Pickett: Lawmakers will not boost transportation funding this year

The top two transportation leaders in the Texas Legislature said Wednesday that Texans simply must pay more for their highways and bridges, but both added that this coming session is most likely not the time to ask them do it.Both men, a Republican and Democrat, said the funding system for the Texas Department of Transportation is badly in need of an overhaul, and needs billions in new funding. But it's going to probably take more than one session to convince lawmakers to make motorists pay
up, both men said.


Lindenberger has the story. http://dallasne.ws/flWwnt

Texas motorcycle fatalities fell 18% in 2009

More good traffic news from Mulvaney:
AUSTIN – The number of fatal motorcycle accidents in Texas took a sharp turn downward in 2009, after nearly a decade of increases. Last year, the rate of motorcycle deaths decreased by 18 percent in Texas, to 426, the state Department of Transportation said. It was a surprising reversal: From 2000 to 2008, such deaths increased 31 percent, even though motorcycle registrations were up just 13 percent, said Bernie Fette, research specialist at the Texas Transportation Institute at Texas A&M University.
http://dallasne.ws/dv9db1

Once again, TxDOT chief says: No money for new construction by 2012

Lindenberger reports:

It's been said before, and Texas transportation department executive director Amadeo Saenz said it again today in Houston: The department will have no money to spend on new construction projects by 2012.
http://tinyurl.com/2a8pqfa