December 2008 |
TSRT Newsletter
Volume 2, Issue 5 |
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In This Issue
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 Transportation Sec. Peters, TSRT Pres. Krier Speak at Lyceum |
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Mobility
was the issue on everyone's mind at the Texas Lyceum Public Conference
on December 3, 2008. The Lyceum hosted their 23rd annual
conference at the Houston Reliant Center entitled Transportation
Infrastructure: Establishing Public Policy Priorities.
U.S.
Transportation Secretary Mary Peters, the lunchtime keynote speaker,
addressed how the current administration is working to reduce
congestion on all modes of transportation, improve overall safety of
infrastructure, and find and implement new ways to finance
infrastructure capacity across the country. A strong advocate for
tax payer savings with a background in both the public and private
sectors, Secretary Peters emphasized the need for the federal and state
governments to work with the private sector to share costs and risks in
new transportation projects that will leverage more public and private
equity. She also stressed the need to use the most current
technology available to build safer, longer lasting highways, cut down
on construction time, and save money.
TSRT President Joe
Krier was a featured speaker on the topic of sustainability, along with
Dr. Carol Lewis of Texas Southern University; Gwen Eklund, TRC
Companies, Inc. Director of the Central Region; Phyllis Jarrell, City
of Plano Director of Planning; David Crossley, Houston Tomorrow
President; and Texas Senator Kirk Watson, Vice-Chairman of the Senate
Committee on Transportation and Homeland Security. The panel
discussed how to proactively design and effectively manage
transportation solutions for twenty-first century Texas by answering
questions from Moderator Richard Seline, CEO/Principal of New Economy
Strategies and the audience.
Krier and the other dialog
participants focused on the many transportation solutions available to
Texas as the state continues to grow its population and economy.
Senator Watson urged that we consider all options of funding available,
including increasing the gas tax, offering more local funding options
and ending transportation funding diversions. He also expressed
concern that the next generation of Texans would be the first
generation that would not inherit an excess of transportation capacity
and face the heavy burden of implementing new transportation systems
while trying to compete in an increasingly global economy.
Other
conference topics included: Freight, Sustainability, Financing
Priorities and Options, and Delivering Texas' Infrastructure
Projects. Topics and solutions discussed during the conference
will be published in the Lyceum Journal that will be given to legislators, policymakers and other interested parties.
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Senators Carona and Watson on Transportation Challenges |
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TSRT responds to Senators' editorial "Time is now to fix transportation"
We applaud state Sens. John Carona, R-Dallas, and
Kirk Watson, D-Austin, for their timely column calling for real and
meaningful transportation reforms and funding solutions.
Our state takes in an average of 1,200 new Texans
each day. To meet this growth, lawmakers must keep all possible
transportation funding options on the table. Though the senators did
not address the need for private-sector role in transportation
financing, we believe Texas must continue to keep the option of
publicly owned, privately financed toll roads where appropriate.
A state as big and fast-growing as Texas needs all
transportation funding options available, including traditional fuel
taxes, bonding, tolls and public-private partnerships. Texas residents
and employers need and deserve a transportation system that efficiently
gets people and products where they need to go. The senators'
leadership in transportation puts Texas on a sound path to addressing
our pressing road-building needs.
--Bill Noble, executive director, Texans for Safe Reliable Transportation, Austin
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Fmr. Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk Considered for Transportation Secretary |
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Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports Kirk is a finalist for top-level cabinet positions, including U.S. Transportation Secretary
According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and other news sources,
former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk is being considered for secretary of
transportation in the incoming Obama administration. Kirk confirmed he
is being vetted for the position, saying, "I'm honored. I got into this
interesting relationship with Senator Obama. I'm honored that my name
would even be mentioned."
Kirk was a champion of the Trinity River Project, a network of
parks, highways and bridges being built in the Trinity River
floodplain. He is also credited with developing one of the most
comprehensive public works projects in the history of the city. Kirk
also served as Secretary of State in 1994 under Governor Ann Richards.
Kirk is a partner with Houston-based Vinson & Elkins law office.
Other potential appointees for the top-level transportation
position that have been mentioned are Jane Garvey, former Federal
Aviation Administration Administrator, and Steve Heminger, executive
director for the San Francisco Bay Area Metropolitan Transportation
Commission.
Read the Star-Telegram article
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Members Perspective: J.D. Abrams, L.P. |
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Jon Abrams is the President of J.D. Abrams, L.P., an Austin-based heavy civil construction company
TSRT:
J.D. Abrams, L.P. has been in business in Texas since 1966; what is the
company's guiding philosophy that has helped you stay successful and
competitive?
Jon Abrams: While
we still pursue our "Day Job" - traditional Design/Bid/Build
highway work. We have also diversified to other markets and project
delivery systems.
TSRT: What recent shifts have you seen in transportation infrastructure projects?
JA:
Transportation infrastructure projects have become more time sensitive
by condensing schedules, which requires more resources. We see
more large projects requiring teaming and joint ventures. There are
less "green field" jobs as more and more existing urban arteries are
widened and improved.
TSRT: How have road construction costs affected your business?
JA:
The spike in construction material prices not only affected the
profitability of contractors, it reduced available funds for other
projects. You can guess what goes through an estimators mind when he
contemplates fuel prices on a three year job.
TSRT:
The "pass-through financing" used on the El Paso Spur 601 project is an
innovative local funding source. How has it improved the construction
timeline on this project and how do you see it being used in the future?
JA:
The Spur 601 Design/Build and finance should allow this much-needed
highway to be completed 10 to 15 years earlier than conventional
methods. Spur 601, which will primarily service Fort Bliss, could not
have happened if not for the partnership between the Army, TxDOT, City
of El Paso, utilities companies, Abrams and others. Although
pass-through financing was ideal for Spur 601, it is not always the
best tool for project delivery. Nobody likes the "T" word but the
reality of the funding situation is that without tolls many much-needed
projects will not be built.
TSRT: What does the increase in public works spending mean for Texas transportation projects?
JA:
Politicians have championed transportation issues of late, but the
needs far out weigh existing funding mechanisms. The gap widens every
year. We are nearing the point where we will not be able to maintain
our infrastructure, much less improve it. Our highway system is the
backbone of our economy and there must be a consensus to invest in our
infrastructure.
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Upcoming Meetings and Events |
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Dec. 15 & 16, 2008: Sunset Commission Decisions on TxDOT
-9:00 a.m., Room E1.030, Capitol Extension - House Appropriations Committee Room, Austin, TX
Dec. 17, 2008: Texas Transportation Commission Workshop
-1:30 p.m., Dewitt C. Greer Bldg., 125 East 11th St., Austin, TX
More Information
Dec. 18, 2008: Texas Transportation Commission monthly meeting
-9:00 a.m., Dewitt C. Greer Bldg., 125 East 11th St., Austin, TX
Jan. 5-7, 2009: 4th Annual TxDOT Transportation Forum
-Hilton Hotel Downtown, Austin, TX
Jan. 7, 2009: TSRT breakfast and invited guest speaker
-7:00-8:00 a.m., Hilton Hotel Downtown, Austin, TX
Jan. 13, 2009: 81st Legislative Session Begins
-Austin, TX
Feb. 2009: TSRT Women in Transportation Roundtable
-TBD
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TSRT
is a coalition of Texas drivers, civic leaders and employers dedicated
to improving transportation in Texas. Our goal is to improve our
state's hurricane and disaster response, job creation and quality of
life by getting needed roads, rail, public transportation and other
infrastructure built and operating years sooner than expected. | |
