MaxConcrete Posted March 9, 2005 Share Posted March 9, 2005 NCTCOG, DFW's equivalent to HGAC, has a report on its web site indicating that the Texas Transportation Commission has submitted a wish list to Congress of items it wants to expedite project delivery. You can find the full list herehttp://www.nctcog.org/trans/local_motion/R...ports_mar05.pdfA few items are particularly disturbing and could be monstrous if actually realized"Allow state law to be utilized over federal law when tolling existing portions of the federal system and allow a state to buy back parts of the federal system for this purpose."It seems to me this would allow TxDOT to buy back an interstate, and in order to pay for it impose tolls. Tolling an existing free interstate would be highly controversial, but this would provide political cover along the lines of "In order to pay for this we need to raise taxes or start tolling, and we won't raise taxes." The rationale for this would be to eliminate free competition to the Trans-Texas Corridor."Allow a single contractor to handle the environmental, design, and construction work and let the environmental work be conducted while construction is underway.""Streamline environmental review."These provisions would seem to disregard all environmental protections."Allow roadways to be financed with private activity bonds.""Toll credit calculation should be based on a pro rata share of the non-federal contribution.""Allow Texas to participate in the Surface Transportation System Performance Pilot Program to allow Texas to have authority similar to Federal Highway Administration.""Make adjustments to the Transportation Infrastructure Finance & Innovation Act and State Infrastructure Bank programs to enhance their usefulness."These items appear to promote even more toll roads."Allow the state law to be the process for acquiring design-build projects, rather than the cumbersome federal law."This would expedite the Trans-Texas corridor and possibly some big projects in the DFW area. Federal design/build rules require the state to prepare a preliminarydesign and then let design/build teams bid on it. They may be asking to allow the design/build team to start from scratch with no preliminary design at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pineda Posted March 9, 2005 Share Posted March 9, 2005 Gov. Perry's Business Council Plan of Action Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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