tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12974737.post5688147285634424026..comments2024-01-04T07:10:10.122-06:00Comments on The Muckraker: “Why should we believe TxDOT now?"Sal Costellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09480127461297425532noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12974737.post-29149027637061073552008-06-14T12:02:00.000-05:002008-06-14T12:02:00.000-05:00Two words: Senator OgdenTwo words: Senator OgdenAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12974737.post-66835444483657912842008-06-12T17:11:00.000-05:002008-06-12T17:11:00.000-05:00Why in the world should we build roads to Intersta...Why in the world should we build roads to Interstate standards to unimportant places like Bryan-College Station? Highway 6 running both ways has always fulfilled their needs and should continue to do so into the foreseeable future.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12974737.post-71808985405188309562008-06-12T10:31:00.000-05:002008-06-12T10:31:00.000-05:00I think we have our answer based on the press conf...I think we have our answer based on the press conference comments in Lufkin yesterday. .<BR/><BR/> <BR/><BR/>Saenz said "the agency rolled out its initial draft environmental impact statement with both existing and new alignments. Comments out of the communities stated existing roads as the preferred route". <BR/><BR/>No they didn’t, the discussion of using existing Right-of-Way in the DEIS moves this analysis to Tier Two. The only applicable comments in the current DEIS were limited to NO ACTION or PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE CORRIDOR.<BR/><BR/><BR/>“You asked why this is so late,” Russell told the reporters from Houston. “My response is that we did not anticipate this sort of decision".<BR/><BR/> I give them lots of credit FOR anticipating this decision when they created a “tiered” EIS. <BR/><BR/>"The TTC-69 route will serve a number of purposes. While much of the initial publicity on the 600-mile route focused on Mexico-Texas commerce". <BR/><BR/>But wait a minute, Commissioner Houghton claimed that this road had nothing to do with connecting US to Mexico for a trade route in public hearings earlier this year. <BR/><BR/><BR/>Simmons said "TxDOT intends to secure a consultant contract on TTC-69, just as they did with Cintra Zachry on TTC-35. That partner will work with TxDOT to plan the route; determine the phasing based on demands and traffic; and explore financing options". <BR/><BR/>Okay, but these things need to be in the DEIS and are not.<BR/><BR/>In addition to the main route, the agency also will consider access connections to regions of the state that want to be connected to TTC-69 through other routes, such as Bryan-College Station. Connections to the ports at Corpus Christi, Houston and Beaumont also are on the table. Funding for those connections could come from public or private funding, as well as state and local options. <BR/><BR/>So there you have it; people in Polk, Trinity, Walker, Grimes and Brazos County are still exposed. They can only do this by pushing through the existing DEIS because this east-west route is in there under Tier One. Once it moves to Final we are dead in the water and they can decide to build across us in the future whenever and wherever.<BR/><BR/> <BR/><BR/>Craig WhealyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com