Irving to Welcome World Leaders for Transportation Summit

By Hon. Herbert A. Gears, Mayor, City of Irving International dignitaries, policy makers, government representatives and engineers will once again visit Irving in just a few weeks.  The 12th Annual Transportation and Infrastructure Summit is truly a showcase event for our city. With Irving’s forward thinking commitment to world-class transportation and infrastructure and with light rail on the verge of connecting Irving to Downtown Dallas and the world’s third’s busiest airport, our city is firmly establishing itself as a transit-minded, model municipality. The focus of this international event has expanded to include dialogue specific to infrastructure. Again, Irving is a leader in this regard from the city’s robust utility infrastructure to the innovative and forward-thinking planning for our water infrastructure. The City of Irving is truly a pioneer in its efforts to bring water across state lines from Hugo Lake in Oklahoma to Irving, so as to support population growth in Irving and other areas of the Metroplex as well. Supporting a growing population and increasing economic demands with a sound transportation and infrastructure network, top the list of goals for political leaders around the world.  In the case of Irving, light rail is a critical component as we plan for the future. Transit-oriented developments are under construction all along the rail line, and the economic impact to the city will be tremendous. In fact, transit-oriented developments are expected to generate $ 7.5 billion in economic activity in Dallas County supporting more than 60,000 persons.  This activity will likely generate nearly $3 billion in wages and create an additional increase of $728 million in rents, royalties, dividends and corporate profits. Moreover, the state and local government revenues from property, sales and use taxes, license and permit fees associated with construction spending is expected to generate more than $175 million. It’s fitting that high speed and commuter rail will also be a focus of the Transportation and Infrastructure Summit as well. In fact, there will be a panel session on creating sustainable and livable communities along rail lines, with discussion focusing on rail’s positive impact on many areas, including commerce, travel, energy consumption, business and quality of life.  Other sessions of particular interest to Irving will include dialogue about topics such as water
resource strategies for Texas, the changing nature of tollways and managed HOV lanes, the future of highways and what is in store for the aviation industry and for our nation’s airports. For our nation’s leaders who have the important charge of shaping infrastructure and transportation in this country, it is extremely valuable to have an opportunity to come together, to learn about best practices for what really works and to explore new and innovative ideas.  I look forward to participating in a Mayors’ roundtable with the mayors of Austin, El Paso, Houston, Little Rock, Oklahoma City and Los Angeles. It will be wonderful to learn from their successes and challenges as they relate to transportation, and to share with these cities the great projects underway in Irving. Though it may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think about what makes for high quality of life, quality infrastructure and the ability to get where you want to be quickly and safely, are absolutely essential. City Council, City Manager Tommy Gonzalez and the Chamber are all to be applauded for their hard work in these areas. Also, special thanks are in order for the office of David Dean, without whom the 12th Annual Transportation and Infrastructure Summit would not be the successful showcase event for Irving that it has clearly become. This international conference is just one more reason to be proud of our city.