Local Option Transportation Act (SB 855 - Carona) Update
As we reported on the blog here on March 25 when Senator Carona's Local Option Transportation Act (LOTA) passed the Senate Transportation Committee, SB 855 has been offered as an optional funding solution for major metropolitan areas such as Dallas, San Antonio and Austin to call special elections to increase taxes and fees to support infrastructure construction and rail projects.
In the morning, Senator Carona was joined by fellow Senators Shapiro, Davis and Shapleigh, Houston businessman and Transportation Commissioner Ned Holmes and H-E-B senior vice president of logistics Ken Allen to discuss Texas' transportation funding situation. Senator Carona pointed out that if the state does nothing to bring in more money for transportation infrastructure, TxDOT will not be able to build new projects starting in 2012. You can view Senator Carona's news conference here.
Yesterday, SB 855 was debated by the full Senate and heavily amended by Senators from the participating metropolitan areas. In all, 17 amendments were offered and 15 were accepted (click here to view the journal report of floor action and amendments). The bill didn't quite pass out of the upper chamber on Wednesday due to possible Constitutional issues with the bill being too locally-specific that were raised by Senator Ogden, and will come back to the floor next week after the long Easter-break for a final vote.
Major news outlets have written extensively about Senator Carona's news conference and yesterday's Senate floor action on SB 855. Here are some of the headlines and TSRT's news release:
In the morning, Senator Carona was joined by fellow Senators Shapiro, Davis and Shapleigh, Houston businessman and Transportation Commissioner Ned Holmes and H-E-B senior vice president of logistics Ken Allen to discuss Texas' transportation funding situation. Senator Carona pointed out that if the state does nothing to bring in more money for transportation infrastructure, TxDOT will not be able to build new projects starting in 2012. You can view Senator Carona's news conference here.
Yesterday, SB 855 was debated by the full Senate and heavily amended by Senators from the participating metropolitan areas. In all, 17 amendments were offered and 15 were accepted (click here to view the journal report of floor action and amendments). The bill didn't quite pass out of the upper chamber on Wednesday due to possible Constitutional issues with the bill being too locally-specific that were raised by Senator Ogden, and will come back to the floor next week after the long Easter-break for a final vote.
Major news outlets have written extensively about Senator Carona's news conference and yesterday's Senate floor action on SB 855. Here are some of the headlines and TSRT's news release:
- Bill would allow local-option fees for roads Fort Worth Star-Telegram by Jay Root, Associated Press writer
- Texas Legislature takes road most traveled Austin American-Statesman Editorial
- Slide in gas tax revenue hits roads Austin American-Statesman by Ben Wear
- Highways may run into fiscal brick wall San Antonio Express-News by Peggy Fikac
- Senate OKs bill allowing counties to vote on measures to fund transit projects Dallas Morning News by Michael Lindenberger
- Texas' transportation system needs $315 billion through 2030 to ensure economic competitiveness, fight congestion and enhance safety Texans for Safe Reliable Transportation news release
Posted by Lauren at April 9, 2009 4:15 PM 
Categories: Texas Local Option Transportation Act, Texas Legislature, SB 855
Categories: Texas Local Option Transportation Act, Texas Legislature, SB 855
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