Dallas – An analysis released today indicates that the DART plan to sell $2.9 billion in 30-year bonds to accelerate construction of light rail is based upon flawed assumptions that could lead to serious financial problems in future years. On August 12, DART will ask the voters in its service area to approve the issuance...
Press Release July 19, 2000Dallas DART (Dallas Area Rapid Transit) has failed to disclose the complete cost of its proposed $2.9 billion light rail bond financing the subject of the August 12 DART election. If the election passes, DART will issue 30 year bonds to advance the construction schedule of light rail by approximately five years. DART data indicates...
Press Release July 13, 2000San Antonio – The Texas Public Policy Foundation today released a study that promotes fundamental reform in public school teacher compensation and repudiates State funding of public school teacher health benefits. Teacher Compensation: Emerging Trends for Texas calls for a fundamental rethinking in how public school teachers are paid in Texas. The study points out...
Press Release July 11, 2000The Dallas Area Rapid Transit Authority (DART) recently announced their pursuit of up to $4 billion in bond debt to accelerate light rail construction by five years. This may prove to be a very short-sighted policy decision. The bond interest payments and the $800,000 cost of the election will be paid for out of existing...
Press Release June 5, 2000San Antonio – The much heralded Weinstein-Clower April 1999 analysis of the economic impacts of light rail in Dallas has been shown to contain significant errors and problems with its methodology. One of the authors of this study, Bernard Weinstein of the University of North Texas, was recently in San Antonio as a guest of...
Press Release May 3, 2000San Antonio — On Friday, April 28, 2000, Tyler Mayor Kevin Eltife and City Manager Pinkney Butler will be awarded the Texas Public Policy Foundation “Champion of Limited Government” award at the Foundation’s 11th Anniversary dinner being held at the Fairmont Hotel in Dallas. In attendance at the dinner to witness the award will be...
Press Release April 27, 2000San Antonio- The Texas Public Policy Foundation has obtained a March 29, 2000 Financial Assessment Report from VIA under the Texas Public Information Act. An examination of this report by Tom Rubin, CPA, CMA, CMC, CIA, CGFM, CFM, the former Treasurer and Controller of the Southern California Transit District, reveals major errors in VIA’s proposed...
Press Release April 19, 2000Austin, TX – Joined by Lt. Governor Rick Perry and Dr. Steve Hayward of the Pacific Research Institute,the Texas Public Policy Foundation today released a report entitled The Texas Index of LeadingEnvironmental Indicators 2000. The Report documents the progress made in improving the TexasEnvironment over the past decade, not withstanding rapid growth in population and...
Press Release April 17, 2000Will light rail reduce traffic congestion in San Antonio? No. City-wide, light rail will reduce automobile miles driven by less than 0.4% by the year 2025. To put this in perspective, total traffic removed from roadways as a result of combined light rail ridership over 25 years is less than a single year’s increase in...
Press Release April 12, 2000San Antonio – Jeff Judson, President of the Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF), today made public his March 7, 2000 challenge of a public debate with VIA during the week of April 3rd. TPPF has obtained commitments from three national transit experts for the event. VIA will be allowed to choose any three experts to...
Press Release March 10, 2000San Antonio – The Voter Survey released today by VIA Metropolitan Transit shows the unpopularity of light rail consistent with the experiences of other communities in the U.S. After two years of intensive, taxpayer-financed public relations for light rail with no organized opposition, 41% of San Antonio voters are opposed to light rail with only...
Press Release March 8, 2000Tyler – The Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF) today released its findings of Smith County Government after nine months of research. The Smith County Opportunity Analysis identifies waste along with suggestions for improving the performance of county government which will save taxpayers $27.2 million over the coming decade. “Smith County is a growing and vibrant...
Press Release February 16, 2000