Monday Morning Report
June 30, 2008

Internal

 

Notice of Request for Proposals (RFP):  The Austin-San Antonio Intermunicipal Commuter Rail District (Rail District) is seeking proposals from professional firms to provide the Rail District with branding services to establish the Rail District’s identity and communicate its purpose and function.  The RFP is available on the Rail District website (www.asarail.org). Responses to the RFP must be received by the Rail District no later than 3:00 p.m. on July 23, 2008 to be considered.

 

The San Antonio Mobility Coalition will hold a "Fast Tracking Rail and Commuter Rail" luncheon on July 31 featuring state and local rail officials including Jessica Castiglione, Jennifer Moczygemba, and Corridor Council president Ross Milloy.  Ms. Castiglione and Ms. Moczygemba are professional engineers with TxDOT and Milloy is the Interim Executive Director of the Austin-San Antonio Intermunicipal Commuter Rail District. Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff hosts. Details here.

 

Infrastructure

 

Austin's 65-mile Central Texas Turnpike System continues to do better than forecasted: in a report to the TxDOT Commission last week the agency reported collecting $35.4 million from September-to-May, 35% higher than projected, with an average of 219,110 weekday transactions last month. For Pat Driscoll's take on the report, go here. For a copy of the report itself, click here. 

 

A new flyover for IH-35 in Temple is closer to completion and will soon connect Loop 363 to the Interstate without the snarl of stoplights and traffic that currently congest the area. The $69 million project (with another $23 million in improvements to the Loop) should be complete by 2009. Details.

 

There will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony tonight in New Braunfels for the newly-refurbished and expanded Civic Center. The expansion took 9 years and $12 million. Details here.

 

The New Braunfels City Council voted to explore the cost of silencing the blaring horns that accompany the many trains which steam through the city’s more than 30 railroad crossings.  The city will be looking into the feasibility of creating railroad quiet zones within the city limits and eliminating the need for conductors to sound their horns as they go through town.

 

Economic Development

 

AT&T, the world's largest telecommunications company, sent shock-waves through the San Antonio business and political communities last week when it announced it was moving its corporate headquarters and 700 employees to Dallas, citing a lack of non-stop and international airline connections. About 5300 jobs will remain in San Antonio. For reaction and more go here.

 

The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) will honor San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce President and CEO A.J. Rodriguez as its 2008 Alumnus of the Year. Rodriguez will be honored at the 9th annual UTSA Alumni Gala on Aug. 16 at the Westin La Cantera Hotel. In May 2008, Rodriquez was appointed deputy cit manager for the City of San Antonio.

 

Charley Ayres will serve as the interim president and CEO of the Round Rock Chamber as the organization launches a search for a permanent chief. Earlier this month the chamber announced that longtime CEO Charlie Dromgoole was resigning.

 

The 102nd Texas Chamber of Commerce Executives conference voted The Greater New Braunfels Chamber of Commerce as producing the best directory out of nearly 600 in Texas, and its President Michael Meek was honored with the 2008 TCCE’s Distinguished Service Award.

 

The Embassy Suites San Marcos Hotel & Conference Center is still in the final stages of construction, but it’s already pulling in business. The center, a $71 million project being developed by John Q Hammonds Hotels & Resorts LLC of Missouri, has booked 45 groups for a total of $1.2 million in revenue. It’s scheduled to open this October.

 

Dow Chemical Co. announced its second comprehensive price hike in less than a month to offset the "relentless rise" in costs for energy and related raw materials. The Midland-based chemical company announced Tuesday it will raise prices by as much as 25% next month. That follows price increases of up to 20% that took effect June 1.

  

 

Thought for the week:

 

“I have not failed.   I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work."
 

- Thomas  Edison during the light bulb invention process