Old Cheezhead

Dallas Jobs Affected by Electric Tolls

Hundreds of Dallas jobs may be in jeopardy thanks to a new electric toll system.

The North Texas Tollway Authority is getting ready to transition to an electronic toll collection system in December. As part of that effort, more than 200 employees have been moved from the toll collection and vault departments to other departments, and about 140 jobs will be eliminated once the transition is complete.

A team made up of human resource professionals and toll collection employees has been working since 2007 to find new job openings and training opportunities for employees who will be affected by the changes.

The team created an employee transition plan consisting of additional training, professional development, second-language proficiency programs, and mentoring opportunities. Hundreds of employees also have participated in job fairs, job shadowing, and interview and job development workshops.

"The transition to cashless toll collection on the remainder of the NTTA System has required a reduced number of employees over the last two years," NTTA Executive Director Allen Clemson told Pegasus News. "We have sought to assist these employees by offering as many opportunities as possible to move into other positions either in or outside the NTTA."

Once the conversion to electric tolls is complete, cash will no longer be accepted at toll stops, and all drivers must instead pay through a TollTag account or the NTTA's ZipCash payment method. The ZipCash method costs 50 percent more than TollTags, which can be used on any toll road in Texas.

San Antonio Construction Jobs See New Competition

San Antonio construction jobs have continued to stay afloat throughout the economic recession, but new competition for projects could cause some local firms to suffer.

The city's commercial construction industry is among the best in the country, partly thanks to the large amount of local military construction, but local firms that have been kept busy by years of backed-up projects are now finding themselves facing competition.

The reduction in construction work throughout the nation has caused many outside firms to open offices in San Antonio, which has in turn increased the number of bidders looking for work to keep their staff employed, resulting in some companies even bidding below price.

According to an article by San Antonio Express-News, some experts think more public bond programs should be passed and the private development market should restart in order to fix the problem.

"We've been blessed with a robust public market," Doug McMurry, executive vice president of the San Antonio Chapter of Associated General Contractors of America, said. "On the other hand, there's an incredibly big need for more private work to keep all of these construction firms busy."

Thankfully some big projects are slated to begin construction in the coming years, including $3 billion in military work and $900 million worth of capital improvements to University Health System, but even those aren't enough to sustain the market.

Some other projects are currently in the pipeline, such as a $515 million project by the San Antonio Independent School District to renovate 22 schools, improve technology and security, and improve the Alamo Stadium and the Convention Center.

Denver Construction Jobs from NEED Grants

Several new energy-focused grants will help to create more Denver construction jobs. Visit http://denver.jobing.com/jobs/construction to learn more.

Gov. Bill Ritter recently announced that 23 New Energy Economic Development grants have been awarded to organizations throughout Colorado. The funding will be used for renewable energy efficiency projects that will help create and retain jobs, strengthen the local economy, and save money and energy.

The grants total about $2.2 million and will be funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Organizations to receive funding include communities, school districts and nonprofits.

"These grants mean jobs, energy savings and lower utility bills for taxpayers across Colorado," Ritter said. "Projects funded with these dollars further strengthen our New Energy Economy, diversify the economy in all corners of Colorado and reflect Colorado's 21st century outlook for developing the jobs and infrastructure that position us as a national leader."

A total of 106 organizations applied to grants totaling more than $18 million, with the winners chosen after a competitive process. The projects that received grants will leverage more than $5 million in public-private local matching funds for a total investment of $7.8 million in Colorado communities.

The projects in Denver that will receive funding include:

• Northeast Denver Housing Center - Will receive a $107,500 grant to install 55 kilowatts of solar energy in a model project to integrate renewable power into affordable housing.
• OptiMiser - Will receive a $50,000 grant to further develop energy audit software that can be used by homeowners to calculate potential cost benefits analysis of renewable energy installations.
• Visiting Nurses Association - Will receive a $7,839 grant to make energy efficient lighting upgrades at its facility in Denver.