DOCSLIB.ORG

City of Cuero Council Meeting Agenda October 28, 2014

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
City of Cuero Council Meeting Agenda October 28, 2014 CITY OF CUERO COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA OCTOBER 28, 2014 Notice is here by given for a meeting of the City Council of the City of Cuero to be held on October 28, 2014 at 5:45 P.M.located at City Hall Council Chambers, 212 E. Main Street, Cuero, Texas 77954, for the purpose of considering the following agenda items. The City Council of the City of Cuero will meet, consider, deliberate and may take action on all agenda items. 1. Call To Order And Announce A Quorum Is Present 2. Invocation Led by James K.Crain, III 3. Pledge Of Allegiance to the American Flag and the Texas Flag Led by W.T. "Tony" Allen. Documents: US and Texas Pledge.pdf 4. Ordinances - Emergency Reading 4.1. Discuss/Consider And Possible Action On Ordinance No. 2014 -48, Amending Title V, Chapter 52, Sewers, Section 52.60 (A) And Declaring An Emergency. Documents: Amend Sewer Charges for 52 60(a) 2014.pdf 4.2. Discuss/Consider And Possible Action On Ordinance No. 2014 -49, Warranty Deed On Property Owned By Lancaster Industries, Inc. Located At 514 W. Sarah Authorizing The Mayors Execution Of All Documents Associated With The Property And Declaing An Emergency. Documents: ORDINANCE 2014 -49 Lancaster Deed.pdf, Lancaster-City of Cuero.pdf 5. Resolutions 5.1. Discuss/Consider And Possible Action On Awarding The Bid For Annual Fuel For The City Of Cuero Documents: Copy of Fuel Bid Tabulaton for Bid Invitations for Fuel.pdf, RESOLUTION NO 2014 -25 Fuel Bid Approval.pdf 5.2. Discuss/Consider And Possible Action To Award Bid For For U.S. Highway 183 & U.S. Highway N. Phase 2 Annexation Utility Extensions, Esplanade Project. Documents: 20141016144927296.pdf, RESOLUTION NO 2014-26.pdf 5.3. Discuss/Consider And Possible Action On Task Order # 37 To Do A Traffic Study In The Area Of The New Proposed Cuero I.S.D.school In The Quarry Subdivision. Documents: CoC - Traffic Studies - Task Order 37.pdf, RESOLUTION NO 27 Task Order for Traffice Study.pdf 5.4. Discuss/Consider And Possible Action On An Agreement With Schneider Engineering For AMI Project Management And Authorizing The City Manager To Sign. Documents: doc00191820141014152617.pdf, RESOLUTION 2014-28 Schneider Engineering Contract.docx 6. Council Consideration And Action Items 6.1. Discuss/Consider And Possible Action On A Change Of Date And Time For The Closure Of The 100 Block Of East Main Street For Christmas In Downtown, To Accomodate The Construction Of The 52'x88', Sub-Flooring Of The Ice Skating Rink. 6.2. Discuss/Consider And Possible Action To Approve Expenditure Of Motel/Hotel Funds For Cuero ’s Participation In The DeWitt County Alliance Billboard Project. Documents: Dewitt County C version.jpg, Notes for CDC.docx 6.3. Discuss/Consider And Possible Action On A Proposed Intersection Relocation At The Corner Of Fain McDougle And Broadway Streets. Documents: doc00208420141020110517.pdf 6.4. Discuss/Consider And Possible Action To Request That Cuero Be Established As A "Quiet Zone" At Railroad Intersections. Documents: QuietZoneBrochure.pdf, Summary of Quiet Zone Implementation.pdf, Guidance_on_the_Quiet_Zone_Creation_Process.pdf 6.5. Discuss/Consider And Possible Action To Reschedule Regular Council Meetings For The Months Of November And December From The Fourth Tuesday To The Third Thursday In November (Nov. 20) And The Second Tueday In December (Dec. 9). 6.6. Discuss/Consider And Possible Action On Eliminating Some Committees And Boards. 6.7. Discuss/Consider And Possible Action To Revise Some Of The Boards And Committees. Documents: 2014 Committees.doc, COMMITTEES OF THE CITY OF CUERO revised 2.pdf 6.8. Discuss/Consider And Possible Action To Approve New Members And Reappoint Members To The Board Of Adjustments, Planning And Zoning Commission And Building And Standards Commission. Documents: appointments to commissions.docx 7. Consent Agenda 7.1. Memorandum Of Agreement And Property Purchase Agreement Between Victoria County Sheriffs Office And Cuero Police Dept. Documents: Memorandum of Agreement Victoria and Cuero.pdf, Property Purchase Agreement Victoria and Cuero.pdf 7.2. Re -Appointment Of Larry Nuckles, Kathleen Leske, Vicki Coppedge, And Cynthia Aleman To The Library Board For Two Years. 7.3. DeWitt County Appraisal District Board Of Directors August And September Meeting Minutes Documents: DeWitt County August Board Meeting.pdf, DeWitt County September Board Meeting.pdf 7.4. Cuero Municipal Court September Collection Fee Report Documents: Municipal Court September 2014 Report.pdf 7.5. Building Department September Permits Documents: BP Valuation Report - 0752.pdf 7.6. Council Meeting Minutes For 9/23, 9/26 And 10/3 Documents: 9- 23-2014 Council Minutes.docx, 9-26 -2014 Council Meeting.docx, 10 -3-2014 Council Minutes.docx 8. Reports 8.1. Update From City Manager On Cuero Golf Course Documents: Cuero Municipal Golf Course Irrigation Map 102714.pdf 8.2. Comprehensive Plan Update Wayfinding: Main St Director Downtown Market: Main St Director UDC: Building Supervisor West Main Street Bumpouts: City Manager WiFi Downtown: CDC Director Documents: UDC Update.pdf 9. Public Comments An opportunity for the public to address Council on agenda items or concerns not on the agenda (limited to two minutes). 10. Adjourn The City Council may convene into executive (closed) session in accordance with the Texas Government Code when necessary and legally justified. Any item on this agenda may be discussed in executive session if authorized by Texas Law regardless of whether it is listed under “Executive Session” of this agenda, and regardless of any past or current practice of the City Council. Executive sessions herein are closed meetings, and may include the consideration of any item otherwise listed on the agenda plus any subject matter specified in the executive session notice, and may include items under the Texas Government Code as follows: Section 551.071 (Consultation with Attorney regarding contemplated or pending litigation, a settlement offer or administrative hearing); Section 551.072 (Deliberation regarding real property); Section 551.073 (Deliberation about gifts and donations); Section 551.074 (Personnel Matters); Section 551.076 (Deliberation about Security Devices); Section 551.086(Deliberation regarding Municipally Owned Utility); and Section 551.087 (Deliberation regarding Economic Development Negotiation). In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Cuero will provide reasonable accommodations for persons attending City Council meetings. To better serve you, requests should be received 24 hours prior to the meetings. Please contact Jennifer Zufelt, City Secretary, at 361 -275- 6114. CERTIFICATION I certify that a copy of the October 28, 2014 agenda of items to be considered by the City of Cuero Council was posted on the City Hall bulletin board on Friday, October 24, 2014 before 5:00 PM. ___________________________________ Jennifer Zufelt, City Secretary CITY OF CUERO COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA OCTOBER 28, 2014 Notice is here by given for a meeting of the City Council of the City of Cuero to be held on October 28, 2014 at 5:45 P.M.located at City Hall Council Chambers, 212 E. Main Street, Cuero, Texas 77954, for the purpose of considering the following agenda items. The City Council of the City of Cuero will meet, consider, deliberate and may take action on all agenda items. 1. Call To Order And Announce A Quorum Is Present 2. Invocation Led by James K.Crain, III 3. Pledge Of Allegiance to the American Flag and the Texas Flag Led by W.T. "Tony" Allen. Documents: US and Texas Pledge.pdf 4. Ordinances - Emergency Reading 4.1. Discuss/Consider And Possible Action On Ordinance No. 2014 -48, Amending Title V, Chapter 52, Sewers, Section 52.60 (A) And Declaring An Emergency. Documents: Amend Sewer Charges for 52 60(a) 2014.pdf 4.2. Discuss/Consider And Possible Action On Ordinance No. 2014 -49, Warranty Deed On Property Owned By Lancaster Industries, Inc. Located At 514 W. Sarah Authorizing The Mayors Execution Of All Documents Associated With The Property And Declaing An Emergency. Documents: ORDINANCE 2014 -49 Lancaster Deed.pdf, Lancaster-City of Cuero.pdf 5. Resolutions 5.1. Discuss/Consider And Possible Action On Awarding The Bid For Annual Fuel For The City Of Cuero Documents: Copy of Fuel Bid Tabulaton for Bid Invitations for Fuel.pdf, RESOLUTION NO 2014 -25 Fuel Bid Approval.pdf 5.2. Discuss/Consider And Possible Action To Award Bid For For U.S. Highway 183 & U.S. Highway N. Phase 2 Annexation Utility Extensions, Esplanade Project. Documents: 20141016144927296.pdf, RESOLUTION NO 2014-26.pdf 5.3. Discuss/Consider And Possible Action On Task Order # 37 To Do A Traffic Study In The Area Of The New Proposed Cuero I.S.D.school In The Quarry Subdivision. Documents: CoC - Traffic Studies - Task Order 37.pdf, RESOLUTION NO 27 Task Order for Traffice Study.pdf 5.4. Discuss/Consider And Possible Action On An Agreement With Schneider Engineering For AMI Project Management And Authorizing The City Manager To Sign. Documents: doc00191820141014152617.pdf, RESOLUTION 2014-28 Schneider Engineering Contract.docx 6. Council Consideration And Action Items 6.1. Discuss/Consider And Possible Action On A Change Of Date And Time For The Closure Of The 100 Block Of East Main Street For Christmas In Downtown, To Accomodate The Construction Of The 52'x88', Sub-Flooring Of The Ice Skating Rink. 6.2. Discuss/Consider And Possible Action To Approve Expenditure Of Motel/Hotel Funds For Cuero ’s Participation In The DeWitt County Alliance Billboard Project. Documents: Dewitt County C version.jpg, Notes for CDC.docx 6.3. Discuss/Consider And Possible Action On A Proposed Intersection Relocation At The Corner Of Fain McDougle And Broadway Streets. Documents: doc00208420141020110517.pdf 6.4. Discuss/Consider And Possible Action To Request That Cuero Be Established As A "Quiet Zone" At Railroad Intersections.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • State Set to Push Toll Roads
    State set to push toll roads FUNDING PLAN AIMS TO SPEED UP ROAD PROJECTS, TRAFFIC RELIEF By Gary Richards Mercury News Thursday, February 3, 2005 The future of highway driving in California could be a two-tiered system, in which commuters can either remain in stop-and-go traffic for free, or pay a toll to cruise on a private highway. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is expected to soon announce his support for allowing private contractors to build toll roads across California. Following the model of Highway 125 now under construction in Southern California, contractors would build toll roads in congested areas or toll lanes parallel to existing roads -- such as Highway 152 or Interstate 205 -- that would be designed and maintained by the state. The specifics are still far away, but it is yet another step in the governor's strategy to creatively finance -- and speed up -- highway construction in California without raising taxes. The governor previously noted his support for allowing solo drivers to pay their way into carpool lanes. ``We're going to make an announcement really soon where we're going to look at our whole infrastructure and transportation and we have a very creative way of financing it,'' Schwarzenegger said last week in a meeting with the Orange County Register editorial board, adding: ``We want to approach it in a very radical way and then look at all kinds of transportation.'' The governor's office had no comment Wednesday on the expected announcement, but last year his performance review team called for more toll facilities. ``I'm not surprised,'' said Randy Rentschler of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission in Oakland.
    [Show full text]
  • Economic Efficiency Implications of Optimal Highway Maintenance Policies for Private Versus Public Highway Owners
    22 TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH RECORD 1116 Economic Efficiency Implications of Optimal Highway Maintenance Policies for Private Versus Public Highway Owners DAVID GELTNER AND RoHIT RAMASWAMY The Idea of transport Infrastructure privatization has been infrastructure privatization. Key questions in this regard are (a) receiving Increased attention recently from researchers and Would private infrastructure owners charge an economically policy makers. In both Britain and the United States, as well as efficient price to the users of the infrastructure? and (b) Would in some developing countries such as India, the idea or high­ private infrastructure suppliers provide efficient levels of quan­ way ownership privatization Is being seriously considered and tity and quality of product or service over the long run? In some cases Is being implemented. Most research to date has focused on the technical or financial feaslblllty of highway This paper focuses on a specific aspect of the second ques­ privatization or of using tolls to finance roads. This paper ls tion. In particular, a hypothetical privately owned toll highway motivated, rather, by the question of the economic efficiency of is considered. The profit-maximizing highway pavement highway ownership privatization. The paper focuses on in­ quality maintenance policy for this highway is compared with depth analysis In an effort to quantify what may be the main the socially optimal or economically efficient policy. Meth­ issue In the question or the economic efficiency or privately odologically, this paper contains an extension and application owned highways-the problem of suboptimal highway physi­ of other work previously presented to the TRB (1, 2). cal quality, which could result over the long run from highway 111aintenance policies that seek to maximize immediate private profit rather than overall economic welfare.
    [Show full text]
  • A New Approach to Private Roads
    TRANSPORTATION Using an innovative method for awarding franchise rights, states can entice more effective private investment in highways. A New Approach to Private Roads BY EDUARDO ENGEL Yale University RONALD FISCHER AND ALEXANDER GALETOVIC Universidad de Chile uring most of the twentieth bined extension of more than 10,000 miles in 1821. century, highways, tunnels, and bridges Are there any advantages to privatizing roads? Before com- were viewed as public goods that gov- paring private and public provision of transport infrastructure, ernment must provide. By the end of it is useful to clarify what is meant by those terms. Under pub- the century, however, chronic budget- lic provision, the government designs, finances, and operates the ary problems had led governments to infrastructure project. Private firms may participate in the build- allow some participation of private ing stage and may even be selected in competitive auctions. But firms in financing, building, and operating infrastructure once the facility is built, the government operates and maintains Dprojects. For example, worldwide private investment in trans- it. Taxpayers pay construction costs and, even when users pay port infrastructure went from almost nothing before 1990 to tolls, the revenues are not directly related to construction costs. $10 billion in 1990-91 and almost $30 billion in 1997-98. By contrast, when roads are privatized, a concessionaire Massive projects like the Second Severn Bridge in Great finances, builds, and maintains the facility. The franchise owner Britain, the Guangzhou-Shenzen highway in China, or the collects tolls until the concession term ends, and the facility is 1,000 miles of upgraded Panamerican Highway in Chile have transferred to the government — usually 20 to 30 years later.
    [Show full text]
  • Private Highway Directional Signing
    Private Highway Directional Signing Guidance and Criteria for Assessment of Applications This document is intended as a guide for operators or owners of establishments or facilities intending to apply for directional highway signs. The signs are usually black text and border on a white background and may be proposed for destinations that are not eligible for the ‘brown’ tourist signs. Private Highway Directional Signing may be considered appropriate where “a permanently established premises, building, facility or establishment who’s predominant purpose is for local or community use but is also available for use by visitors from outside of the local area.” To be considered eligible for private highway directional signing in West Sussex an establishment will have to satisfy a number of criteria and be assessed against a range of traffic management, road safety and environmental issues relevant to the local area. The final decision whether to approve and offer private highway directional signing rests with the highway authority. It is recognised that clear signing can aid the movement of road users and pedestrians throughout the County. However, too many signs can result in a situation that is confusing for road users and pedestrians as well as resulting in a deformation of the predominantly rural nature of West Sussex. West Sussex County Council signed up for Campaign for the Protection of Rural England’s clutter challenge in 2005 and is committed to reducing the number of unnecessary signs on the highway. County Roads / Trunk Roads and Motorways The County Council is the highway authority for maintainable roads in West Sussex, excepting Trunk Roads and Motorways that are the direct responsibility of the Highways England.
    [Show full text]
  • An Economic Argument for Privatization of Highway Ownership
    14 TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH RECORD 1107 An Economic Argument for Privatization of Highway Ownership DAVID GELTNER AND FRED MoAVENZADEH There are four potential economic justifications for privatizing power," like monopolies or cartels, and it would be found highways: greater revenues without Increased taxes, improved feasible and advantageous to charge tolls that were too high highway use efficiency, production efficiency of maintenance, and to provide too little quantity or quality of road, from a and quality of highway services. However, because of market social perspective). (c) Related to the preceding two points are imperfections of laissez.faire private provision of highways, the economic feasibility and desirability of privatization "externalities" associated with highway production (i.e., costs depend on regulatory structures to efficiently control and miti­ or benefits of producing highways that cannot be traded in any gate potential problems of excess tolls and inadequate mainte­ market, such that the highway producer cannot "experience" nance. Possible types of regulatory structures are discussed. these costs or benefits and take them into account in his produc­ tion decision). Another source of market failure sometimes mentioned regarding highways is economies of scale or Throughout history, and in virtually all lands, most highways "lumpy" capacity in highway production, but this is just a have been built, owned, and ma.intained by governments. There technical reason underlying (b ). hove been some important exceptions to this rule, perhaps most These sources of "imperfection" represenr the basic the­ notably the case of Great Britain during the Industrial Revolu­ oretical justification for government provision of highways, tion before the advent of the railroads.
    [Show full text]
  • The Effects of Public Private Partnerships on Road Safety Outcomes T ⁎ Daniel Albalate, Paula Bel-Piñana
    Accident Analysis and Prevention 128 (2019) 53–64 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Accident Analysis and Prevention journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/aap The effects of public private partnerships on road safety outcomes T ⁎ Daniel Albalate, Paula Bel-Piñana Universitat de Barcelona, Departament d’Econometria Estadística i Economia Aplicada, Av. Diagonal 690, 08034 Barcelona, Spain ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT JEL classifications: Public Private Partnerships (PPP) have become common in providing high-quality infrastructure in many H23 countries worldwide. One of the main reasons for PPP agreements is to improve efficiency and quality in the I18 delivery of public services, as well as to boost investments for expensive projects. Despite PPPs having been l33 particularly widespread in the case of the construction and rehabilitation of high-capacity road infrastructure, Keywords: their impact in terms of road safety outcomes is still unexplored. This paper studies the effects of PPPs on road Public private partnership safety outcomes by taking advantage of the variety of production models provided in the Spanish highway Highway network. Results based on a panel-data fixed-effects method show that the most relevant aspect influencing road Road safety safety outcomes is the quality of design of the road. However, we find evidence suggesting that privately op- Management erated highways (PPPs) are positively correlated with better road safety outcomes for roads with similar quality. This finding that should be confirmed by further research raises interest in the mechanisms that couldproduce this link between management models and road safety. 1. Introduction authorities worldwide. From 1990–2015 governments around the world have awarded Road accidents are among the main causes of death around the more than 950 PPP road projects with a total amount of investment of world.
    [Show full text]
  • Private Provision of Highways: Economic Issues
    Private Provision of Highways: Economic Issues Kenneth A. Small University of California at Irvine June 21, 2009 Version accepted for publication, Transport Reviews (see below) Author contact information: Department of Economics University of California at Irvine Irvine, CA 92697-5100 USA tel: +1-949-824-5658 fax: +1-949-824-2182 [email protected] JEL codes: H44, H54, L91, R42 Keywords: privatization, road finance, toll road, road pricing, public-private partnership Acknowledgment: This author is grateful to the Show-Me Institute, St. Louis, Missouri, for financial support, and thanks Germà Bel, Dan Bogart, Alexander Galetovic, Joe Haslag, Chris Nash, Clifford Winston, and anonymous referees for helpful comments. All facts and opinions expressed are the sole responsibility of the author. Author Posting. © Taylor & Francis, 2010. This is the author's version of the work. It is posted here by permission of Taylor & Francis for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Transport Reviews, Volume 30 Issue 1, January 2010. doi:10.1080/01441640903189288 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01441640903189288) Also at: http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~db=all~content=a917370884 Private Provision of Highways: Economic Issues Abstract This paper reviews issues raised by the use of private firms to finance, build, and/or operate highways — issues including cost of capital, level and structure of tolls, and adaptability to unforeseen changes. The public sector’s apparent advantage in cost of capital is at least partly illusory due to differences in tax liability and to constraints on the supply of public capital. The evidence for lower costs of construction or operation by private firms is slim.
    [Show full text]
  • Private Highway Specifications
    1. PURPOSE. The purpose of this specification is to provide for the public safety, good, necessity and convenience of the residents of Norwich and users of private highways in Norwich and to assist in the implementation of long range plans and objectives of the Town of Norwich as set forth in the Norwich Town Plan and the Subdivision and Zoning Ordinances. 2. INTRODUCTION AND APPLICATION 2.1 The following specifications for construction of highways must be met for any highway serving two or more, but less than eleven lots or serving any lot with more than two dwelling units. 2.2 Any highway serving eleven or more lots or units must meet the Specifications for Town Highways. Any highway to be transferred to Town ownership and maintenance must meet the Specifications for Town Highways. Any highway serving a subdivision which, considered as a whole, involves eleven or more lots or units must meet the Specifications for Town Highways. 2.3 A Norwich Highway Access Permit is required for Private Highways accessed from a Town highway. 3. DESIGN, LAYOUT AND CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS. 3.1 Right of Way: The right of way shall be 50 feet in width, with additional easement areas for maintaining slopes, drainage, and sight lines where necessary. The highway shall be built in the center of the right of way and shall be sufficiently cleared to permit and facilitate snow removal and proper maintenance of drainage ditches, culverts, slopes and banks, turnoffs and turnarounds. 3.2 Highway Sub-grade and Surface Preparation: The highway shall have a minimum depth of 12 inches of packed gravel.
    [Show full text]
  • Highway and Public Transportation Infrastructure Provision Using Public-Private Partnerships (P3s)
    Highway and Public Transportation Infrastructure Provision Using Public-Private Partnerships (P3s) William J. Mallett Specialist in Transportation Policy March 5, 2014 Congressional Research Service 7-5700 www.crs.gov R43410 Highway and Public Transportation Infrastructure Provision Using Public-Private Partnerships (P3s) Summary Growing demands on the transportation system and constraints on public resources have led to calls for more private sector involvement in the provision of highway and transit infrastructure through what are known as “public-private partnerships” or “P3s.” A P3, broadly defined, is any arrangement whereby the private sector assumes more responsibility than is traditional for infrastructure planning, financing, design, construction, operation, and maintenance. Some P3s involve the leasing by the public sector to the private sector of existing infrastructure, while others provide for a private role in designing, financing, building, and operating new infrastructure. P3 proponents argue that, in addition to injecting additional resources into surface transportation infrastructure, private sector involvement potentially reduces costs, project delivery time, and public sector risk, and may also improve project selection and project quality. Detractors, on the other hand, argue that the potential for P3s is limited, and that, unless carefully regulated, P3s will disrupt the operation of the surface transportation network, increase driving and other costs for the traveling public, and subvert the public planning process. Evidence suggests that there is significant private funding available for investment in surface transportation infrastructure, but that it is unlikely to amount to more than 10% of the ongoing needs of highways over the next 20 years or so, and probably a much smaller share of transit needs.
    [Show full text]
  • Structuring PPP Toll-Road Contracts to Achieve Public Pricing Objectives
    The Engineering Project Organization Journal (June 2011) 1, 143–156 Structuring PPP toll-road contracts to achieve public pricing objectives MARTHA GROSS1 and MICHAEL GARVIN2∗ 1Virginia Tech, Myers-Lawson School of Construction, Blacksburg, VA 24061 USA 2Virginia Tech, Myers-Lawson School of Construction, 310A Bishop Favrao Hall, (0188), Blacksburg, VA 24061 USA Received 21 January 2011; accepted 12 March 2011 Although the success of public–private partnership (PPP) contracts is often evaluated on financial terms, an even more fundamental question is whether these contracts achieve the public objectives for which they were designed. The state’s responsibility as contracting agency for public infrastructure gives it a crucial role in defin- ing these goals, which fall into multiple categories and can vary for each procurement. For toll-road PPPs, the category of pricing objectives is a significant component of these broader public goals. Such pricing objectives often include (1) achieving an affordable toll rate, (2) managing congestion and (3) minimizing state subsidy/ maximizing up-front payment from concessionaires. To identify the specific PPP contract elements which support these pricing-related objectives, the method of qualitative comparative analysis was applied. Through this recently developed approach for evaluating qualitative data quantitatively, patterns of PPP contract strategies which correspond to the three common pricing objectives above were identified through evaluation of 18 projects throughout the world. The analysis indicated, for instance, that PPPs targeting the objective of affordable tolls typically exhibited contracts with downside risk-sharing provisions or longer contract durations, while toll roads which prioritized congestion management used variable tolling but frequently avoided such downside risk-sharing clauses.
    [Show full text]
  • Building a Case for Hot Lanes: a New Approach to Reducing Urban Highway Congestion
    Policy Study No. 257 BUILDING A CASE FOR HOT LANES: A NEW APPROACH TO REDUCING URBAN HIGHWAY CONGESTION BY ROBERT W. POOLE, JR. AND C. KENNETH ORSKI Executive Summary ncreasingly, high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes are being called into question. Transportation researchers find them to be of limited value in relieving congestion, and elected officials are under I increasing pressure to convert these limited-access lanes into general-purpose lanes. But a number of metro areas are experimenting with a different alternative: opening up these limited-access lanes to paying customers. The new approach is called high-occupancy/toll (HOT) lanes. As of early 1999, two such projects are in operation in California and another in Texas. Because they give motorists a choice between (1) continuing to use general-purpose lanes at no direct charge and (2) using express lanes at a specific, direct price, HOT lanes are an example of “value pricing” (charging a price only for a higher level of service). There are at least four circumstances under which the HOT lane approach may be applicable: • If an existing HOV-2 lane is seriously underutilized, converting it to a HOT lane makes use of this excess capacity. • If an existing HOV-2 lane becomes congested and is set to be converted to HOV-3, experience shows that this change will lead to a large amount of excess capacity; this is also an opportunity to sell the excess, by converting to HOT. • When an existing congested freeway is programmed for capacity expansion, the addition of a HOT lane in either direction may offer more benefits than adding either a conventional HOV lane or a general- purpose lane.
    [Show full text]
  • Highway Leasing and Club Theory
    Highway Leasing and Club Theory William Huneke1 Introduction In recent years financially stressed jurisdictions have attempted to solve their fiscal shortfalls by leasing highways to private companies. The private company pays an upfront fee or promises a regular stream of cash payments in return for operating and collecting tolls from highway users during a fixed term. In a front page article on August 26, The Wall Street Journal described the efforts Pennsylvania was going through to lease the United States’ oldest, major toll road, the Pennsylvania Turnpike.2 Leasing highways to private parties benefit state and locality finances with a lump sum or a stream of cash that can then be turned to pay for other programs. Other government entities considering highway or other infrastructure leases include Florida, Chicago, and New York State. Mancur Olson is his classic work, The Logic of Collective Action, provides a basis for understanding why providing resources for road construction and maintenance has always been so problematic. Olson argued that large groups have trouble mobilizing for a collective action that would benefit the whole group because each individual realizes that their solitary action would be meaningless unless there is significant action by many others. Olson declares that large group action generally requires some element of 1 Dr. Huneke is the Chief Economist at the Surface Transportation Board. The views expressed in this paper are the author’s own and do not represent the views of the Surface Transportation Board nor of its members. 2 “Leasing of Landmark Turnpike Puts State at Policy Crossroads,” by Craig Karmin, Wall Street Journal, August 26, 2008, p.
    [Show full text]