Monday Morning Report
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Our friend, mentor and colleague Lowell Lebermann passed away last week in Aspen. A former Chairman and current Executive Committee Member of the Austin-San Antonio Corridor Council, Lowell was an extraordinary person: generous, compassionate, loyal, visionary - despite being blind - and enthusiastic about life, living, and civic progress. He played a key role in nearly every public policy decision made in Austin for more than 30 years. He was 70, and will be sorely missed by all of us at the Corridor Council.
The Austin-San Antonio Commuter Rail District and TxDOT have jointly filed a pre-application with the Federal Railroad Administration for funding of the Austin-San Antonio passenger rail project and the related relocation of the Union Pacific railroad's through freight operation into a new corridor. The filing comes as part of the Federal process to fund higher-speed passenger rail projects in designated corridors across the US. For a copy of the pre-application, go here.
Infrastructure
Workmen have begun clearing trees for the construction of the 'flyover' at State Highway 130 and Interstate 10 in Seguin. For a progress report on construction of Segments 5 and 6 of SH 130 in Guadalupe and Caldwell Counties, go here.
The Dallas Morning News editorial board called for Texas to get more aggressive on seeking Federal dollars for high speed rail last week (7/10), saying a failure to do so would leave our state behind others in addressing population growth and trade traffic. The editorial specifically mentions congestion on I-35 between Dallas and Austin. More here.
Texas, New Mexico and Colorado submitted a joint application last week to the Federal Railroad Administration to secure $5 million for a feasibility study of a high-speed rail corridor between El Paso and Denver through Albuquerque.
Two-thirds of the country lives in large metropolitan areas, home to the nation’s worst traffic jams and some of its oldest roads and bridges. But cities and their surrounding regions are getting far less than two-thirds of Federal transportation stimulus money, according to a new New York Times study. Read details here.
Gail Lowe of Lampasas has been named by Gov. Rick Perry as chair of the Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) for a term to expire Feb. 1, 2011. She replaces Don McLeroy of College Station. The board and education commissioner oversee the state's public school system.
Economic Development
Former Austin American-Statesman editor Rich Oppel has joined corporate public affairs firm Public Strategies Inc. Oppel, 66, retired from the American-Statesman last year after a 46-year career in the newspaper business.
Aeromexico has resumed non-stop air service between San Antonio and Monterrey, Mexico (7/9), operating two flights a day on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays. Details.
The Texas General Land Office's 16th annual 'US-Mexico Border Energy Forum' is set for October 15-16 in Houston. For program details and an agenda, visit www.glo.state.tx.us/energy/border/fortum/16/index.html
“When you give your idea wings, don’t forget to include landing gear as well.”
~ David Baird