Monday Morning Report
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TJ Costello joins the Austin-San Antonio Corridor Council as its new Director of Economic Affairs and Membership. Mr. Costello has an extensive background in economic analysis, economic understanding and market research and has written and spoken on economic issues and trends. He serves as the market research instructor at BiG Austin and is an adjunct faculty member and coach with Concordia University-Texas. Most recently, Mr. Costello served as the Chief Economist at Box Free Thinking, a Texas based economic consulting firm. Prior to this he was employed by the American Arbitration Association in New York as the National Coordinator where he oversaw regional development, relationship building and membership affairs. Mr. Costello is a native of New York and received a degree in Applied Economics from Ithaca College. He moved to Texas to attend the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin and graduated with a Master of Public Affairs degree with a Graduate Portfolio in Dispute Resolution from University of Texas Law School. Feel free to contact him at TJ@thecorridor.org or call him directly @ 512-558-7363.
For their long commitment and dedication, Bruce Byron, Corridor Council Executive Committee member, and Loree Elton of the Capital Area Transportation Coalition will be honored at a reception on Tuesday, August 25 from 5:30 – 7:00 pm at the Headliner’s Club in Austin. To underwrite the event or to participate, email eberger@seton.org. Many thanks to both for all they’ve done on behalf of the Corridor.
Infrastructure
The San Antonio Mobility Coalition will sponsor the 5th Annual ‘State of the District Luncheon’ August 28, 2009, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Pedrottis North Wind Ranch in Helotes. Speakers at the Luncheon will include TxDOT District Engineer Mario Medina, State Senator Jeff Wentworth, and State Representative Mike Villarreal. Details.
New San Antonio mayor Julian Castro, in one of the first 'big plays' of his administration, has worked with energy provider CPS (City Public Service) to cut the Alamo City's share of two new nuclear power plants from 40% to 20%, easing financial risks to ratepayers. But it may not go far enough to please the region's anti-nuke groups. More from the Express-News.
President Obama arrived in Guadalajara, Mexico last night for talks with Mexican and Canadian officials on a host of issues including immigration, swine flu, and that pesky trade squabble ignited when the US canceled part of a NAFTA-based deal to allow Mexican trucks on American highways. Mexico countered by tacking on billions of dollars worth of tariffs to US products, but while officials say a deal is close, don't expect any announcements on the issue out of this summit. Outlook from the New York Times.
Envision Central Texas will host a 81st Legislative Roundup Luncheon on Monday, August 31 from 11:30am to 1:15pm at the Hyatt Regency Austin. Legislative participants will discuss outcomes from the last session and priorities going forward, especially related to transportation, land use and other infrastructure and coordination issues in the Central Texas region. For more information or to register click here.
The 12th Annual Transportation and Infrastructure Summit will be held this week, August 11 – 13 in Irving, Details.
Economic Development
San Antonio and VIA announced SmartWaySA as a new process for planning the development of high-capacity transit service for the city and will begin with kick off events at Sunset Station Depot in San Antonio beginning on Monday, August 31. Details.
That proposed US Foodservice facility in northern Hays County got a big boost earlier this month when county commissioners voted 4-1 to build road infrastructure required to help the $50 million, 500,000 sq. ft. facility near Buda deal with the nearly 500 trucks a day the regional food services facility would generate. Details from Newstreamz.
A new $29 million US Army Reserve facility is planned for a 19-acre tract in San Marcos south of Clovis Barker Road and east of Interstate 35. Although vehicle maintenance will be the main mission for the facility, officials said it would also serve as a 600-person training operation. More details from the Daily Record.
Wonder what happens to the “clunkers”? Hundreds of wind turbines near West Texas towns can't turn around the clock because there aren't enough power lines yet to get their electricity back to the grid. So, ONCOR, a Dallas-based company, is building 800 miles of new electric lines. Those lines have to be draped across 4,000 new transmission towers. Cleaner, less expensive electricity along what ONCOR calls the "renewable energy superhighway," is made up of cars and trucks no longer on the real roads. Details.
“It has been said that a fool with a plan can beat any genius without one.”
~ Amy Madison (San Marcos)