Going their separate ways

On the banks of the OhioENERGY has been an economic bonanza for Texas in recent years, and a financial headache for its transport planners. The state recently forecast that maintaining the roads and bridges that serve its oil- and gasfields and wind farms, along with the rest of the state's vast network of highways, would outstrip dedicated transport revenues by $5 billion a year.Relief, however, is on its way. On November 4th Texan voters agreed to steer $1.7 billion of oil- and gas-production taxes towards the highway fund. By the middle of December the state hopes to start doling out the money to local governments for highway expansions, repairs and other much-needed projects.Texas was not alone. On the same day voters approved 63 out of 94 state and local ballot initiatives providing nearly $15 billion for various transport projects, matching the high approval rates in previous years, according to the American Road & Transportation Builders Association, a trade group. Americans may be divided on the wisdom of government spending, but the tangible appeal of better roads and transport crosses party lines....Continue reading
Click here to read full news..