Current Monday Morning Report - January 9, 2011

 

The Austin-San Antonio Corridor Council Executive Committee meets next week at 2 pm, Wednesday, January 18, at the Council offices in San Marcos.  Please submit your agenda items and RSVP to council@thecorridor.org.

 

Infrastructure

 

In case you missed it over the holiday break, the Austin American-Statesman ran a very positive editorial on Austin-San Antonio regional rail on Tuesday, Jan. 3 citing recent 'significant developments' (including Union Pacific agreements and an additional $10 million in financing), a 'doable' financing plan, and crediting organizers for the results of 'years of behind-the-scenes efforts.' A belated Christmas present for Lone Star Rail.  Read it here.

 

California High Speed Rail, meanwhile, had not such a good week. The Wall Street Journal lambasted the now $98 billion project as "Solyndra on Rails," comparing the project to a failed Obama administration effort on solar power and noting that it now has bi-partisan opposition in Congress. The Journal urged California to "get off this ride." Editorial.

 

There's a lot of talk about whether rail systems should be profitable or subsidized - given the restricted budgets of most cities these days. One example worth considering: Hong Kong's mass transit system, MTR, actually turns a substantial profit in addition to running a world-class rail rapid transit operation. They do it by owning much of the real estate around their stations, and developing that real estate themselves. Story.

 

Surface transportation trade between the US and its North American neighbors, Canada and Mexico, was 12.0% higher in October 2011 than in October 2010, totaling $79.0 billion, according to the US Department of Transportation. 

 

TxDOT has extended a holiday toll promotion meant to lure truck drivers to SH 130 and SH 45 to get through Austin.  The original deal let truck drivers pay the passenger vehicle toll for two weeks over the holidays. That has been extended now through Jan. 25.  Story.

 

The San Antonio Mobility Coalition will host their 2012 Transportation Leadership Luncheon 11:30 am – 1:00 pm, Tuesday, January 31.  Phil Wilson, TxDOT Executive Director will be the keynote speaker.  For more information or to register contact Leslie Harlan at 210- 688-4407 or email LHarlan@samcoinc.org.  Details.

 

Not known exactly for being a spendthrift with tax dollars, State Representative Lyle Larson of San Antonio made news last week with his call for a multi-billion dollar statewide water plan ($600 million in emergency initial funding) by 2060 to prepare for a doubling of the state's population. Larsen, who sits on the Water Resources Committee, said initial investments could come from the Texas Rainy Day Fund. Story.

 

Economic Development (and ‘Other News’)

 

San Marcos and Hays County will cooperate to redevelop the former Hays County Justice Center and use a Tax Increment Reinvestment zone scheme to pay for other capital projects downtown, including a planned commuter rail station. The tax increment reinvestment zone covers a 244-acre area stretching from Interstate 35 to the southern boundary of the Texas State University campus. Story.

 

Austin plans to use a $3 million grant and a public-private partnership model to bring a mixed-use development to the city’s east side, transforming 208 acres of vacant publicly owned land into affordable neighborhood housing for mixed-income families.  Austin is one of 27 communities to receive similar grants.  Details.

 

The 46th Annual Texas Legislative Conference, honoring economist Ray Perryman this year, is scheduled for March 22 – 23 at the New Braunfels Civic Convention Center.  For more information, go to www.txlegislativeconference.com.

 

Voters will decide whether Buda and Kyle should fully relax its liquor laws, according to a local group that says it has collected enough signatures to force the measure onto local ballots in 2012.  Story.

 

Williamson County is planning to develop a 348-acre nature-based park, Blackland Heritage County Park, fronting the San Gabriel River north of Hutto.  The park would be mainly used for camping, fishing and hiking. Story.

 

San Antonio's reputation as an economic dynamo was published in SurePayroll Small Business Scorecard, a national payroll services company, showing area small businesses increased hiring more than any other city in the US last year.  SurePayroll customers in San Antonio hired 8.3% more people in 2011, the top rate among 35 metropolitan areas in the study and far better than the hiring rate nationally.  Details.

Thought for the Week

 

“Things are always at their best in their beginning.”

 

~ Pascal