Texas

Texas Bill to Slow Property Tax Increases Advances
The Texas Senate has approved Senate Bill 2, which would require a vote to raise property taxes beyond 5 percent—lowered from the current threshold of 8 percent.

Whitewater Park Snafu Leads to Legal Conflicts on Dallas' Trinity River
A seemingly innocuous idea for water recreation has turned into a legal headache for the city of Dallas. Still, the Army Corps of Engineers isn't budging on its declaration of the river as navigable.

SXSW Attendees Troubled by Austin's Lack of Uber
What happens when SXSW stops being polite, and starts getting real?

Trump Administration Lawyering Up for Eminent Domain at the U.S.-Mexico Border
One of the nuggets of significance in the Trump Administration's budget draft indicates the president's seriousness about building a wall on the border between the United States and Mexico.

The Upside of Flooding
Stormwater and cities don't mix. Stormwater and nature, however, are well suited for each other.
Canadian Prime Minister Wins Award for Being Pro-Oil Sands and Pro-Environment
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is treading a fine line between supporting the economy of oil-sands dependent western Canada and fighting climate change, as impossible as that might sound. His efforts were rewarded by the energy industry.

Op-Ed: Austin Still Needs Traditional Buses
Transportation network companies cannot duplicate transit service in outlying communities, argues Ryan Young.

Tents Under Bridges Outlawed in Houston
In an attempt to remove homeless people from underpasses, Houston Mayor proposes legislation to make it a misdemeanor to put up such structures.

Houston's First Bike Plan Since 1993 Will Wait a Few More Weeks
Houston bike advocates were hoping the City Council would act on the city's first new bike plan since 1993. Instead, the plan will have to wait while councilmembers decide about how to approach funding for the plan's proposed projects.

Big Changes Coming for Austin Transit System
After a long survey process, Austin looking to update its transit system focusing on frequency on its busiest routes.

Dallas Skaters Hope for a New Park
Texas cities are home to many half pipes and grind rails, but Dallas lags behind other cities in the region.

Mapping Austin's Residential Demolitions
Demolitions in residential neighborhoods have increased quickly in Austin, as property owners upgrade their homes to contemporary layouts. Community Impact newspaper investigates the trend.
How to Build a $12 Billion High-Speed Rail Line at No Cost to Taxpayers
Unlike the nation's more well-known high-speed rail project in California, the 205 miles-per-hour, Dallas-to-Houston bullet train will be almost entirely privately financed. How is that possible?

More than Twenty Bills Introduced in Texas Legislature to Stop High-Speed Rail
The California high-speed rail project is not alone in confronting legal and political obstacles. The main issue in Texas that has aroused opposition to the privately financed, 240-mile Dallas to Houston bullet train is the use of eminent domain.

Checking In With Cities That 'Lost' the Smart Cities Challenge
Denver and Austin were finalists in the competition. Since then, they've found ways to implement their ideas.

Texas Road Subsidies Take Toll on General Fund
Diverting billions of dollars of sales tax revenue from the state's general fund to the Texas Department of Transportation is taking a toll on other programs that lawmakers must fund.

Fair Housing Advocates Sue Texas Governor Over Housing Voucher Law
A Dallas non-profit has sued Texas Governor Greg Abbott over what it calls a blatantly racist law that allows landlords to refuse payment in federal housing vouchers.

Austin Looking to Five New View Corridors
The city of Austin is looking for ways to keep all eyes on the state capitol building.

Op-Ed: Houston Should Try to Kill Fewer Pedestrians
City officials in Houston have shown little regard for the safety of its people when they're walking outside, argues an op-ed in the Houston Chronicle.

A Super Weekend for Houston Rail Transit
"Sunday might have been the Super Bowl, but Saturday was Metro’s super day," reports Dug Begley.
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