TxDOT Approves 85 MPH Limit for Stretch of Toll Road
UPDATED: The Texas Department of Transportation has approved an 85 mph speed limit, the fastest in the country, for a toll road stretch under construction from Austin to Seguin. Full Story
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On New Toll Road, Texans May Get to Drive 85
The Texas Department of Transportation will decide soon whether to grant a new stretch of toll road the fastest speed limit in the country. More than just bragging rights are at stake. Full Story
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U.N.-Backed Agenda 21 Triggers Strong Reactions From Many in Texas
Where did a Lubbock County judge get the idea that the U.S. might cede sovereignty to the U.N.? In Texas, activists fearful of such a prospect have cited a 20-year-old resolution called Agenda 21. Full Story
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In El Paso, Concerns Over Mexican Drivers Paying Their Share of Tolls
El Paso is facing an unusual problem as it prepares for its first toll road. Drivers without electronic toll tags will be sent a bill in the mail, and some are wondering if Mexican drivers will get a free ride. Full Story
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![A vehicle with Chihuahua State, Mexico, license plates turning onto Loop 375 in El Paso on Aug. 20, 2012.]()
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Storify: The Future of Road and Rails in Texas
In case you missed it: State Sen. John Carona, R-Dallas, and the Tribune's Aman Batheja participated in a TweetChat on transportation issues. Full Story
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Phil Wilson: The TT Interview
Ten months into his tenure, the executive director of the Texas Department of Transportation on funding the state's transportation needs, the prospects for high-speed rail and what the expansion of the Panama Canal means for Texas ports. Full Story
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Texas Weekly Newsreel: Property Tax, Speed Limit, PAC Money
This week on the Newsreel, a look at property taxes versus sales taxes, 85-mph speed limits and Super PAC contributions from Texas. Full Story
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Private Firm Aims for Bullet Trains From Dallas to Houston by 2020
By 2020, bullet trains might be transporting Texans between Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston in less than 90 minutes, if a private firm's plans to build the system without public funding come to fruition. Full Story
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Report: Texas Jobs Near Public Transit, But Commuters Aren't
A new report shows a growing disconnect between the number of jobs located near public transportation and the number of workers who can easily use it. And Texas metro areas are below the national averages for connectivity. Full Story
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Texas Conference Draws Transportation Heavy-Hitters
A Texas conference started 15 years ago at the request of U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Dallas, has grown into one of the leading transportation policy gatherings in the country. Full Story
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TxDOT Releases First Rural Transportation Plan
TxDOT released the state’s first transportation plan for rural areas last week, intending it as a “blueprint” for future transportation projects and services in rural areas through 2035. Full Story
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![Traffic along US 77 between Driscoll and Kingsville, Texas. A 10-mile stretch of this road from Kingsville to Driscoll is right now a simple state highway with cross-traffic and stop lights. About $50 million is going to be used to upgrade it to interstate highway standards. 6/4/12]()
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For TxDOT, a $2 Billion "Perception Problem"
The Texas Department of Transportation announced this year that it had an extra $2 billion in funding. And that could hurt the agency's attempts at getting extra funding next session. Full Story
![Traffic along US 77 between Driscoll and Kingsville, Texas. A 10-mile stretch of this road from Kingsville to Driscoll is right now a simple state highway with cross-traffic and stop lights. About $50 million is going to be used to upgrade it to interstate highway standards. 6/4/12]()
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TxDOT Lobbying Congress For More Revenue Options
The Texas Department of Transportation is urging Congressional leaders to give states more discretion in charging tolls and using private funding for road projects. Full Story
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Pay to Pave
More energy producers are making "donations" to the Texas Department of Transportation to fix roads torn up by gas well operations. Full Story
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Panama Canal Expansion Raises Hopes in Houston
The Panama Canal's expansion will probably mean the Port of Houston sees more container ships, but local officials disagree on whether the area is ready for the extra business. Full Story
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Planning for Billion-Dollar Austin-Houston Rail Line Under Way
The Texas Department of Transportation has pitched a rail line that would take passengers from Austin to Houston in three hours. Though funding challenges may keep trains from rolling anytime soon, Erika Aguilar of KUT News reports that planning has already begun. Full Story
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At Port of Houston, Jobs Debate Centers on Trucking Limits
At the Port of Houston, which supports hundreds of thousands of Texas jobs, business leaders say outdated trucking regulations hurt their business. But as Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune reports, changing those rules would require legislative action. Full Story
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Perry Talks Trans-Texas Corridor in Iowa
On the final campaign stop of his bus tour today, Gov. Rick Perry was asked about the long-ago plan for a 4,000-mile network of highways, rail and utility lines that sparked a public outcry and was ultimately abandoned. Full Story
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Memo to Voters: There's No Free Lunch
Voters clearly want good schools and nice roads and low taxes. It's a political and policy question straight out of a business textbook: What's the right balance of price and quality? Full Story
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How Do TxDOT's New Salaries Compare to Other State Agencies?
TxDOT's plan to hire five new executives — each paid up to at least $250,000 annually — has received heavy criticism. How do the salaries compare to those at other public entities? We checked our government salary database to find out. Full Story
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