Posted on 06/15/2012 10:20:41 AM PDT by Sarajevo
Vote's implications unclear but likely to be far-reaching.
Citing an effort to save money and eliminate job duplication, Bexar County Commissioners Court voted Tuesday to undertake management of the day-to-day operations of San Antonio's only tolling authority.
The vote will now bring the decisions of the Alamo Regional Mobility Authority “closer to an elected body,” said Commissioner Kevin Wolff, who made the proposal.
The RMA board remains intact for now. The commissioners already appoint the entire RMA board, and the governor names the chairman.
“If we would merge at the very least the operational aspects of the RMA today and the county, I think we can save ourselves a considerable amount of money over time,” Wolff said.
No RMA board members, nor any staffers, were on hand for the vote.
County Manager David Smith said he still has not determined how much money could be saved by the county taking over the RMA operations.
The county's Public Works Department likely will absorb the RMA staff responsibilities, Director and County Engineer Renee Green said. Public Works has a staff of more than 250 people, including 11 engineers.
Green said taking on the RMA projects — for example, the construction of the interchange at Loop 1604 and U.S. 281 on the North Side — could mean hiring additional engineers. The county will study the RMA's administrative responsibilities to determine where and how they can be absorbed.
“Obviously, we feel we can achieve savings,” Green said.
“If it's necessary to retain certain RMA staff, we want to do that.”
About $1.2 million of the RMA's $1.6 million operations budget goes to personnel costs, such as salaries and benefits. Executive Director Terry Brechtel collects an annual salary of $186,277.
RMA Chairman Bill Thornton said he and the staff will begin meeting with the county to ensure no RMA projects are negatively affected.
“After that our job is to listen to the court, see what they want to do and be as helpful as possible,” Thornton said.
The implications of the 4-0 vote — Commissioner Sergio “Chico” Rodriguez was not present — are unclear but potentially far-reaching.
The RMA, created in 2003, has the right to build toll and nontoll road projects on Loop 1604 and U.S. 281. The agency has not yet built any toll roads, but it can issue toll revenue bonds, power the county does not have. Under current statute, Bexar County cannot become a tolling authority without legislative action.
Commissioners have not yet decided if that's a road they want to take.
Calling the vote a defining moment for transportation in the Alamo City, Commissioner Paul Elizondo said the transition should be a “slow and deliberate thing.”
In the future, the RMA board could continue to retain its powers, with the county handling only operations; or Bexar County could push for legislation to allow it to become a tolling authority. The RMA board also could dissolve and cede all tolling authority — and tolling revenues — to the state and the Texas Department of Transportation.
“They (TxDOT) have the authority to do it,” County Judge Nelson Wolff said. “They don't really need us. That could end up being a possibility.”
Thornton cautioned against handing tolling authority to TxDOT, which would allow the state to collect local toll revenues and siphon that money to its general fund — and not back to San Antonio.
“If the RMA's influence is decreased, then it's my hope the Commissioners Court steps up ... to maintain control over our local projects,” Thornton said.
County Judge Wolff suggested a fourth possibility: Officials could merge the RMA board and the county's Advanced Transportation District, which is made up of the board of VIA Metropolitan Transit.
Wolff said it makes sense to consolidate transportation agencies and increase efficiencies. A similar move was attempted in 2009 but the legislation failed.
On Tuesday, commissioners also voted to allocate $100 million in Advance Transportation District dollars to expansion projects on Loop 1604 and U.S. 281.
The proposed projects would add nontoll expressways to segments of both corridors. But toll lanes would also eventually be part of the mix, according to the plan officials are considering.
For 9 years, this unelected body has been sitting on it's fourth-point-of-contact, steadily pushing for additional tax revenues through the usurpation of roadways already paid for by the fuel taxes.
This stench of the remnants of the TTC debacle remain after all these years.
It’s been a while since I was in San Antonio — my most favorite city, in the whole world! With the Lone Star brewery and NIOSA, a truly heavenly place.
Does the government continue to operate the local utilities? How does the cost compare to other Texas cities? Never seen a political entity do it as cheaply as free enterprise.
By-the-way, if you ever want to impress some woman with how romantic you are, take one of those “river” tours! Followed by some Tex-Mex food.
Stay at the Marriott, do the Sunday brunch, or eat at St. Anthony’s. The Menger Hotel has goat on the buffet!
Like I said, a wonderful city!!!!! My second favorite city is San Diego, CA. (I specify because there’s a “San Diego” in Texas, as well.)
SA recently opened new boat tours up the river from the Alamo loop. They end at the old Lone Star Brewery. Unfortunately, it now houses an art museum. There’s a great bar on the river there, though. This route is even better, and hardly traveled. It costs a little more, but you get a one or two day pass on the boats.
“This stench of the remnants of the TTC debacle remain after all these years.”
AGREE!!! The stench is Governor Perry, and it is an EMBARRASSMENT to have to live in his little kingdom.
My ex-mother-in-law once came to see us when we lived in Houston. We did the SA tour in January.
Who knew they drained the river? So we went to the Alamo for a tour.
“Big Red” stood in the Alamo and said in a loud voice that “I don’t know what the big deal is!”
I thought that, for sure, someone would shoot us.
No one did, but I don’t believe a jury would have convicted anyone if they had!
“Big Red” is now lose in the people’s Republic of Maryland!
Nah- Take her to Bandera, The Cowboy Capital of the World. If you forget your dancin' boots, you can buy a nice pair there;)
I'm about 40 minutes from downtown San Antonio.
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