These appendices report on the findings of the principle investigators regarding the potential impact of the proposed Union Pacific/Southern Pacific merger on the state of Texas. This analysis was conducted by the University of North Texas Center for Economic Development and Research.

This report, by the University of North Texas Center for Economic Development and Research, summarizes the findings of the principle investigators regarding the potential impact of the proposed Union Pacific/Southern Pacific merger on the state of Texas. The findings of the component analyses are categorized as either positive, neutral or negative. This is followed by an overall characterization of the merger's impact.

This report, by the University of North Texas Center for Economic Development and Research, discusses the disruption in Union Pacific Railroad service and its impact on the economy in the state of Texas and other areas of the United States.

This report discusses the hotel industry, Texas stadium, and hotel occupancy taxes. The Board of Directors of the Irving Convention and Visitors Bureau commissioned the Center for Economic Development and Research at the University of North Texas to examine several facets of the hotel industry, Texas Stadium and hotel occupancy tax receipts in the City of Irving. This report summarizes the findings of that examination.

This report presents the findings of a study by the University of North Texas Center for Economic Research and Development. The study is to provide property owners in Mercado de Fort Forth with information to aid their decision making for building renovations and business investment. The study reviews several mercado-style projects in other cities, provides information on business assistance resources in the Fort Worth area, looks at ongoing plans targeted to the surrounding community, and provides details regarding qualifications for "historic" designations.

This report discusses the initial economic impacts of the DART LRT system. After years of planning and building, DART rail became a reality in June of 1996. As part of the "Before and After Study," the University of North Texas Center for Economic Development and Research was retained to identify and measure the initial economic impacts of the LRT system, focusing primarily on property values and retail sales. This report presents the findings of the examination.

This report, by the University of North Texas Center for Economic Development and Research, discusses the issues involved with population growth in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.

The North Texas Commission retained the University of North Texas Center for Economic Development and Research to summarize, evaluate and critique 18 "business climate" and "quality of life" surveys that were released in 1999. In particular, they were asked to identify data or perceptions from these studies that might be helpful to the Commission in formulating strategies for either capitalizing on the region's assets or dealing with its shortcomings.

This report, by the University of North Texas Center for Economic Development and Research, discusses the economic effect of rising gas prices on the Texas economy. It surmises that although rising natural gas prices are a boon to gas drilling, production and distribution industries and their employees, the resulting higher costs to Texas industries and households more than offset any gains. Each $1 per MCF increase in the price of natural gas - if sustained - has the net effect of decreasing state economic activity by at least $3.4 billion per year, lowering total employment by more than 34,000, and reducing salaries and wages by $911 million.

This report, by the University of North Texas Center for Economic Development and Research, examines Immokalee, Florida and discusses how to diversify their economy. Two of the tourist attractions proposed are a new raceway and a new casino.

This report, by the University of North Texas Center for Economic Development and Research, briefly describes the system of service delivery to homeless persons in Dallas and examines how other cities deal with their homeless populations, particularly those that have centralized service delivery. This report also documents the growing disparities in property values between the northern and southern sectors of the DCBD and calculates the potential tax revenues, jobs and income that could be generated by a revitalized southern sector.

This report, by the University of North Texas Center for Economic Development and Research, discusses the economic impacts of construction and development of ancillary facilities, the recurring economic impacts of airport area business operations, and the fiscal impacts and effect on property taxes that are estimated to occur with the proposed building of a new Denton County International Airport.

The Survey Research Center and the Center for Economic Development at the University of North Texas were retained by the Permian Basin Regional Planning Commission to assist them in developing a strategic plan for the region.

This report discusses the economic and fiscal impacts of building a soccer stadium in McKinney, Texas. The City of McKinney began negotiations with Major League Soccer (MLS) to build a 20,000-seat stadium to host the Dallas Burn Soccer Club. The following analysis, by the University of North Texas Center for Economic Development and Research, examines the economic and fiscal impacts of building and operating such a stadium on the City of McKinney and assesses the fiscal costs and benefits if the City chooses to participate financially in the stadium's construction.

This report, by the University of North Texas Center for Economic Development and Research, is an update on previous studies of the direct and indirect economic impacts of the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) Light Rail Transit (LRT) system. Two specific topics addressed in detail are how the proximity to an LRT station affected taxable property values and to what degree the DART rail is serving as a catalyst for transit-oriented development (TOD).

The Dallas/Fort Worth Metropolitan Area, along with most other regions of the country, has witnessed some tough economic times. Telecom layoffs, the aftermath of the September 11th terrorist attacks, and the national economic downturn have reduced the region's employment by about 100,000 since 2000. Dallas' current economic stress is best evidenced by its declining per capita income. Still, as this report illustrates, even allowing for the region's current economic vicissitudes, the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex has been one of the most dynamic urban areas in the nation since 1990 and this report presents the information surrounding these topics with the figures and data found by the University of North Texas Center for Economic Development and Research.

This report gives an overview of the Dallas-Fort Worth area's long-term water and transportation needs. Recognizing the importance of a reliable long-term water supply, the Dallas/Fort Worth region has invested heavily in reservoirs and transmission facilities over the past 50 years. Indeed, the dramatic population and employment growth enjoyed by the Metroplex over the past several decades would not have occurred absent an abundant and reliable supply of fresh water for residential and commercial uses. Despite the foresightedness of the region's leaders, according to the Texas Water Development Board the region may soon find itself facing a water deficit. This report, by the University of North Texas Center for Economic Development and Research, examines the implications of the DFW area's long-term water and transportation needs.

This report discusses the changing demographics and growth shifts in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

This report, by the University of North Texas Center for Economic Development and Research, examines the investment in hard infrastructure that will be required to keep Texas a vibrant and expanding part of the global economy-most especially a grid computing network connected by fiber optic cable.

Homelessness has significant economic as well as social consequences for the City of Dallas. While offering compassion to the homeless, this report also acknowledges that the overwhelming presence of homeless persons on the streets of downtown has negative economic impacts on individual businesses, the prospects for redevelopment, and the city's finances. This report, by the University of North Texas Center for Economic Development and Research, discusses theses aspects.

This paper discusses economic activities associated with the Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) International Airport. DFW International Airport is one of the largest generators of economic activity in the Metroplex with operations creating more than $14 billion in economic activity and supporting 269,000 jobs in the region. This analysis, by the University of North Texas Center for Economic Development and Research, focuses on the economic activity generated through the Airport's commitment to ensuring its suppliers reflect the cultural and ethnic diversity of the DFW Metroplex.

This report discusses the economic and fiscal impacts of Baylor Regional Medical Center Grapevine. This report, by the University of North Texas Center for Economic Development and Research, outlines the regional economic and fiscal impacts from Baylor-Grapevine's construction spending and ongoing operations. Estimates of the economic impacts are calculated using the DFW model of the IMPLAN impact modeling system developed by the Minnesota IMPLAN Group. This model, which is well-regarded by academic and professional researchers, provides reasonable and conservative estimates of direct, indirect, and induced impacts.

This report, by the University of North Texas Center for Economic Development and Research, examines selected characteristics of the labor force available to firms located in the southern area of the City of Dallas, Texas. The report also compares occupational hiring patterns for a specified group of industries selected as targets of opportunity for recruitment and economic development efforts of the Greater Dallas Chamber of Commerce along with matching labor force availability. In assessing labor force availability and characteristics, we have relied on data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor at the zip code level.

This report discusses the DART systems' sales tax revenues. In addition to the fare box, DART's operations are funded through a one percent sales tax levied by member cities on all retail transactions as permitted by state law. During the 1990s, DART's sales tax receipts grew at a healthy clip. But between 2001 and 2003, taxable sales in the DART service area declined. By contrast, for many non-DART suburban cities, taxable sales continued to expand during the 2001-2003 period. This report, by the University of North Texas Center for Economic Development and Research, looks at three possible explanations for these trends.