Texas Transit Association

VIA — strapped for money, running a deficit to causes outside their control, about to start a route realignment, needing a short term fix — which is what the bill would have done — quite possibly will enter air quality nonattainment (and impact business, loss of jobs), air quality to then worsen, and here is the best single solution to addressing mobile sources of pollution, save money for people suffering from hard times, including the transit dependent!
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Houston METRO has revised its light rail plan to include the areas major airport, and is now considering a more rapid build out based on $1.25 billion on bonding. The new plan touts an express rail connection from the airport to major business destinations within the city.

Metro staff and consultants will formulate a final recommendation by next month. The board is scheduled to adopt the transit plan July 31, approve ballot language in August and hold the referendum Nov. 4.
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County Commissioners will begin consideration of their own commuter rail district to address needs in the northwest area of the city of Houston and Harris County and on an existing Union Pacific freight line. Union Pacific is supportive of the effort due to low freight traffic. Meanwhile, Houston Metro expresses an interest to cooperate with that effort, possibly building upon their proposed light rail plan.
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TTA’s final Legislative Report. Lists all important transit and transportation bills signed into law. Download file

*Hang on to your hats! Summer in Austin just got hotter!*

A Special Session of the Legislature — not on public education, not on criminal justice, and not on healthcare — but on Congressional Redistricting, has been called by Gov. Perry. Goverment reform legislation that died during the Legislative Session, may be resurrected and added to the “Call.”

The TTA Board of Director elections have concluded with the re-election of John Milam (VIA) and Shirley DeLibero (MTA Harris County) as metro transit representatives, Brent Black (Abilene’s CityLink) and Norma Zamora (Brownsville Urban System) for small urban transit, and Dave Marsh (CARTS), Carole Warlick (The Hop) and Robert Whorton (Panhandle Transit) representing rural transit. — all for a two-year term. This represents roughly half of the entire TTA Board of Directors.

Upon taking their board seats, the TTA Board elected *Terry Lee Scott* of Sun Metro in El Paso as President (and Vice President for metro transit), Brent Black as VP of small urban transit, Carole Warlick as VP of rural transit, John Wilson of Lubbock’s Citibus as Treasurer and John McBeth of Brazos Transit as Legislative Chairman. Officers are elected for a one-year term.

The Associate Member board position representing the transit busienss community, currently held by Reba Malone of Reba Malone & Associates, will be appointed at the end of summer. The appointment process for the Associate board position will include taking applications from the current TTA Associate member community. The position is appointed directly by the TTA Board. More later.