Supporters say the $8 billion plan for one of the state’s most notorious stretches of highway is necessary to fight congestion. But critics say new lanes won’t end traffic — and worry the plan undercuts Austin’s goal to reduce single-occupancy car trips.
Transportation
Reporting on roads, transit, infrastructure, and policy shaping travel and mobility across the state, from The Texas Tribune.
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Texas Legislature 2019
Red-light cameras could be removed from Texas intersections after House vote
But an amendment to the bill could keep the devices in place until cities’ contracts with vendors expire. Camera proponents say they make intersections safer, but critics say they undermine due process.
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State Government
Texans could soon know more about how much money toll agencies spend after debt and maintenance costs are paid
The legislation wouldn’t remove tolls from roads that have had their construction costs paid off. But its author calls the required disclosure of revenues and expenses an act of transparency.
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Texas Legislature 2019
Electric scooters could soon be kicked off Texas sidewalks, if state Senate gets its way
The upper chamber passed a bill Wednesday that would add several restrictions on the popular, but controversial, machines. The measure would require scooter renters to be at least 16 years old and it would prohibit more than one person from riding at a time.
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Transportation
Texas leads the nation in traffic deaths. These proposed laws could make roads safer.
Bills aimed at making a dent in traffic deaths have gotten mixed results at the Texas Legislature this year.
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State Government
Could Texas high-speed rail hit a speed bump this session?
Lawmakers are pushing more measures than ever before that could delay the Dallas-Houston bullet train project — and there’s even a special subcommittee tackling the topic.
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T-Squared
T-Squared: Meet our new Dallas-based urban affairs reporter
Juan Pablo Garnham, who has 14 years of experience as a reporter, editor and journalism teacher in Latin America and the United States, starts at The Texas Tribune on June 3.
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State Government
Texas high-speed rail developer doesn’t want state money. But the Senate’s state budget could still delay the project.
Although Texas Central isn’t planning on using state funds for its Dallas-Houston line, it says language in the spending plan could impede the project until a court definitively affirms the company’s ability to use eminent domain.
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Texas Legislature 2019
This Texas program lands poor people in jail. Getting rid of it has been too complicated — but that might be changing.
Lawmakers in both chambers and parties want to fix the controversial Driver Responsibility Program, but the program funds state trauma centers. Where will they find $144 million to fill the gap?
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Guides
Can the Texas Legislature override local ordinances?
It can and it has. Last year, Texas lawmakers voted to override several local ordinances with new statewide measures — including relaxing regulations for ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft.