TxDOT plays many games as it strives to become a taxing authority.Last year, the CAMPO board unanimously voted to have TxDOT study a nontolled fix290.org parkway alternative for US 290(W)/SH 71(W) in South West Austin. (If you'd like to see the resolution - shoot me an email - I'll send it with no questions asked)
The parkway alternative is superior in a number of ways to TxDOT’s toll plan as it does not create tolls, it's faster to build and it costs less. But the smarter solution means TxDOT can’t harvest money from our families by creating a toll road monopoly for drivers who demand an expressway (stop light free).
In a game of “chicken”, TxDOT has decided to ignore CAMPO’s order, and NOT do the study.
The resolution asking TxDOT to do the study was signed by Austin Mayor Will Wynn, and Council Members Betty Dunkerley and Jennifer Kim in September of 2006. The CAMPO unanimous vote took place in October, 2006
We were told months ago that both City of Austin and CAMPO staff started on the feasibility study, but TxDOT told them to wait until after new designs were done.
TxDOT unveiled six designs during the so-called neighborhood "mediation". Nine months later--one of which was a drawing mislabeled "parkway." (The CAMPO definition of a parkway is a freeway without frontage roads--less than 5 percent of TxDOT Option 5 labeled "parkway" was an actual parkway section).
So, no design, no study. TxDOT is now saying, "Time's up!!! Now you have to vote, CAMPO. No way to choose a parkway with out a study to show it's feasible."
So far, CAMPO board members are letting TxDOT get away with it, as the final CAMPO vote for tolling our freeways is fast approaching.
WHY EVERY AUSTINITE SHOULD BE UP IN ARMS!
The big picture TxDOT plan for all of Austin - spends $700+ million of our tax dollars intended for free roads, on the toll road plan that shifts our public highways: 290, 71, 183 and more to toll roads. This is an unacceptable double tax. The $700 million tax dollars should be spent on new capacity freeways, NOT TOLLWAYS!
The elected officials who purport to work for us, are having one last public hearing on freeway tolls. Since 2004 we’ve stopped the freeway toll scheme by flooding the public hearings. We need everyone to attend the last CAMPO hearing on freeway tolls on Sept 10th at the Capitol at 6 pm. If you and others don't show up, be prepared to pay and pay and pay.
Plan to go to this most important meeting and tell the politicos that you don’t want $700+ million of our tax dollars (intended for free roads) to be used for monopolistic freeway tolls. The elected officials work for you, not the special interests who profit off the toll schemes.
“Everything You Need To Know About
Texas Freeway Tolls”.
Texas Freeway Tolls”.
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