve existing roadways and to find ways to fund new roadways. Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson of the 30th Congressional District in Texas told forum attendees this morning that Texas faces the greatest transportation challenges in the nation because we have the greatest need due to population growth. She reaffirmed the position of the late TxDOT Commission Chairman Ric Williamson that Texas needs toll roads as a way to build new roadways and raise additional funds to maintain current roads and bridges.
Congresswoman Johnson also says an increase in the federal gasoline tax may be one way to keep up with the rising costs of construction materials, while maintaining existing roadways, and that an increase may be part of a new federal transportation authorization bill. Her positions seem to mirror those of our Transportation Commission and our TxDOT administration in Austin.
How do you feel? Are toll roads and increased gas taxes the answer to our funding challenges? Your thoughts are welcome.
February 04, 2008 | NO COMMENTS | TAGGED AS:
PUBLIC HEARINGS BEGIN
Round of public hearings begins
A dozen public hearings will be held this week in the first 12 Texas communities to weigh in with comments about the proposed Interstate 69/TTC corridor and its DEIS. The public hearings will continue through March 3, ending in Bryan.
Tonight's public hearings are in Huntsville, Center and Brownsville. Tuesday's hearings are in Cleveland, Carthage and Harlingen. Hearings on Wednesday are in Livingston, Longview and McAllen. On Thursday, the hearings will be in Trinity, Marshall and Falfurrias.
Usually pronounced as individual letters, DEIS is shorthand for "draft environmental impact statement." A key word here is "draft," meaning it's subject to change in no small part owing to the comments to be received from citizens as part of the official record.
The study area for I-69/TTC was recently narrowed, although it is still miles wide. No final route has been determined.
At the hearings, TxDOT staff will be available to answer questions about the project during an open house from 5-6:30 p.m. The formal presentation about the environmental study begins at 6:30 p.m., followed by comments from the public.
Comments on the project can be presented at the public hearing. Comments ALSO can be submitted in writing online or by mail [ addressed to I-69/TTC, P.O. Box 14428, Austin, TX 78761 ].
All comments must be received by March 19, 2008, to be included in the official record.
Format of the public hearings differs from the "town halls" TxDOT has sponsored in recent weeks in communities along the proposed corridor. The public hearings have been set up to receive comments for the official record of the environmental-review process, but not so much to establish a dialogue between citizens and officials.
It's likely the public hearings will be as well attended as the recent town-hall meetings. Veterans of such gatherings advise it's best to arrive early to get a good seat.
February 04, 2008 | NO COMMENTS | TAGGED AS:
LAREDO / TOWN HALL / FEB. 5
Something to say about TTC-69?
The 11th of a dozen "town hall" meetings sponsored by TxDOT comes to Laredo on Tuesday, Feb. 5.
Where: Texas A&M International University, Student Center, Room 236, 5201 University Blvd., Laredo.
Agenda: 5:30 p.m., time to meet TxDOT administrators and staff up close and personal. Many of those who attended earlier "town halls" used this time to check out detailed maps of local properties, ask questions about eminent domain and rights of private-property owners. At 6:30 p.m., a more formal program begins with individuals being called on to come to the microphone to ask questions and to hear the responses from TxDOT officials.
TxDOT officials and staff will be present to answer questions about the proposed TTC-69 corridor and the draft environmental impact statement. Officials also will respond to other questions about TxDOT that members of the audience may pose.
The final town-hall meeting in this series is scheduled for Wednesday evening in Robstown, also beginning at 5:30 p.m.
January 31, 2008 | NO COMMENTS | TAGGED AS:
Weslaco to host 10th "town hall"
HEADED TO WESLACO?
PREPARE TO STAY LATE
TxDOT officials are in Weslaco this evening for the 10th in a series of "town hall" meetings conducted this month. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. at South Texas College Lecture Hall, Mid-Valley campus, at 400 N. Border in Weslaco. Reports from the meeting at 9 p.m. were that attendance was light compared to earlier meetings in the series.
Questions and answers and comments were scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. and likely continued for some time. Whether they ask a question or just listen in, some folks have taken to bringing a snack or two and the all-important seatpad to soften their stay.
The gatherings have ranged from Texarkana, Carthage, Lufkin, Hempstead, Huntsville (twice!), Rosenberg, and Bellville down to Victoria. Two "town halls" are scheduled next week at Laredo (Feb. 5) and Robstown (Feb. 6) to complete the current round of meetings.
Here's the link to the full schedule of town halls AND to the upcoming PUBLIC HEARINGS that will consider the draft environmental impact statement on the proposed I-69/TTC: http://www.keeptexasmoving.com/index.php/public_hearings
Each of the "town hall" events has been well-attended -- in some instances by several hundreds of citizens from each area, even as TxDOT officals have been spending some long days and "face time" as they hear questions and comments from landowners seeking to learn more about the proposed TTC-69 corridor. The Wednesday night town hall at the Walker County Fairgrounds in Huntsville ran to nearly 1 a.m., the longest session yet.
Here's hoping everyone in Weslaco gets all their questions answered ... and that everyone is able to get home in time for a good night's sleep.
January 31, 2008 | NO COMMENTS | TAGGED AS:
TOPIC: Your rights and Right of Way
BOOKLETS FROM TxDOT about YOUR RIGHTS
When it comes to the purchase of right of way for highway projects, Texans have several rights and statutory protections. Here's some information to tell you about those rights and legal protections.
Here's the PDF of the booklet from TxDOT about what happens when the state purchases right of way from a property owner. It's titled "State Purchase of Right of Way."
here's the same booklet in Spanish ("Compra de Derecho de Via").
Here's the PDF of the booklet from TxDOT with details about the program providing assistance to help relocate property owners who have sold land to the state for right of way. It's titled "Relocation Assistance."
Here's the same booklet in Spanish ("Asistencia para Relocalizacion").
Got questions or comments? Please, let us know.
January 29, 2008 | NO COMMENTS | TAGGED AS:
What about MARKET VALUE?
About MARKET VALUE
Many people at several of the recent TxDOT “town hall” meetings had questions about the meaning of market value.
Here’s what we know:
The Texas Constitution permits the purchase of private property for public use. The Texas Constitution entitles the owner to adequate compensation, based on market value, and that it shall be by the due course of the law of the land. The Texas Legislature has prescribed the judicial procedure to be followed when private property is taken for public purpose.
The process can be lengthy and is designed to protect the interests of the owner.
Land that is needed for highway purposes is appraised to establish with reasonable certainty the amount of money the property owner is is entitled to receive. While property owners should receive all the money they are entitled to receive, the State should not pay more than it is obligated to pay under the law.
The generally accepted opinion of market value as defined by the courts of Texas may be stated this way:
“Market value is the price which the property would bring when it is offered for sale by one who desires, but is not obliged to sell, and is bought by one who is under no necessity of buying it, taking into consideration all of the uses to which it is reasonably adaptable and for which it either is or in all reasonable probability will become available within the reasonable future.”
This definition of market value is based on both the buyer and seller being willing, but not obligated to buy or sell. While this is not always the situation in right-of-way transactions, the courts have stated that this must be assumed in making right-of-way appraisals. An appraisal made on any other assumption will not be correct.
TxDOT contracts with independent fee appraisers who usually conduct the needed appraisals. TxDOT employees do not conduct appraisals. These appraisers base their opinions of market value on data researched in the subject neighborhood, and near the property that is proposed for acquisition.
January 29, 2008 | NO COMMENTS | TAGGED AS:
Victoria gathers for TxDOT Town Hall
Many who spoke to the TxDOT panel voiced their opposition to the Trans-Texas Corridor.
Questioners further covered a wide range of topics including the process of eminent domain, the meaning and importance of property ownership, their concerns about global trade, about the potential for criminals to travel on the state's highways, about the environmental-review process, and about the determination of fair-market value when the state negotiates with property owners for needed land. Others asked about the impact of new or proposed roadways or other transportation facilities on the county-level economies.
January 29, 2008 | NO COMMENTS | TAGGED AS:
Town Hall / Bellville
Banner of pride at Austin County Fairgrounds
Texans listen closely as the discussion moved toward midnight
Discussion under way in Austin County
More than 1,000 citizens from the Bellville area turned out Monday evening and into the night for the seventh TxDOT "town hall." The meeting at the Austin County Fairgrounds, beginning with the informal opening at 5:30 p.m. and continuing with the more formal question-and-answer session that began at 6:30 p.m., continued to nearly midnight. Most who spoke were opposed to the Trans-Texas Corridor and many said they intend to repeat their objections at the upcoming public hearings that have been scheduled. The eighth town hall is slated to begin at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday in Victoria.
This blogsite memorializes some of the scenes from the evening, but is not all-inclusive. Comments are welcome from others who were present who may wish to share their impressions of the discussion. What did you like? Dislike? Did anyone enjoy the sausage on a stick available at the concession stand? Feel free to comment on what you saw and heard at this town hall.
[TxDOT photos / Tim Cunningham ]
