Monday Morning
Report
May 21, 2007
Internal
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The Austin-San Antonio Corridor Council offices will be closed on Monday (5/28) in observance of the Memorial Day Holiday.
The Hays County commissioners court voted unanimously last week (5/15) to join the Austin-San Antonio Intermunicipal Commuter Rail District, joining Bexar, Travis, & Williamson Counties, and the cities of Austin, Georgetown, San Marcos, and San Antonio.
The Austin-San Antonio Intermunicipal Commuter Rail District Board meeting scheduled for 6/1 is cancelled. The next regularly scheduled Board meeting is Friday, July 13 at TxDOT in Austin (200 E. Riverside Drive). The Board will meet on the second Friday in July because of the July 4th holiday.
Following editorial board meetings with Corridor Council staff in Austin and San Antonio last week, the region's large-city dailies came out in favor of legislative financing for the Texas Railroad Relocation and Improvement Fund. The Express-News had the best closing line: "If lawmakers don't act, they'll have some explaining to do when the next accident happens." Read the editorials here and here.
Infrastructure
Detroit and Laredo were the top ports for the value of trade moved by truck in 2006. Trucks last year moved the majority of freight exchanged between the US and NAFTA partners Canada and Mexico. In 2006, trucks moved freight valued at $534 billion- representing 62% of total cargo value - between the countries compared with $129 billion (15%) carried via rail, $70 billion (8%) via water vessel, $57 billion (7%) via pipeline and $36 billion (4%) via air, according to the U.S. Dept. of Transportation. Detroit was the gateway for $64 billion in merchandise carried by truck to Canada and $34 billion in merchandise was exported through Laredo by truck.
City manager Michael Morrison announced last week that Ronald W. Everett will be the New Braunfels police chief. Everett will fill the position left open by Russell Johnson, who retired.
Caldwell County voters turned down the notion of a modified emergency services district last weekend, apparently concerned about new taxes. The district would have merged two volunteer service areas into one and granted taxing authority to finance emergency services.
New Braunfels is once again looking at the concept of an outer loop around the city. State, county and city officials tasked with finding a route will meet at the New Braunfels Civic Center on Wednesday. Preliminary plans are for a 40-mile road that possibly would intersect with Interstate 35, Kohlenberg and Conrad roads, and with Farm-to-Market 1101, FM 1102, FM 1863 and Texas 46.
Kyle police chief Al Moore will step down as the city's top law enforcement officer June 1. Since Moore took the job just six years ago, Kyle has grown from 5000 to 25000 in population; his department's budget has grown from $300,000 to $1.75 million. Good luck, chief!
Economic Development
Texas State University and the Center for Latin American Commerce is sponsoring a, ‘Business Growth in the Global Economy’ event in San Marcos on Wednesday, May 23 at McCoy Hall from 9 a.m. to noon. There will be free parking. For a campus map, click here
San Antonio has been named one of the best big cities in the country for relocating families by Worldwide ERC and Primacy Relocation. The Alamo City ranked 12th best metropolitan area for families based on housing affordability, taxes, leisure, recreation & other qualities. The list's top city is Fort Worth, followed by Nashville, Kansas City, Indianapolis and Austin.
The median price for single-family homes in San Antonio rose 11.2% during the first quarter of 2007, according to the National Association of Realtors. The median price for existing single-family homes in San Antonio was $148,300.
Dell Inc. has opened a new plant in Hortolandia, Brazil. The Austin-based computer manufacturer started construction on the plant in May 2006 to cut costs on transport. The plant in Hortolandia is close to 70% of Dells customer base and to the largest cargo airport in Brazil.
According to the Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau, Austin leads all major Texas cities in year-to-date hotel occupancy numbers with 72.3%. In addition to an increase in overnight stays, the average room rate has risen by almost 14% during the past year. The year-to-date occupancy rate for Houston is 68.8%. San Antonio and Fort Worth follow with a little more than 66%, and Dallas comes in at 63.2%.
“The best way of predicting the future is to invent it.” – Alan Kay
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© 2007 Austin-San Antonio Corridor Council