Monday Morning
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Internal
The Austin-San Antonio Corridor Council’s General Membership Meeting is scheduled for 9/19 at the International Center in San Antonio. Mayor Will Wynn of Austin will be guest speaker. Please RSVP to council@thecorridor.org if you haven’t done so. Details here.
The Austin-San Antonio Intermunicipal Commuter Rail District Board meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. this Friday, September 7 at the Alamo Area Council of Governments (AACOG) offices at 8700 Tesoro in San Antonio.
Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony celebrating the opening of SH 130 Segment 3 (US 290 E to SH 71) is September 6 at 10:00 AM. RSVP to 512-694-7797 or nancy@nancy.ledbetter.com. Details here.
Infrastructure
News outlets sort of breathlessly reported last week an 'exclusive' story about a 'secret plan' TxDOT supposedly has to toll existing Interstate highways and followed it up with a series of comments from local officials 'outraged' about the plan. The report was based upon a publication sent to Congress back in February wherein the agency argues the need for new funding mechanisms to avoid a transportation crisis. The original WOAI report is here; the officials' reaction is here. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison now says she'll seek laws banning tolls on Interstates.
Roy Bragg wrote an 'obituary' for the Trans-Texas Corridor project last week in the San Antonio Express News, claiming recent TxDOT action amounted to the political end of the venture. See it here.
TxDOT has released a list of structurally deficient bridges in Texas. Read more here.
The Quorum Report says possible candidates for the lead job at TxDOT are now Phillip Russell, director of the Texas Turnpike Authority; Amadeo Saenz, assistant executive director for engineering operations; Steve Simmons, deputy executive director and interim executive director; and Katherine Nees of Corridor Council member Carter & Burgess. Read more here.
Wesley Burford, who currently serves as director of Transportation Planning and Development for the Austin District of TxDOT, will begin his new job this week as Director of Engineering for the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority.
Economic Development
Texas is becoming hot spot for attracting the 65 and older crowd, according to newly released census data. In 2005, Texas gained 27,000 new residents to the state over the age of 65; and they brought with them $732 million worth of income to the economy. Florida, in contrast, gained 68,000 residents over the age of 65 in 2005.
Valero Energy Corp. is donating $5 million to the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio to support programs at the university. The grant will be used to support five major initiatives a the Health Science Center, each of which will receive $1 million. The Health Science Center is South Texas' leading research institution.
Six Bastrop banks will collaborate to help businesses and building owners preserve and restore buildings along the city's historic Main Street as part of Bastrop's new Main Street revitalization program. The banks will offer low-interest loans ranging from $25,000 to $250,000 per business, and up to $5 million total.
July marked one of the busiest months for Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Total passenger traffic for July was 832,455, up 12% compared with July 2006. Air cargo totaled 17 million lbs., down 4% compared with July 2006. International air cargo totaled about 337,000 lbs., up 27.5%.
Roy Spence, co-founder of GSD&M, announced management changes and an executive promotion as part of an effort to restructure and rebrand the advertising powerhouse. Spence will transition to the role of chairman and CEO. In addition, the agency will go by the name GSD&M Idea City.
Christian Brothers Automotive Corp, a Houston-based automotive repair company is opening a new location in Georgetown. Christian Brothers currently operates 45 stores in eight states.
San Marcos has named Michael Costentino as their new City Attorney. Details here.
Join the Kick-Off Rally for Commute Solution Month 2007 on 8/29 from 10:00am to noon at the Town Lake Center, 721 Barton Springs Road, Austin. Please RSVP to Dolly.Watson@capmetro.org or cal 512-389-7516
-Albert Einstein |
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© 2007 Austin-San Antonio Corridor Council |