Governor Perry Outlines New Higher Education Initiatives

Texas A&M’s Chief Operating Officer Shares Information About A Proposed Underground “Aggie Loop” To Relieve Above Ground Traffic Congestion

As Texas A&M’s president finalizes recommendations of a university wide capacity study, his chief operating officer (COO) met with reporters about a proposal to relieve above ground traffic congestion. COO Peter Lange said a network of underground tunnels nicknamed the “Aggie Loop” could deploy as many as 60 electric vehicles to move between east and west campus, as many as 3,300 people per hour in four minutes. Lange compared the A&M model to one in Las Vegas that transports people between that city’s convention center and connected hotels. Lange said another idea under consideration to reduce movement between east and west campus, involves more buildings where students on west campus could take core curriculum classes, live, and eat. The tunnel route is based on the two most heavily used on campus bus routes which are routes one and three. The “Aggie Loop”, at 30 feet below ground, would connect the Polo Road area of campus with the memorial student center (MSC), White Creek apartments and Reed Arena. Transit time from Polo Road to the MSC would be two minutes and the transit time from White Creek Apartments to the commons area would be completed in three minutes. The project would also require building passenger stations above and below ground. Funding is unknown, though it is likely that A&M would need to fund this centrally and transit resources would be allocated to improving existing routes. While A&M’s president has not made any final decisions related to the capacity study, Mark Welsh has stated the possibility of freezing undergraduate enrollment for five years. Click HERE to read and download the draft recommendations of Texas A&M’s capacity study that were released in July 2024. Click below to hear comments from Peter Lange, visiting with reporters on October 8, 2024: Listen to “Texas A&M's chief operating officer shares information about a proposed underground "Aggie Loop" to relieve above ground traffic congestion” on Spreaker.

Brazos County Commission Joins The Bryan City Council In An Economic Development Project In Downtown Bryan

Brazos County commissioners agree to divert the county’s portion of future property tax money in the north section of downtown Bryan. That is associated with an undisclosed economic development project from the Bryan city council. County judge Duane Peters provided information about the county’s involvement during the commission’s October 1st meeting, in response to a citizen’s question about the county paying for a new parking garage. County documents say the creation of 300 parking spaces would serve a new development along Bryan Avenue between 22nd and Martin Luther King, Jr. Street. The Bryan city council during its October regular meeting, approved without public comment the interlocal agreement with Brazos County and an eighth amendment to the tax increment reinvestment zone (TIRZ) where this development will take place. Click HERE to read and download the interlocal agreement approved by the Brazos County commission and the Bryan city council. Click HERE to read and download the Bryan city council’s approval of the eighth amendment to the TIRZ that is associated with the city-county interlocal agreement. Click HERE to read and download Bryan city council background information about amendments to the downtown Bryan TIRZ. Click HERE to read and download the city of Bryan’s document establishing the downtown TIRZ in August 2009. Click below to hear comments from Duane Peters during the October 1, 2024 Brazos County commission meeting. Listen to “Brazos County commission joins the Bryan city council in an economic development project in downtown Bryan” on Spreaker.

Construction Contracts Awarded By The College Station City Council Includes Two Projects Approved By Voters

College Station city council members at Monday’s meeting (October 9) awarded three construction contracts. Two of the contracts involve projects approved by voters in the November 2022 bond issue. One was replacing tennis courts at Bee Creek and Central parks. The $1.1 million dollar contract does not add striping for pickleball courts. Councilwoman Elizabeth Cunha withdrew the idea of adding pickleball striping when mayor John Nichols reminded her the bond issue language called for only tennis courts at those locations. Click HERE to read and download information about the tennis court replacement contract. Another bond funded project involves new parks department operations buildings at Central Park. Capital projects director Jennifer Cain and city manager Bryan Woods noted the $4 million dollar contract is almost $3 million under budget. Click HERE to read and download information about the contract for new Central Park operations buildings. Cain also said the contract to replace tennis courts came in $350,000 dollars under budget. And the council awarded a more than $3.5 million dollar contract for improvements at the Carter’s Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant. City documents say there is a remaining balance of $870,000 dollars in that project fund. Click HERE to read and download information about the Carter’s Creek wastewater treatment plant contract. Cain said there may be more savings, depending on how much contingency money is spent. Click below to hear comments from the October 7, 2024 College Station city council meeting: