Meanwhile, over in Texas…

Well I’m still working with the COG. We recently finished our mobility plan – it still has to get approved by the feds, but it has definitely slowed down here some. I have a few smaller projects that I’ve been working on, but nothing too fascinating. We’re still pushing for more options that allow cities to fund rail (most are maxed out on their sales tax – which is the traditional way of paying for things around here). And if that happens I imagine there will be a lot more for me to work on. As it is, I’ve started branching out into roadway studies, which frankly aren’t nearly as fun. The big issue these days are toll roads. Well, toll roads, a general lack of funding, traffic problems, a regional outer loop that’s been on the books for decades, a state plan to build a new super highway out of Mexico, private investment in and ownership of the aforementioned toll roads, immigration, neighborhood decline and a whole mess of other things that have somehow all become the same issue, and in many places, the same piece of highly contentious roadway. SO, I generally avoid telling people what I do for a living these days. :)

Todd and I have been trying to get out to some concerts recently, and I’ve found some places I really like to go. Unfortunately, a few of those places are foreclosing in the next month or so because of rising property values (presumably) associated with a new rail line that’s about to go into construction. D’oh! Todd’s teacher friends say that’s my fault too....