Fuel costs way up for DART; no fare increase planned for now
This won’t a surprise to anyone out there, but listen, I am a slow learner. So earlier this week, I needed gas in the worse way, and when I filled up I noticed that for the first time the juice was...
View ArticleGas prices steering you away from tolls?
We’ve reported before that high gas prices have meant problems for more than just drivers. Bus agencies across the country are spending more on fuel, of course, and police departments and school...
View ArticleTraffic trending down on NTTA roads, though impact modest so far
As promised, I checked with NTTA to find out what the high gas prices have meant for traffic on its toll roads. So far this year, the impact has been minimal, but numbers from May and June are...
View Article250 miles of suburban transit: Long desired and still expensive
Dallas County Commissioner Mike Cantrell is convinced residents are willing pay more — even much more — in vehicle registration fees each year to fund their share of a 250-mile suburban light rail...
View ArticlePay to park at DART? Not any time soon
Is DART going to begin charging to park at its rail stations? Television reports are saying the board is considering doing just that, so we thought we’d give you a bit of context — especially since...
View ArticleGas prices around the world may surprise you
Come January, we are likely to be fighting again over whether state gas taxes are too high or too low. It’s never to early to start the debate, so I thought I’d share something from Portfolio...
View ArticleState Highway 121: Where’s the money?
The money, some $3.1 billion or so, is still in Austin. But that hasn’t stopped local officials from developing plans for when the cash finally gets here. On Thursday, the Regional Transportation...
View ArticleTop transportation officials in Texas today
The Bush Administration has sent two transportation heavies to Texas today. The U.S. Secretary of Transportation, Mary Peters, will be in Houston this morning with a big announcement about light rail,...
View ArticleQuestion: Is North Texas asking too much of NTTA, and of tolling in general?
This morning’s story about the NTTA carries some criticism of the way the agency does business, and offers some sobering views about how the credit market and other problems on Wall Street could...
View ArticleThe British are coming. BBC traveling tour bus to stop in Dallas Sunday,...
You might switch your double-shot of espresso for a steaming cup of breakfast tea Monday morning. The BBC is stopping at the Parker Road Station in Plano, along DART’s Red Line, Monday at 7 a.m. to...
View ArticleDART set to approve $1.6 billion budget for 2008-09
Download the agenda budget item (PDF) Running a transit agency costs a lot of money. As in more than $1.6 billion, according to the 2009 budget DART board members will all but certainly approve...
View ArticleMore on DART’s HOV spending for 2009
If, like me, you were curious what DART could be spending $40 million on for HOV lane projects in 2009, here’s an answer. Spokesman Morgan Lyons provides the following list and their estimated costs....
View ArticleEver see empty DART buses? Here’s what DART does about it
So a reader sent me a note the other day asking about those big, empty buses you can occassionally see along city streets. I sent his question to DART, and got a response. Take a look and let me know...
View ArticleTxDOT interest on variable-rate debt soars
And you thought your bills were going up? Just be glad you don’t have $500 million of debt with interest rates that fluctuate weekly. The Texas Department of Transportation does, and it’s paying...
View ArticleTRE to offer new departures, tweaked schedules
The Trinity Railway Express will offer new early-morning westbound trips for patrons of its commuter rail line, and provide more eastbond trips in rush hour as well. The changes, along with dozens of...
View ArticleCan you ride the TRE to the State Fair? Yes you can, with a few transfers
I received a timely e-mail from a reader, who asks, “Can you please tell me if the TRE runs from Fort Worth to the State Fair? Thank you.” Yes you can, sort of. Here’s what I sent back: Hi The TRE...
View ArticleNTTA shows city of Dallas how it’s done: Decide on a name, then ask for...
Well here is one way to avoid the kind of public relations nightmare the city of Dallas has endured over its efforts to rename Industrial Boulevard. Ask for public input, after you narrow the possible...
View ArticleCredit worries affecting both public and private efforts to build roads, bridges
How badly is the Wall Street implosion affecting cities and states — and, say, toll road authorities? Pretty badly, if they are trying to borrow money right now. That’s the word from Ken Orski, editor...
View ArticleCiting frozen credit market, NTTA likely to delay completion of long-term...
We’re likely to get a clearer picture of how badly the credit market woes have impacted NTTA on Monday. The tollway authority has called a special meeting of its board of directors amid expectations...
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Gov. Perry says if lawmakers want higher gas taxes, he won’t block effort to...
Is Texas’ chief proponent of private toll roads changing his mind, or just changing his tone? Probably the latter. Gov. Rick Perry, the man who many say has staked his legacy on an ambitious, if...
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