Toll Authority Admits it Impedes Traffic

Citizen says toll authority is impeding traffic. Toll authority (CTRMA) admits, in an email, that it impedes traffic on free roads close to toll roads (even after it promised that additional lights would not be added to free roads to make tolls more attractive.)

Dear Toll Authority,

Just what in the heck are you doing with 183 just south of the San Gabriel river? It appears, from I map I've seen, that you are going to direct all 183 traffic through a new stop light on 183A, instead of leaving the old road intact?

Malcom Terry

Toll Authority Responds:

From: spustelnyk@ctrma.org
Sent: Wednesday, February 21, 2007 8:38 AM
Subject: RE: Contact Page Request, CTRMA.org

Dear Mr. Terry,

Thank you for visiting the Mobility Authority Web site. Your observations regarding US 183 are correct.

As you head south on US 183 from Liberty Hill you will automatically be shifted onto the new 183A frontage roads. If you want to stay on US 183 you will have to make a right hand turn at a traffic signal that is currently being installed. The 183A corridor will be the primary corridor for traffic in that area once it opens. In order to safely merge the two roads together we had to install a traffic signal. If I can answer any further questions, please let me know.

Sincerely, Steve J. Pustelnyk Director of Communications
Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority
(512) 996-9778(Office) (512)680-9997 (Cell)

Citizen replies:

Mr. Pustelnyk,

183A is not the primary corridor for those of us who have business in Leander and Cedar Park. If this was purely to improve mobility, then there would be seamless flyovers to minimize the impact on existing roads.

183A is way over-priced with rates as high as $1.50 a mile in some places. The rate of $1.80 for the whole 11.6 mile trek, around Leander and Cedar Park, is still outrageous considering that the "free" frontage road system on the northern section will be just like Parmer Lane, in that drivers will have to go through traffic signals every few miles. I just don't see how you can charge that much for and incomplete expressway. If you don't want to see a revolt, you had better advise those private investors to consider pricing the toll roads at a reasonable rate, put toll booths (with cash options) at every exit so that drivers pay for only the section they drive on, and to quit messing up the existing roads to favor the toll ways.

It has become obvious to me that this whole toll road system has less to do with improving mobility and more to do with lining the pockets of private toll road investors and property developers along the old and new routes. We were sold a bill of goods by being told that the toll roads would lighten the load on existing roads. What we were not told (although we should have known) is that the existing roads were going to have more traffic impedance via more signals, an explosion of development and therefore more traffic than ever before. I will be contacting Senator Steve Ogden, Representative Dan Gattis, and Governor Rick Perry about this. You and I both know that the government can do whatever they want and if we turn-up the heat on those good ole boys who made this sweet deal for private investors, we may just get the roads put back into the hands of the people. I suggest you keep your resume updated.

Sincerely,
Malcom Terry

9 of 12: TxDOT Engineer, Bob Daigh: Secret Deals, Lies and a Convicted Criminal

TxDOT District Engineer Bob Daigh, to the left, arrived at the CAMPO
meeting with Richard Ridings of HNTB (183A contractor) seen at right.

I went to TxDOT this week (8/14/06) to pick up documents I asked for via a public information request. I requested cell phone records of TxDOT District Engineer Bob Daigh (more about what I found in the next paragraphs).

While I was at the I 35 and 183 TxDOT campus Monday, I was asked to sign in. I noticed that CRA International, who was hired to do the Independent Review of the Double Tax toll roads, had signed in at least two people to meet with TxDOT District Engineer Bob Daigh. At the same time, at 1pm, the toll authorities executive director (CTRMA), Mike Heiligenstein also signed in to meet with Bob Daigh and CRA. I assume CRA was meeting with TxDOT and CTRMA to gather information for the City of Austin Independent Review. Both CRA and Heiligenstein signed out at 4pm. I was shocked to see that no neutral party joined this meeting.

Three hours is plenty of time alone to discuss Phase II (Double Tax Toll) details and maybe even cut a deal. It would give the public a little confidence if these meetings were either made public, or at least had some neutral person, or a reporter attending.

I emailed Councilmember Brewster McCracken this information and my opinion, since he spearheaded the Independent Study, and he sent me this response,

“Thanks for letting me know, Sal. This stuff needs to be done in public, in my opinion.”

And, the beat goes on.

Back to that pile of 450 pages of Bob Daigh’s (567-1059) cell phone records.

Get this. Convicted criminal Amos “Pete” Peters cell phone number, 415-6037, shows up over and over on Bob Daigh’s cell phone records. These records show the two actually spoke numerous times a day, right up until the comptrollers report came out in early 2005. Then the calls became less frequent. But, as the months have passed, calls between the two have picked up again to a rate of many times a month, at times, more than a dozen times a week. Bob Daigh’s appointment calendars also reflect many face to face meetings with this convicted criminal.

20 year Convicted Criminal Amos "Pete" Peters

Why is this important? When folks are trying to toll roads we’ve already paid for, and a convicted criminal is at the heart of it, something stinks like month old fish.

Pete Peter’s numerous contacts Daigh could represent communications directly with a member of the executive branch to influence administrative action. It is a violation of Texas Law to do so, without registering as a lobbyist.

Peters is not registered as a lobbyist. It is illegal for a convicted criminal to lobby in the state of Texas. But that never stopped ol Pete, as he’s been seen over past years hanging out at the capital, only to tell those who know better that, “I’m not lobbying here” while in the capital.

Page 45 of State Comptroller report on Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority: A Need for a Higher Standard, March 2005 states this about a Peters communication that points to his lobbying:

“HNTB subcontractor Amos “Pete” Peters stated that “elected officials have been shored-up and alliances have been formed to see the HWY 183-A through to completion.” "

Peters, as per the Comptroller’s investigative report, has received numerous NO BID toll road contracts from Mike Heiligenstein’s unaccountable freeway tolling authority.

You would think stealing tax funded public highways and shifting them to tollways would be enough to make the freeway toll plan make good business sense, but it’s not. To sell this pig in a poke, you need to LIE BIG as well.

CTRMA's Mike Heiligenstein

In March of 2004, Bob Daigh and the toll authorities Mike Heiligenstein LIED to the public and CAMPO when they went to dozens of neighborhoods with a scare tactic (as well as included the LIE in a press release) about the alternative to double tax tolls, "...the alternative of paying a two-to-three-dollar per-gallon gas tax would never be accepted." In 2005 CAMPO Executive Director, Michael Aulick, estimated it would cost only an additional 2 cents per-gallon gas tax for the same plan without tolls.

In the summer of 2004, Bob Daigh and Mike Heiligenstein LIED again as they claimed it would cost 12 to 15 cents a mile to drive on the freeway toll roads (the national average is 9 cents a mile). Confidential CTRMA documents show the actual cost at 44 to 64 cents a mile.

I’m sure Dob Daigh will be rewarded well. History has shown the revolving door swings best for those who lie, cheat and steal from the public.

This article is part 9 of a 12 part series called “Circle of Parasites”. Freeways have never been tolled in the history of the U.S., but that doesn’t stop a close circle of self serving individuals with a long history of looking out for themselves at the expense of others.

Read the other “Circle of Parasites” articles (just click below):

1 of 12: Deadbeat Mike Heiligenstein Runs Freeway Tolling Authority

2 of 12: Two Toll Authority Board Members Refuse to Resign

3 of 12: Austin American Snakesman

4 of 12: Convicted Criminal Connected to Freeway Tolls

5 of 12: Rep. Mike Krusee and Lobbyist Melinda Wheatley.

6 of 12: Ghost Organization Voted to Toll Austin Freeways

7 of 12: State Rep. Dawnna Dukes Payolla Toll Vote Ignores Constituents and Federal Law

8 of 12: County Commissioner Limmer and Convicted Criminal formally do business.

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State Finds Mike Heiligenstein, Frankie Limmer & others Violate Texas Law: Spend public funds for political advertising

Who Said Crime Doesn’t Pay?

Convicted Criminal connected to TxDOT Freeway Tolling Scheme, Amos “Pete” Peters, is selling his 3,000 sq foot downtown home on 1309 MARSHALL LANE, Austin 78703 this week.

$1.2 Million Dollar Home
The home is under contract, pending, for $1.2 Million after 7 days on the market.

In 2002 Peters received a City of Austin building permit to upgrade 1309 Marshall Ln with a little Kitchen and Bath remodeling. City records show it was a $93,000 value.


Peters has a 20-year criminal record, including charges for check fraud/swindling, fraud/illegal use of credit cards, larceny and DUI. He was convicted of three felonies and three misdemeanors.

Pete Peters is one of the key players in the freeway tolling boondoggle. Peters was considered so close to Williamson County officials that the state Attorney General’s Office joined a recent investigation of him. According to one report, “Peters has handled campaign work for almost every major office holder in the county.” The investigation focused on several meetings related to the Williamson County Road Bonds Program for which Williamson County paid Peters; some persons who were supposed to be at these meetings allege that they never took place.


I’ve been told by numerous reliable sources that the toll authority's Mike Heiligenstein (Peters ran his campaign as county commisioner) and other Wilco tollers make sure “Pete Gets Paid” with the plan to toll roads we’ve already paid for. Thanks to Heiligenstein, Mike Weaver and others, Peters has already received NO BID contracts, which were paid for with our tax dollars.

If you have additional information
email me at Sal@TexasTollParty.com
Sources are kept confidential. I verify and confirm all leads.

County Commissioner Limmer and Convicted Criminal formally do business.

Williamson County Precinct 4
Commissioner Frankie Limmer

Williamson County Commissioner Frankie Limmer pushes the “Williamson County Mafia” envelope, and the arrogance, as he formally creates business partnerships with convicted criminal Pete Peters.

Convicted criminal Amos “Pete” Peters

As a CAMPO board member, Commissioner Frankie Limmer, voted to toll roads we’ve already paid for. Convicted criminal Amos “Pete” Peters, as per the Comptroller’s investigative report, has received NO BID toll road contracts from the toll authority, the unaccountable bureaucracy Frankie Limmer helped to create.

As brazen as it may sound, Texas Secretary of State records show both Commissioner Frankie Limmer and Amos “Pete” Peters as board members and managers of Round Rock Mallardwest, LLC and Taylor Mallardwest, LLC. Round Rock Mallardwest lists Providence Funeral Home as an associated entity.

Hey, what mafia would be complete without a funeral home under their control? Forgetaboutit!

Ted W Hejl (Taylor city attorney), Rodney L Hortenstine, Paul S Bennett, Gilbert Repa, John Nelson, Charlotte Albert are also listed as managers or board members of the above corporations.

County records also show Limmer as President of Limmer Construction and numerous properties being owned by Frankie Limmer and his wife Judy Limmer.

Back in 2003, the Austin Chronicle’s article “Commissioner Limmer's Private Business” focused on the ethics of Limmer being in a position to use privileged county information for profit:

“Williamson County Precinct 4 Commissioner Frankie Limmer assumed office in 1999. Since then he has expanded his real estate development activities in eastern Williamson County -- the area he represents on the court -- to include several major development companies currently building large housing subdivisions.

Several of Limmer's business associates are also doing business with the county: Charles Crossfield, the Round Rock city attorney who has been negotiating many of the rights-of-way acquisitions for the county's $350 million road-bond projects; Dan Hejl, of the consulting firm Hejl, Lee & Associates, has done engineering work for at least one of the county's road-bond projects within Limmer's precinct; and Ted Hejl, the Taylor city attorney, who has also recently been cut a host of county checks for road-related bond work.”

According to the Comptroller's investigation, Round Rock city attorney Charles Crossfield's Sheets & Crossfield received a NO BID contract for well over half a million dollars ($588,332.01) from the corrupt toll authority (CTRMA).

The article also states:

“In July 2002, Limmer formed Magellan Water LLC. According to an Oct. 28 article in the Austin Business Journal, Limmer founded Magellan in an effort to bring a $30 million water pipeline to Precinct 4 from the relatively untapped, 48,000-square-mile Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer. "Right now we don't have enough water to sustain economic development in eastern Williamson County," Limmer told ABJ. The article said that by that time, Magellan had raised more than $5 million in funding from investors and had secured three additional letters of intent from potential customers -- yet to date, Limmer has declined to name any of his partners or investors.”

Also, from the Chronicle article:

"My problem with Limmer," said one observer of the Commissioners Court, "is that he is in a position to use privileged county information to line his own pockets."

Also read the Statesman 2002 investigative article (pre Ben Wear) “In Williamson, politics, roads and money mix”.

Read the Muckraker's “Convicted Criminal Connected to Freeway Tolls” (about Pete Peters).

Read the Muckraker's “Austin Toll Roads to fund Williamson County Freeways”.

If you have additional information
email me at Sal@TexasTollParty.com
Sources are kept confidential. I verify and confirm all leads.