12/14/2005

Major Texas Toll Road May Be Halted

at 12/14/2005

3 comments:

Sal Costello said...

http://www.navasotaexaminer.com/articles/2005/12/14/news/letters_to_the_editor/letters02.txt

Highway question

I just got through reading an article where Gov. Rick Perry has announced plans to seek private dollars to upgrade a U.S. 59 as Texas' portion of the proposed Interstate 69 rather than wait for federal funds that may never come.

According to the article the federal Highway Trust Fund is headed for bankruptcy. With our manufacturing and jobs going overseas and even Mexico's cheaper labor not being able to compete with China; I fail to see how the expense of building such a highway would benefit anyone except the companies building the highway and anyone else profiting from a lucrative deal. If all our products are going to be made in China and India; i wonder what will be shipped on the highway. Why do we have a trend toward toll roads and getting private investors involved?

It looks like our tax dollars aren't being used wisely because the hefty taxes on gas have done well in the past.

The last time i checked we had a 20 cent per gallon state tax on gas and an 18.4 cent per gallon federal tax on gas.

In other words when you put 20 gallons of gas in your car; you are paying $7.68 in federal and state tax. Along with the environmental studies for these highways they need to do some economic studies that state in detail the effect on the local economies, schools, and tax base. In my opinion the approval to build any major highway should be voted on in a special election. Grimes county is a beautiful place that will grow regardless of the highways; so hopefully, these huge land eating concrete scars will be pointed in a different direction.

Larry W. Lynch,
Plantersville

10:02 PM, December 14, 2005
Sal Costello said...

http://www.wacotrib.com/news/content/news/stories/2005/12/14/20051214wactxdot.html

Top transportation official talks about proposed corridor

By Dan Genz Tribune-Herald staff writer

Wednesday, December 14, 2005

Debunking myths and offering a few hints about the Trans-Texas Corridor, the state's top transportation administrator discussed the proposed Dallas-to-San Antonio highway and rail network with the Tribune-Herald editorial board Tuesday.

Citing heavy traffic along Interstate 35 and the state's booming population, Texas Department of Transportation executive director Michael W. Behrens said conditions have made the $6 billion controversial project necessary and inevitable.

“This corridor is going to have to be built someday, either sooner or later, and it's very important I think that we get a footprint for where it could go,” Behrens said.

The massive roadway will likely be placed east of Interstate 35, with tolls costing drivers about a dime or 11 cents per mile, Behrens said.

The transportation agency is expected to narrow the 50-mile review area to a 10-mile zone early next year. Construction is set to begin in about five years.

Lawmakers approved Gov. Rick Perry's plan for a 4,000 mile network of roadways crisscrossing the state in 2003. The quarter-mile-wide highway system could run through McLennan County.

Local opposition groups say the quarter-mile-wide project could devour thousands of acres of ranchland and lure drivers away from businesses along the bustling I-35 corridor.

McLennan County commissioners passed a resolution opposing the project earlier this year and County Judge Jim Lewis said it's still difficult to get direct information about concerns about use of right-of-ways.

“I think we need to look at it, but we need to get some good factual answers to our questions,” Lewis said. “It's almost like talking to the IRS. They won't give you a written answer to something,” Lewis said.

One key point of contention is that detailed records about the companies building the tollway, a San Antonio construction firm and the Spanish transportation company Cintra Zachry LP, have not been made public until a final contract is signed.

“Does that give you a warm fuzzy feeling that the negotiations and things were done in private?” Lewis asked.

Saying it is too early to release that information, Behrens said people are confused about what's happening with the project. He's heard some people are alarmed that the country of Spain could be seizing their property.

To make his case amid the organized opposition, Behrens has met with newspaper representatives from Cameron, Temple, Taylor and Rockdale.

He said many in the public are undecided and not fully informed about the project.

“We're seeing that there are some things that are being said that are not correct. We call them myths versus reality,” Behrens said.

Driving north from Austin Tuesday, Behrens said he looked at a busy Bell County rest area in Salado along Interstate 35 and asked himself what the future will be like if no highway is built.

“What are these things going to be like? Can you imagine twice the amount of trucks? We need to find another corridor to put these cars,” Behrens said.

10:04 PM, December 14, 2005
Sal Costello said...

http://www.co.hays.tx.us/commissioners/archive/minutes/2005/october/ccm100405.pdf

OCTOBER, 2005
22944 AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE TO EXECUTE AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT
CONCERNING THE PHASE 2 TRANSPORTATION PLAN STUDY AND ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS [T1-537]

Rich Bailey, Exec. Asst. to Austin City Council Member Brewster McCracken, spoke of numbers given to CAMPO – because of lack of public confidence they are requesting an independent review of the analysis and they have contracted with a firm that is experienced with toll road plans. The cost for a more thorough review will be $350,000. He spoke of entities that have agreed to contribute toward this review. CAMPO will accept the report and act on the recommendations.

Commissioner Ingalsbe voiced her concern about putting money into a study that is a “token study” – she wants the study to be taken seriously.

Mr. Bailey advised that there are no toll roads proposed at this time for Hays County but many county residents will be using the toll roads to go to work in the Austin area. Commissioner Carter voiced her concern about representation for Hays County – she feels like this is an Austin problem. Judge Powers spoke of this being a regional problem and he feels like it is important that Hays County have a voice. Commissioner Conley spoke of need for public confidence in the figures being used and he supports this agreement. Mr. Bailey stated that the goal is to improve the mobility situation. Commissioner Molenaar spoke of toll roads that will affect citizens of Hays County – he does not support toll roads but he will support the study. [T1-601] A motion was made by Judge Powers, seconded by Commissioner Conley to participate and contribute a sum of $10,000 to be taken from the consultant line item/engineering assistance line item and the court furthermore agree to have Judge Powers be the county representative. All voting “Aye”.

10:41 PM, December 14, 2005

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)