Monday Morning Report
|
The Executive Committee met in San Marcos last Wednesday, (4/15) and got updates on key Legislative issues the Council is working on including rail relocation, local option transportation tax funding, formation of a rail division at TxDOT, and changes to the Rail District legislation.
This week may bring a vote on Senate Bill 1923, Senator Kirk Watson’s measure to provide about $90 million a year for the Texas Rail Relocation and Improvement Fund. We’re hoping Williamson County officials and citizens will weigh in with Senator Steve Ogden in favor of the measure at (512) 463-0105 or (512) 463-5713 (fax). You can email him here.
Infrastructure
Financing the Rail Relocation and Improvement Fund won a big victory in the early hours of Saturday morning when the Texas House voted to approve $182 million ($91 million a year this biennium) earmarked for the Fund. Congratulations to San Antonio Rep. Ruth McClendon, who spearheaded the effort. Now it's on to the Senate and trying to pass Austin Senator Kirk Watson's SB 1923 this week. You can see McClendon's announcement of her big win here.
Passenger rail service between San Antonio and Austin could get another boost by accessing some of the $8 billion in federal economic stimulus funding President Obama described in a major speech last week (4/16). In the report, 10 potential corridors for high-speed rail were identified as part of a nationwide network, including the San Antonio-Austin route as part of the South Central corridor already approved.
The Federal Railroad Administration is expected to begin awarding its first round of grants by late summer. Details here and here.
TxDOT construction is scheduled to begin on May 1, to widen Texas Highway 46 in New Braunfels at the intersection with Loop 337. The project will make Texas 46 a six-lane highway from Kerlick Lane to just past Oak Run Parkway. Details here.
Economic Development
St. David's School of Nursing at the Texas State University Round Rock Higher Education Center has received Federal funds totaling $476,000 for new projects, computers, equipment and staffing needs. The 77,000-square-foot nursing facility is expected to open in fall 2010. The Texas State University health science division is set to move from San Marcos to Round Rock by 2013.
Austin ranks No. 1 on the list of big cities for employment potential according to NewGeography.com. Growth of 1% in 2008, coupled with long-term potential to continue crating new jobs, put Austin in the top spot. See details of the list here.
According to the latest report from the American Wind Energy Association, Texas continued to add substantially to its wind power generation last year by bringing online 2,671 megawatts of new capacity — more than any other state.
Boeing Integrated Defense Systems of San Antonio has selected New Breed Logistics Inc. for a five-year support contract. The company has already begun phasing in its parts and support logistics services at Boeing’s 99,000-square-foot facility at Port San Antonio. Details here.
James R. Huffines of Austin was named chairman of The University of Texas System Board of Regents last week. He succeeds H. Scott Caven, Jr., whose six-year term as regent recently expired.
“Let us be realistic and demand the impossible.
[Soyons réalistes, demandons l’impossible.]
~ Graffiti, Paris 1968