Monday Morning Report
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The Austin-San Antonio Rail District will conduct an orientation session for new Board members this Wednesday (7/22) at the Corridor Council offices in San Marcos. Topics covered will include governance, project history, project studies and plans, and other matters pertaining to the Rail District. Members of the Board will be present but without a quorum and members will not take any action.
Save The Date: October 2, 2009, there will be another Austin-San Antonio Corridor Summit in San Marcos, sponsored by the Austin Business Journal. Details forthcoming.
Infrastructure
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) received 278 pre-applications for high-speed rail grants totaling $102 billion. The funds would come from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act’s High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail competitive grant program, which has $8 billion set aside for the program. Final applications are due to the FRA by August 24 for individual project and planning funds, and October 2 for corridor programs. The Austin-San Antonio Commuter Rail District filed a pre-application July 10. Article
For a lot of Austin-San Antonio Corridor rural residents the first line of defense against fires are local volunteer fire departments and the prolonged drought is creating issues for them because of a shortage of available surface water or water pressure to fight fires. And alternatives are expensive: one chemical retardant-equipped truck recently acquired near Seguin cost nearly $250,000. How you can help: Details
Notice those new fees being added to your wireless cell phone bills? The top four service providers (AT&T, Verizon, Sprint Next Tel, and T-Mobile) have all quietly raised various fees since the beginning of the year, including a nebulous 'Regulatory Programs Fee' that covers the cost of compliance with government edicts designed to make the companies more consumer-friendly. Nice. Details from the Los Angeles Times.
Envision Central Texas will host a Legislative Roundup Luncheon examining results of the 81rst Session on Monday, August 31, from 11:30 am-1:30 pm at the Hyatt Regency Austin. Sen. Kirk Watson and area state representatives are scheduled to speak. For details and sponsorship information, go here.
New Braunfels City Council and Parks and Recreation Department will discuss possible changes and improvements to much-loved Landa Park today (7/20), 4:00 pm, at the Civic Center. Details
The San Marcos city council reconsiders that controversial redevelopment of the Springtown area this week, including a new incentives package after an initial proposal that caused local political fireworks. Details from the Record.
We couldn't let the 40th anniversary of the lunar landing pass without some note: Rick Casey in Houston wrote over the weekend about his role as one of 400,000 Americans who worked to make that 'one small step for Mankind’ possible, and it's a reminder that most of our infrastructure (including space shot apparatus) is more than 50 years old. Column here.
Economic Development
Schertz was ranked 4th and named one of Money Magazine's top places to live in Texas and 39th in the US as the best small city to live in for 2009. Georgetown was ranked 5th in TX and 45th in the US. Details
Bastrop County citizens will provide input on priorities for the Bastrop County Comprehensive Transportation Plan, identifying improvements needed for major roads, bicycle and pedestrian facilities, public transportation and rail opportunities over the next 30 years. Details
Austin has been named as one of the nation’s 10 greenest cities by the Mother Nature Network. The network praised the city’s Climate Protection Program and the electric utility Austin Energy for naming Austin a leader in green. Details
Hutto approved a new mixed-use development proposed along U.S. 79 which would be the first outside of Old Town Hutto to adopt the Smart Code recently passed by the Hutto City Council. The design - entailing areas for park space, community gardens, senior housing, retail and parks in a concentric circle street design - drew praise from council members excited to see a developer voluntarily adopt the Smart Code. Details
Relief from the Drought? National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration scientists have announced the arrival of El Niño. This El Niño is expected to continue developing during the next several months, with further strengthening possible. The event is expected to last through winter 2009-10. Details
“Fun is like life insurance; the older you get, the more it costs.”
~ Kin Hubbard