By Barry Klein

[In this essay I explain my view that traffic "gridlock" is an exaggerated threat because traffic is demonstrably a self-limiting problem. The discussions about traffic have for too long been dominated by civil engineers who have a vested interest in the policies adopted by the public sector. The good news is that another point of view is getting an audience. If it succeeds in displacing the current view on traffic it means fewer design and construction contracts will be let and the taxpayers burden can shrink.

In the article I argue that we do not need to plan for the future as much as road planners would have us believe. This was first emailed in September 2005 to transportation activists in the Houston region and then elsewhere because the analysis can be applied to every urbanized area. One fact I should have included is that the majority of new roads in the Houston region are built by the private sector. This includes new subdivision streets and sections of extended thoroughfares. Transportation agencies in the Houston area fail to point that out, probably because it is a fact that lowers the necessity of their function in the economy. I suspect this is probably just as true elsewhere.

I think Texans can afford to let all or most road building devolve to the private sector. Here is an essay that shows that policy makers can rely on private interests to expand the road system more than they do:
http://www.independent.org/publications/tir/article.asp?issueID=43&articleID=544. It also explains how road building agencies can reduce their use of eminent domain. This approach obviously has implications for the TxDOT plan to crisscross Texas with the Trans-Texas Corridor (visit www.corridorwatch.org and www.TexasTurf.org to learn more about that boondoggle) and convert many existing roads to toll roads. You may also be interested to know that the methodology of the Texas Transportation Institute, which publishes an "Urban Mobility Report" that is relied on by advocates of increased road funding, is flawed. (See http://mobility.tamu.edu/mmp/) The problem is so serious that TTI skipped a year in its annual report until it can create a new formula. I have more information to offer to interested parties — Barry Klein] Read the rest of this entry »

Renew Houston measure draws formal opposition

By MICHAEL REED | Updated: 09.08.10

The City Council’s vote to put the Renew Houston referendum on the ballot has drawn its first formal opposition in the form Taxpayers for Fiscal Accountability.

The group, recently registered with the city, hopes to convince voters that what would be a city-assessed monthly fee to property owners is, in reality, another way of issuing a new tax for services that should already be provided through other means.

The referendum was brought forward primarily by a group of engineers, including Councilman Stephen Costello, which obtained more than the 30,000 needed signatures.

Renew Houston cites the city’s deteriorating infrastructure and the need to alleviate flooding. Part of the program’s financing would come from an assessment fee based on square footage that proponents say will cost the average homeowner about $5 a month.

However, Robert Glaser, Taxpayers for Fiscal Accountability’s treasurer, believes there is already a funding method in place for street improvements, including drainage.

Glaser said. “The truth is, there are other entities that owe the city a lot of money for this type of repairs,” referring to the Metropolitan Transit Authority. “Politicians will like the idea of this being called a ‘fee’ rather than a ‘tax.’” Read the rest of this entry »

HALC and Texas Property Rights Association members Barry Klein and Neal Meyer recently shared a minor, yet important win for Texas taxpayers via a major setback for Houston Metro.

Barry writes:

“Houston’s transit authority has been buying property, removing structures, relocating utilities and doing other kinds of preliminary construction in three corridors in anticipation of $900 million in grants to help fund the North and Southeast lines. It has now been announced by the Federal Transit Administration that it will not be help fund those two corridors until it is confident that Metro can afford to take on the projects and maintain its system. That might be never if the new lower sales tax projections hold true.”

Feds scold Metro and take action to protect taxpayers on rail lines

by Mark Greenblatt / 11 News Defenders
khou.com

HOUSTON — The Federal Transit Administration said it “won’t approve” federal funding right now on two light rail extensions proposed by Metro; until it can become confident the transit authority can afford to finish the jobs while still maintaining current service.

“In the interest of protecting the taxpayer, the FTA will not approve full funding grant agreements for the north and southeast corridor light rail projects until we are confident that Houston Metro can afford to build and operate these two new lines while maintaining its existing system,” said Paul Griffo of the FTA. Read the rest of this entry »