Monday Morning Report
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About 75 people gathered at the End Zone in Bobcat Stadium in San Marcos last week, hosted by mayor Susan Narvaiz, to launch a public relations and legislative campaign to convince the Legislature to finance the Texas Railroad Relocation and Improvement Fund in 2009. Former Austin mayor Bruce Todd and Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff are leading the statewide Rail Relocation Now coalition. For details contact council@thecorridor.org.
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
Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority Executive Director, Mike Heiligenstein has been elected to the board of directors of the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association, the worldwide association for toll facility owners and operators and businesses that support them. Heiligenstein’s term will extend through 2012.
Action by the US Senate Appropriations committee last week may help to improve the San Marcos Municipal Airport to the tune of $2 million. “The San Marcos Municipal Airport is vital to area businesses and residents,” Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison said in announcing the bill’s passage. “This funding will help the airport expand its facilities to attract more enterprises and jobs in the area.” Details.
The Free Trade Alliance San Antonio is opening an office Beijing, China. The office will develop business opportunities and maintain a presence for San Antonio in China and the facility will also be available for use by Free Trade Alliance member companies. For details contact 210. 229-9036.
The Denton County Transportation Authority has contracted with URS Corp. to provide final design services for a new regional rail system. Scheduled to open in 2010, the $310 million, 21-mile passenger-rail line will connect downtown Denton and Lewisville with Dallas Area Rapid Transit's future Green Line in Carrollton.
Bell County Commissioners agreed to issue $66.1 million in bonds last week that will restructure debt and help pay for a new addition at the Bell County Justice Complex on Loop 121. Commissioners are refinancing the seven–year, $29.5 million bond that paid for the jail construction underway on Loop 121.
Economic Development
The Austin Metropolitan area ranks 28th in the nation for exports in the first half of last year according to data released by the US Dept. of Commerce. Austin exported $3.8 billion in products in the first six months of 2007. The Houston region is second highest export city, with $43 billion. The Dallas-Fort Worth area shipped $10.7 billion in goods while El Paso exported $5 billion and San Antonio with $1.4 billion in products.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that materials used in construction, including diesel fuel increased 10.4% during the past year. Meanwhile, highway construction materials increased 18.9% during the past 12 months. Asphalt prices during the first two weeks in July have increased by 40%. Rebar has increased $200 per ton.
Catellus Development Group, the master developer for Mueller redevelopment in Austin, is moving forward this summer with road construction and utility installation to prepare lots for an additional 360 homes. The first phase of homebuilding, coming to an end, included plans for 348 homes.
The Seguin Independent School District hoard of trustees voted to join with the city of Seguin and Guadalupe County to offer prospective businesses the Freeport Tax Exemption. That exemption is available for the construction of prospective warehouse and distribution facilities and will allow various goods to be stored tax-free in Texas for up to 175 days under certain conditions.
"Believe your beliefs and doubt your doubts."
F.F. Bosworth