Transportation

May 11, 2007

KIMBERLY REEVES, AUSTIN CHRONICLE

Toll-Road Turmoil: Of all of the policy proposals that Gov. Rick Perry has secured from the Legislature, none has been more aggressive, far-reaching, and controversial than his transportation policy. And private companies, particularly a megacontractor based in Spain (Cintra), are turning a tidy profit as a result. Lawmakers looking down that long, winding road, however, decided to slam the brakes on selling off the state's assets to the highest foreign bidder. Seventy bills were filed this session to address the toll-road issue. At the end of the day, tweaking transportation policy proved to be too daunting, and nothing less than a moratorium would satisfy lawmakers. Legislation passed in both the House and Senate (and certain to draw the governor's veto) would place a moratorium on concession contract agreements with private equity companies, deals that promise upfront payments to the state, measured against long-term profits on toll roads. In its final version, the bill ended up tagged on to another bill concerning Harris County's toll authority, which passed through the House County Affairs Committee, rather than the more logical House Transportation – chaired by Round Rock Rep. Mike Krusee, the House author of the original toll-road bill. Legislators figure they'll have enough time to override Perry's veto – something that hasn't happened since 1979 under then-Gov. Bill Clements.

TxDOT Flunking: At almost every turn on transportation, legislators requested a report. First came a report in December from the Texas Transportation Institute, concluding that Texas could fund its road needs without toll roads. Next came a 73-page audit of the Trans-Texas Corridor, which sparked a number of stormy meetings between committees in both chambers and Texas Department of Transportation Commissioner Ric Williamson. More recently, another auditor's report dramatically questioned TxDOT's calculations of its estimated $86 billion funding gap. Overall, just as legislators anticipated, TxDOT made a poor showing in each of the reports – although the question remains whether the subsequent headlines will significantly affect policy.

Close to Home: Austin Sen. Kirk Watson carried three bills that dealt with how local municipalities along the State Highway 130 corridor will manage development. Senate Bill 1688, creating an infrastructure district for Austin to pay for utilities, passed the Senate and sits in House Transportation. The others were still sitting in the Senate Transportation & Homeland Security Committee as of Wednesday.