TxDOT's Cost-Cutting Plans Draw Local Outrage
With the announcement of two new cost-cutting measures, the Texas Department of Transportation has managed to anger dozens of local officials in both rural and urban parts of the state. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/08/21/BeforeAfter_1.jpg)
-
![Before and after images of of the frontage road on I-37 in Live Oak County. The Texas Department of Transportation converted the badly-damaged asphalt road to an unpaved road the week of August 19, 2013.]()
Credit: Texas Department of Transportation -
Plan to Convert Paved Roads to Gravel Begins Despite Local Concerns
Lawmakers and rural residents worry unpaved roads will create safety hazards and reduce property values. But the Texas Department of Transportation says converting paved roads to gravel is the only safe plan it can afford. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/08/16/Seal_roads_01.jpg)
![A damaged portion of the IH 37 frontage road, south of FM 99 in Live Oak County, Texas on Friday, August 16, 2013. The road is on a list of roads that the Texas Department of Transportation has announced will be converted to gravel because the agency lacks funds to keep them maintained at a safe level.]()
Credit: Eddie Seal -
Health and Economics Spurring Texas Cities to Promote Bicycle Use
From expanding bike lanes and trails to launching bike-share programs, more Texas cities are investing resources to encourage bicycle use. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/08/13/CooperBikes1263.jpg)
![Mayor Pro Tem Stephen Lindsey of Mansfield (yellow) leads the pack during the first Elected Officials Bike Ride in Irving on Aug. 6, 2013, as part of the Transportation and Infrastructure Summit. Riders included nearly 15 mayors and council members from around North Texas with the common goal of promoting biking in their neighborhoods.]()
Credit: Cooper Neill -
Locals Chip In to Help Ease Trade at Texas Ports
Local governments are anticipating a new program aimed at reducing wait times at the nation's ports. Under the plan, local governments will request extra staffing at border crossings and reimburse the federal government for the services. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/TrucksWindow.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: B Jefferson Bolender -
Selling Next Year's Road Prop Could be Tricky
Now that it's through the Legislature, lawmakers and advocates have to sell a constitutional amendment that boosts funding for Texas highways without sapping interest for completing that funding a few months later. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/07/30/Money-On-The-Horizon.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman / Mikel Manitius -
Hard Copy Not Required: Law to Let Drivers Show Insurance on Phones
Motorists in Texas will soon be allowed to use their cellphones to show proof of insurance during traffic stops. Proponents of the legislation say that the law will increase at the efficiency at those stops. This story is part of our 31 Days, 31 Ways series. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/07/23/IMG_6678.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman / Ben Hasson -
Texas Weekly Newsreel: Sine Die, Wendy Davis, Election Law
In this week's Newsreel: The Texas Legislature leaves Austin, we get a glimpse at Wendy Davis' future politcal plans, and we are left with this question: Will Texas ever get out of the battle over its political maps? Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/080913_ART_Newsreel.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
At Border Conference, Speakers Talk Trade, Infrastructure
During a conference on border-related issues Wednesday, U.S. and Mexican officials lauded the growing trade relationship between the two countries. But they added that out-of-touch lawmakers are hindering the economic relationship. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/05/13/EL-PASO-1.jpg)
![El Paso and its sister city, Ciudad Juárez.]()
Credit: Christopher Rose -
Video: Transportation Funding Plan Now Up to Voters
Texas lawmakers have passed legislation that – pending voter approval – would mean an estimated $1.2 billion annual boost for TxDOT. But it's not yet clear what details the agency will have ready to offer the public before next year's election. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/Money-On-The-Horizon.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman / Mikel Manitius -
Lawmakers Pass Roads Cash Plan, Adjourn Third Special Session
After several hours of debate in the House and ongoing negotiations with the Senate, lawmakers on Monday night managed to pass a transportation funding measure and adjourn the third special session of the year. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/07/30/TransportationFunding-2.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda
Texas legislators might eventually get the transportation funding bill the governor asked them for, but it's not the stuff parades are made of: They've already blown two chances. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/highway-texas-hillcountry.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
Newsreel: Third Time's the Charm?
This week in the Texas Weekly Newsreel: The Legislature begins its third special session, the 2014 candidates are stirring and House leaders open a new political action committee to pass a constitutional amendment on water. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/080113_ART_Newsreel.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
Texas Ports of Entry Tapped for Federal Pilot Program
Key ports of entry on the Texas-Mexico border are among those that have been selected for a pilot program that allows local governments to enter into public-private partnerships with Customs and Border Protection. Full Story
Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
House Panel Backs New Transportation Funding Plan
A House committee on Thursday held its first hearing in the third special session, and it voted out a transportation funding plan with minor changes from one that failed in the previous special session. Full Story
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
The Polling Center: From Smooth Sailing to Traffic Jam
The regular Texas legislative session was notable for bipartisan coalitions and harmony. The special sessions have been notable for partisan battles and stalemates. To understand what's going on, just look at the voters. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Route to Deal on Cash for Roads Remains Hazy
Lawmakers hoping to find a viable transportation funding measure in the third special session, which started this week, are looking closely at a plan that failed in the first two special sessions. Full Story
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman / Mikel Manitius -
The Brief: July 31, 2013
Pleas from lawmakers failed to ward off an immediate third special session on transportation. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Capsized4.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman -
The Evening Brief: July 30, 2013
Your evening reading: Perry calls third special session; debate over Capitol confiscations continues; Abbott calls White House's voting rights push a scheme to turn Texas blue. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/07/02/Perry-CCR008.jpg)
![Gov. Rick Perry addresses the National Right to Life convention.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond -
Perry Calls Third Special Session, Focuses on Transportation Funding
UPDATED: Just over an hour after lawmakers ended their second 30-day special session of the year, Gov. Rick Perry on Tuesday called lawmakers back for a third one, with transportation funding the only issue on the agenda. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
The Brief: July 30, 2013
A major blow to a transportation plan has left the Legislature teetering on the edge of a third special session. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/TxTrib-83rd008.jpg)
![The Texas Senate on the opening day of the 83rd legislative session on Jan. 8, 2013.]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/8acedb676aa1182ee34bc4ef58c60472/DONT%20USE%20Truck%20Montage%20Mexican%20Border)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c23061c74997f3621e96ac0ed7511695/BD%20INC%20Capitol%20Security%201009%202013)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/4acc6c9e2c67765a9941be9f5533e9bf/BD%20INC%20Perry%20275%202013)