Separate roadway/mobility funding from mass transit in Houston

I am of the opinion that the funding mechanism for METRO needs to be changed.

From what I understand, METRO receives most of its funding from the one-cent sales tax levied within its service area, which includes most of unincorporated Harris County, the city of Houston and 14 suburbs. A 1988 referendum authorized METRO to redirect 25% of those tax revenues to the 14 suburbs for "general mobility" roadway construction and maintenance projects.

A required new vote to re-authorize this plan is being planned for the November general election, and METRO had a public meeting on June 18 to discuss the matter. The meeting lasted four hours. Many participants were in support of ending the 25% redirection of METRO funds for general mobility, while many in the business community supported continuing the present system and hinting that they may take their fight to the state legislature.

I am in agreement with those participants who would like to see 100% of METRO sales tax revenues used exclusively for mass transit. And if that fight has to go to the state legislature, it's a fight worth having. Houston's mass transit network, while OK, is somewhat behind its national peer cities. Places like Atlanta, Dallas, Austin, Phoenix, Los Angeles, even Tucson have made huge strides while Houston is struggling to keep up.

There is NO excuse as to why the fifth largest metropolitan area in the United States has only seven miles of light rail in the year 2012. NONE. The ball was dropped 10, 15, 25 years ago in this region for rather stupid political reasons, and we are paying for it now.

There is no excuse as to why entire neighborhoods within Harris County have no convenient bus or rail connections to downtown, Westchase or the Galleria.

That does not mean the maintenance and improvement of local streets and roadways in Houston gets neglected.

The need to improve and maintain the roads and streets in the Houston region is so great, that in my opinion a separate source of general mobility funding is warranted, and one that is NOT tied to mass transit, but solely and exclusively dedicated to maintenance and repair of roadways in the City of Houston (and on a countywide and/or regional basis).

A large part of the solution to the funding of both mass transit and general mobility improvements lies not only at the local level, but also at the state and Federal levels.

Here are some other ideas I have:

1. A two-cent increase in the Federal excise tax on motor fuels, with one cent dedicated exclusively to state and local road and street maintenance and improvements (excluding the Interstate highway system) and one cent towards Federal deficit reduction. The new funds would be distributed to the states on a formula basis.

2. A two-cent increase in Texas' state excise tax on motor fuels, with the increase dedicated solely to a statewide fund for local streets and roads (excluding state and Interstate highways), the funds of which (combined with the increased Federal funds) would be disbursed to cities and counties on a formula basis. Texas has one of the lowest total motor fuel taxes in the nation and such an increase would have minimal impact on Texas motorists.

3. A one-cent increase in the taxes on all car rentals and hotel bookings at Bush and Hobby airports (and possibly in certain management districts such as downtown, Westchase, etc.), to be dedicated to general mobility improvements and maintenance on airport property, as well as on surrounding off-airport streets and roads (excluding state and Interstate highways) within five miles of the terminals (or within the official boundaries of the management district).

3a. If not already the case, the areas within a five mile radius of all Houston Airport System facilities should be designated as management districts, with all the privileges and responsibilities usually so designated.

4. A dedicated 2 to 3 cent tax increase on a regional level, in the federally defined 13-county Gulf Coast planning region (especially the core urbanized counties of Harris, Fort Bend, Brazoria and Montgomery), with those funds dedicated exclusively for general mobility construction, maintenance and improvements. This can be included as part of the Regional Thoroughfare Plan of the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) and put to a public vote.

If need be, the statewide cap on sales tax collections in Texas should be raised from 8.25% to 9.25% or even as high as 10%, with the extra cent(s) dedicated exclusively to allowing local areas to fund these critical local needs. This, of course, benefits ALL Texans.

Houston can and should have the best mass transit network, as well as a system of roads, streets and highways that work effectively. Both can and should be done.

A Vampire in Durham

Staying on the subject of movies I have written fan fiction sequels to...

About a year ago I uploaded to Scribd a sequel to Vampire in Brooklyn, the horror-comedy starring Eddie Murphy and Angela Bassett.

I found that a kind person has posted the entire original movie to YouTube which can be seen below (YouTube and Paramount, let this video stay up please, don't take it down!)

Watch the movie and then read my sequel. Tell me what you think!

(Spoiler alert: In my sequel, Angela Bassett's character gets married. After a wild and crazy series of events that threaten the very existence of humanity.)