Third Time's the Charm for Road Funding Plan?
The second special session starting Monday gives transportation advocates a third chance to find some extra money for road construction and maintenance. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e6439a487e9e2cc8b8000e19d5d827a1/TT%20EVENT%20Nichols%20Phillips%20478%202013)
-
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Transportation, Criminal Justice Bills Headed to Full Senate
The Senate could vote as early as next week on transportation funding and criminal justice measures that died in the first special session. Those measures were quickly approved Tuesday by two Senate committees. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/07/02/NicholsHuffman.jpg)
![State Sens. Robert Nichols and Joan Huffman.]()
Credit: graphic by: Todd Wiseman -
At Perry's Behest, Lawmakers Back for a Second Helping
After an end-of-session debate killed three bills, including a controversial abortion bill that prompted a filibuster, Gov. Rick Perry is calling lawmakers back for more. They started Monday. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/06/26/IMG_3011.jpg)
![Protesters filled the Texas Capitol in June 2013 when state Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth, filibustered a bill on abortion regulations.]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman -
In Senate Abortion Fight, Other Bills Became Collateral Damage
Legislation that would create sentencing guidelines for 17-year-old murderers and increase funding for road construction were not the target of state Sen. Wendy Davis' filibuster, but died amid her high-profile effort. Full Story
![State Sens. Robert Nichols and Joan Huffman.]()
Credit: graphic by: Todd Wiseman -
Guest Column: The Wrong Route to Road Funding
Lawmakers are considering a creative and innovative proposal for highway funding, but it's the wrong way to go. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/06/21/2012_StaffPhotos_SMcCown_print_sm-edit.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
Road Funding, Veto Override Hit Hurdles in Hearing
With just days left in the special session, the House Appropriations Committee met Tuesday evening to take on two politically tricky tasks. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Senate Takes Step Toward Transportation Funding Solution
Senators on Tuesday tentatively approved a resolution that aims to solve the state's transportation funding woes by diverting future revenue from the Rainy Day Fund. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/MoneyPavedRoad_1.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman / Corey Leopold -
Newsreel: Special Session, Special Items, Clock Ticking
This week in the Texas Weekly Newsreel: It's week three of the special session, and Gov. Rick Perry has added a few more items to the agenda, including abortion restrictions, transportation and criminal sentencing for teenagers. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/061313_Newsreel_ART.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
A Special Session for Self-Made Emergencies
Special sessions are for emergencies — for finding solutions to problems that can't wait for the next regular session. Sometimes, the emergencies are beyond anyone's control. Sometimes, like now, they're manufactured in Austin. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/06/13/EmergencyRoom-Lege.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman / Cherry Bream -
Roads Funding Plan Draws Debate on State's Piggy Bank
Two days after Gov. Rick Perry added transportation funding to the special session agenda, the Senate Finance Committee debated a bill that would increase road dollars by slowing the flow of money into the state's Rainy Day Fund. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/SenateFinance.jpg)
![August 29th Senate Committee on Finance with newly appointed Chair Sen. Tommy Williams R-The Woodlands]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
House and Senate Hoping to Quickly Find Money for Roads
With transportation funding added to the special session call, lawmakers are already planning hearings and considering different proposals. The Senate Finance Committee has scheduled a hearing for Wednesday. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/05/29/RoadsMoney.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman / Lynda Giddens -
A Dead End for Road Funding at the Capitol?
Gov. Rick Perry's interest in keeping the special session on issues where he can expect success suggests transportation funding won't be included. The chances for any transportation funding proposal in a special session are mixed at best. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/06/10/DeadEnd.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Johrling -
Perry Expands Special Session Agenda to Include Transportation Funding
Gov. Rick Perry on Monday added transportation funding to the agenda of the special session. He said Texas' transportation network is facing added pressure because of the state's growing economy and population. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Newsreel: Redistricting, Recess and Rejection
This week in the Texas Weekly Newsreel: Lawmakers said it would take seven to 10 days to deal with redistricting during the special session, and that turned out to be wildly optimistic. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/060713_ART_newsreel.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
Bullet Train Plan Sparks North Texas Turf War
A private firm's plan to develop a high-speed rail line between Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston is being closely watched by officials in North Texas, where there are varying opinions as to where the first station should be built. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/06/04/HiSpeedRail-1.jpg)
![The JR Central N700 Series, a Japanese Shinkansen bullet train developed by two railway companies in Japan.]()
Credit: Norihiro Kataoka -
TxDOT Outsourcing IT Operations to Private Firm
The Texas Department of Transportation has announced that a private firm will take over most of its information technology operations. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/TrafficCongestion_on_I35.jpg)
![Traffic congestion on Interstate 35 in Austin. The freeway through central Austin is among the state's most congested road segments, according to a TxDOT study.]()
Credit: Illustration by Charles Stricklin/Todd Wiseman -
Fix for Roads in Shale Counties Might Be Short
Lawmakers allocated $450 million this session to repairing roads destroyed by truck activity related to a drilling boom. The Legislature likely isn't done with the issue, though, because the amount is less than advocates said was needed. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/NaturalGas-RoadDamage.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman / KUT -
Agenda Texas: Another Chance for Transportation?
On the latest Agenda Texas, from KUT News and the Tribune: Thwarted attempts at boosting the Texas Department of Transportation's budget could get another shot in the special session. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/TexasTrafficRain.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Todd Dwyer -
TxDOT May Sweeten Pot to Draw Private Funds to Projects
Citing a lack of public funding, the Texas Transportation Commission voted Thursday to agree to consider changing its rules to allow it to share financial risk with the private sector on some toll projects. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/03/27/Toll-Roads.jpg)
![Interstate 45 Gulf Freeway's HOV and Toll lanes exit into Metro's Eastowood Transit Center in Houston Friday, October 19, 2012.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
To Finance State Roads, Legislature Backed More Tolls, Debt Over Cash
While lawmakers came up short on funding for road construction and maintenance this session, several other bills made it to Gov. Rick Perry's desk that are expected to help Texas communities develop road projects. Full Story
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman / Lynda Giddens
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c8feae955af9e8eb22b5b0aaf4dd5495/BD%20INC%20HouseAppr%2013%202013)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/4221b436b3cdb10645c57e71c5ec7849/BD%20INC%20Perry%20In%20Crowd%202013)