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Government Affairs Update The 111th Congress convened on January 6, a week before the 81st Texas Legislature began work.
Several transportation bills have been filed, including bills related to indexing the gas tax and discontinuing diversions of state transportation funds. As bills continue to be filed, the NTTA will routinely monitor any pertinent bills related to transportation. The NTTA is also monitoring federal initiatives related to the economic stimulus plan proposed by President Obama.
During the 81st Texas Legislature and 111th Congress, please do not hesitate to contact the NTTA’s Government Affairs Assistant Director, Carrie Rogers, at (214)-224-2269 or crogers@ntta.org should you have any legislative inquiries.
In other legislative news, in October 2008 the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) proposed a new regulation requiring a fair market valuation process and concession as part of any agreement with the Departments of Transportation (DOT). In November, the NTTA co-signed a letter with eight other toll entities across the state outlining its concerns with the proposed FHWA regulation. In December, the FHWA published a revised final rule incorporating several of the changes requested by the Texas toll entities, as well as those submitted by other DOTs and agencies across the country. The final rule became effective on January 18, 2009.
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