"BraveHeart" Eckhardt vs. "Toller Queen" Sonleitner.

In a world where well financed special interest incumbents rarely get viable opponents, Sarah Eckhardt enters the political fray with the heart, spirit and mind of a peoples' champion.


Sarah Eckhardt takes a stand for Good Government and the public, to dump entrenched special interest Karen Sonleitner the "Freeway Toller Queen".

Eckhardt held the announcement of her Campaign at a "Toll Booth Tail Gate Party" on Saturday at 2pm at a North Mopac Toll gantry. Eckhardt, dead serious about this fight for accountability, has hired David Butts, who is known to be one of the best political advisors in Central Texas.


"Tolls on existing Roads will not solve our traffic problems". "I want to stand up for good government" Eckhardt told the Austin Chronicle, Channel 7 and the group of supporters at one of the toll gantry's on Mopac.


Besides integrity and character, Eckhardt brings all the right stuff to the table:

• A former prosecutor with the Travis County Attorney's Office
• Masters Degree in Public Affairs from UT
• Former business owner
• Travis County Sheriff's Officers Association Endorsement and;
• Travis County Sheriff's Law Enforcement Officers Association Endorsement

Sonleitner ignored 93% of the public feedback that opposed tolling public highways in Central Texas. In return, an up to $2,500 a plate fundraiser was hosted by the toll lobby - held for Karen Sonleitner. See the actual invitation below. Click on the hyperlink in the line above for more info on how each person on the invite benefit from tolling our public highways.



Karen "Toller Queen" Sonleitner has been Travis County Commissioner of District 2 for eleven years.

Sonleitner has also managed to piss off the Sheriff's Department. The Austin Chronicle just wrote a story on how the Sheriff's Union has Endorsed Sarah Eckhardt.

The Sheriff's Union said the decision to back Eckhardt was solely a question of "character." "We cannot trust her" he said of Sonleitner. "It's a character issue."

Karen Sonleitner:

• Raised Travis County taxes again just weeks ago.
• Gave herself a raise (On the same agenda, on the same day she raised our taxes).
• Voted to toll gas tax funded public highways.
• Is giving our public highways to her toll lobby contributors.
  

A lot of folks have been working hard for months to find a viable candidate for the "Toller Queen". I put out a public call on this blog in August. A wise coalition friend asked Sarah to run, and gave me the good news in November.

I've spoken with Sarah at length and have been thoroughly impressed at her depth of knowledge on the unaccountable nature and innerworkings of the freeway toll/RMA subjects. I've never met a candidate that knows as much about the subject as Sarah does. She's definitely done her homework, and she's ready to take a stand.

We are "suiting up" to dump the Toller Queen and send a clear message to the rest of the Central Texas Looters who ignored the 93% of the public feedback! (That includes Mayor "Double Tax" Wynn and Councilman Brewster McCracken in upcoming elections). If you want to help out, starting in January, email me now at Sal@TexasTollParty.com with your name and phone. Early voting begins Feb. 21st.

TxDOT Cost Overruns discussion

CLICK HERE: Perry's TxDOT now want Toll dollars to pay for Rail

Those who help push freeway tolls on the rest of us - get nontolled roads.

The only transportation you'll be able to afford when Double Tax Perry gets done with ya.

SEE TOLLERS RUN (away): SA's Rep. CASTEEL pushes Tolls on Public Highways and then runs from record.

Rep. Casteel has been telling her voters that she does not believe we should be tolling our public highways. But her record shows she's been voting to toll those public highways every step of the way! You can run, but you can not hide. It's not conservative to force people to pay a toll, for what is already theirs. Looks like she might be running out of time.

From the "Daily Buzz" of QuorumReport.com:
CASTEEL RESPONDS TO NEGATIVE "PUSH POLL"

"State Representative Carter Casteel (R-New Braunfels) responded today to a "push poll" being conducted in House District 73, which includes Bandera, Comal, Gillespie, and Kendall Counties. The polling questions misrepresented Casteel’s conservative values and voting record as a member of the Texas House of Representatives."I have had many calls about the ‘push poll’ conducted last week," Casteel said. "‘Push polls’are political telemarketing, not public opinion surveys. The ‘poll’ questions were designed tomisrepresent my conservative values and voting record as your state representative.""I have always had an ‘open door’ policy. If you want to know where I stand, just ask," Casteel"

Major Texas Toll Road May Be Halted

STRAYHORN does not rule out independent possibility.

Local Attorney Impersonates a "Transportation Planning Expert" for profit.

John Langmore,

a cohort of Representative Mike Krusee,

poses as a Transportation Planning Expert
while his education background
reveals he's an attorney.

A couple of weeks ago the Austin American Statesman, in an article by Stephen Scheibal, referred to John Langmore as a "planning expert". Langmore has himself listed in the Envision Central Texas website as a "Transportation and Land Use Consultant".

But a closer look at his resume shows he's an attorney with NO formal education in Transportation planning, not even an online college course. His only relationship with transportation is, he drafted the freeway toll & TTC legislation known as HB 3588. Lawyers draft legislation. Drafting crafty legislation for Rep. Mike Krusee, to make it legal to toll gas funded public freeways is a far cry from being a transportation planning expert.

John Langmore pulls the ultimate confidence game on our region by directing transportation planning for Central Texas involving BILLIONS of dollars. This ain't no "sims" game. It's our city.

Instead of working with experts in the transportation field, our local Austin special interests politicians, like Mayor Will Wynn, Councilmember Brewster McCracken and others are taking the lead from non-experts such as Rep. Mike Krusee and his close associate, John Langmore. Langmore cleans up on corrupt "Good Old Boy" transportation contracts. So many transportation contracts came his way he needed to create a new business as a Transportation Consultant. Langmore has also received a toll road related marketing contract through TateAustin. All with our tax dollars.

THE DECEPTION GOES ONE STEP FURTHER: Langmore is now one of the folks in charge of directing an alternative transportation "solution" to the phase 2 freeway tolls here in Austin! Read that line again. That's like letting the devil help you get out of a deal with the devil involving your soul. Man, they must really think we're stupid. Maybe we are.

The Real Price of Gas

DeJa Vu: Hoosier style

Tolling Existing Highways: Vision of the future

A highway venture in Orange County, Calif., was torpedoed by a lack of vision for the future.

Investors paid $130 million for the right to build and operate four express toll lanes for an existing highway (freeway toll). In 1995, the lanes opened. Drivers paid tolls electronically, and the tolls went up during high-traffic hours.

The contract, however, prevented the state from modifying non-express alternative lanes or adding new interchanges (there was a non-compete agreement). By 2003, the alternative frontage roads needed $1.6 billion in improvements.

So Orange County paid $207.5 million to buy back the express lanes.

Toll Road fails to cut congestion as promised

Poll: Strayhorn as independent?

Letters to Editor: Gas Tax & Toll Talk in SA

E-tracking may change the way you drive.

E-ZPass Threatens to Suspend Motorist Registrations

Toll Roads, Corruption and a Mistress.

Below is my latest request (I've done about 70 over the
past 19 months). I sent this one to CTRMA last week.
Transportation Looters like Rep. Mike Krusee
and Mike Heiligenstein (CTRMA Executive Director at
$130k a year & perks) give no bid contracts (using our
tax dollars) to their friends, loved ones, and
even a MISTRESS! I'll give you an update on this
blog in the coming days, when they send me the answers.

11/30/05
CTRMA

As a taxpayer concerned with corruption within the CTRMA, and understanding that millions of tax dollars have found their way into the CTRMA freeway tolling bureaucracy, I'd like additional information. With the rights granted to me under the Freedom of Information Act, I request that you send me my requests below via US mail to the address below:

The Comptrollers report (http://www.window.state.tx.us/specialrpt/ctrma05/) shows Owen Consulting (Everett Owen) was given one of many no bid contracts with the CTRMA. I'm told by reliable sources that this contract was given to Everett Owen, who is a boyfriend of Lisa England's close friend. Lisa England was Mike Heiligenstein's (Stein) girlfriend at the time and I understand that their relationship continues.

The Comptrollers report shows Informative Efforts LLC (Melinda Wheatley) was given a no bid contract from the CTRMA. I've been told by numerous reliable sources that Melinda Wheatley, a girlfriend of Mike Krusee's, received this no bid contract as Informative Efforts LLC. State Rep. Krusee has been instrumental in forming the CTRMA and other RMA freeway tolling bureaucracies around the state.

I recall a public promise from the CTRMA, shortly after the Comptrollers report came out in 3/05, that the no bid contracts (two of which are described here) and other corrupt practices would come to an end.

Are these two specific CTRMA no bid contracts still in place? Are the many other "circle of friends" no bid contracts noted in the Comptrollers Report still in place? If no bid contracts are against state law for TxDOT to give out, why are they not prohibited for the CTRMA bureaucracy?

What is the total amount of all billings to date for Informative Efforts LLC and Owens Consulting?

Thank You,
Sal Costello
-----------

What do you think? Post or read comments below or click the envelope
icon to auto send this article to someone you know.

As printed in the AA Statesman Letters to Editor today...Freeway Toller Call Goes out.

Biscoe needs an opponent

Travis County taxpayers deserve a choice. We need a viable opponent to run against Travis County Judge Sam Biscoe. Just weeks ago, Biscoe's expected opponent, Daryl Slusher, decided not to run. So Biscoe currently has no opponent for the Democratic primary.

At every turn, Biscoe has made some seriously poor decisions on behalf of Travis County taxpayers. Biscoe voted to raise Travis County taxes just weeks ago. After Biscoe raised taxes, he gave himself a raise so that his 2006 salary would be $95,000. Biscoe voted in 2004 and 2005 to toll roads that we've already paid for. He reappointed Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority board member Johanna Zmud after state Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn found conflicts and asked Zmud to resign. Biscoe voted for and gave hundreds of thousands of county tax dollars as seed money to the mobility authority.

Travis County taxpayers deserve a choice for this important position. The deadline to file is Jan. 2.

SAL COSTELLO
Founder of People for Efficient Transportation
Austin
--------
Sal@TexasTollParty.com

Step 1 of 2 - SA Express "(Public Highway) Toll roads will limit improvements to free roadways"

Unlike what is being proposed in Austin, San Antonio, and other areas of Texas, the toll roads in Dallas and Houston were new roads.  Under Gov. Perry's "innovative financing" plan, existing highways are being tolled. What happens when you toll ALL expressways?

Step 2 of 2 - Secret Noncompete Agreements are the devil in the public highway tolling privatization details.

Freeway tolling experiment here in Texas (tolling public highways) is a first in the U.S. and non-compete agreements help hold drivers hostage.

SA Express: Gas Tax vs. Tolls

see submitted letter to editor in comments section

Hundreds Attend Annual Farm Bureau Convention In Texas (TFB opposes TTC)

Gainesville register reports on Toller Schemes

Aquifer Guardians And PET, Inc. Sue TxDOT to Stop Toll Road System

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 12/2/05

Aquifer Guardians and
People For Efficient Transportation, Inc.
Sue TxDOT to Stop San Antonio Toll Road
System Over Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone

Environmental analyses fail to consider any alternatives to massive toll highway with frontage roads that will exacerbate sprawl over recharge zone and pollution of aquifer

Today, Aquifer Guardians in Urban Areas (AGUA), long-time advocates for protection of the Edwards Aquifer, and toll road watchdog People for Efficient Transportation, Inc. (PET) joined forces to oppose the proposed expansions of tolling U.S. 281 and Loop 1604 north of San Antonio. The lawsuit asserts that an environmental impact statement should be prepared for the expansion of highways over the recharge zone and that alternatives should be considered to minimize the harmful effects of urban sprawl in an environmentally sensitive area. Highways and urban sprawl in the area are fragmenting habitat for the endangered golden-cheeked warbler, contributing to air quality degradation, and polluting the aquifer.

“This project has taken off without any consideration of how such a massive development will impact our water supply.” said Annalisa Peace, of AGUA. “After all, the people of San Antonio have twice voted to tax themselves to protect this region. And we aim to see that their preference in this matter is respected.”

The Edwards Aquifer region is being overwhelmed by uncontrolled and unplanned residential growth. The proposed toll roads will greatly accelerate these harmful trends and the highway agencies are moving forward without taking any meaningful look at the implications of their actions.

“TxDOT’s obsession with charging tolls on existing roads is an unfair financial hardship for taxpayers, and increases the environmental impacts of the roads because of TxDOT’s policy to provide frontage roads as a free alternative,” states local transportation expert Bill Barker. “Texas is the only state in the Union that builds frontage roads as a matter of policy. Every other state has found better ways to manage access, and frontage roads should not be used in this case because they negatively impact safety and flow, as well as encourage sprawl and strip mall development over the recharge zone and into the Hill Country.”

"Poll after poll show Texans opposing tolls on already funded public roads. The unaccountable nature of shifting our freeways to tollways not only produces more bureaucracy, but it increases the footprint and double or triples the cost of the project. Those costs get passed on to Texans. Our Governors 'Freeway Tolls' will negatively effect our environment as traffic congestion will increase on frontage roads with drivers that won't or can't pay the daily $5 - $10 to drive each way to work, school or shop." said Sal Costello, founder of People for Efficient Transportation Inc.

The Edwards is a karst aquifer and therefore is highly vulnerable to water pollution because surface water quickly enters the aquifer through recharge features without significant filtration. Chlorinated solvents, toxic metals, and pesticides are regularly detected in the Edwards Aquifer, at times in concentrations that threaten human health and sensitive plants and animals. Many of these pollutants, such as benzene, are common components of highway run-off.

The plaintiffs are represented by John Fritschie of Save Our Springs Alliance. SOS Alliance’s litigation docket and information on the adverse affects of highways can be found at www.sosalliance.org. For more information on AGUA go to www.aquiferguardians.org; PET go to www.stopdoubletax.com

# # #

Contacts:
Enrique Valdivia (210) 789-0900
Ananlisa Peace (210) 320-6294
Bill Barker (210) 308-5862

This is PET Inc's 3rd lawsuit.

2nd Lawsuit is here. Hearing scheduled for Dec 19th, 9am Travis County Courthouse

PET Inc. won it's 1st Lawsuit here

Get ready to be railroaded by Mike Krusee and more unaccountability.

Red Light Cameras Continue to Ticket Innocent Drivers

Texas Study: HOV/Carpool Lanes Cause Accidents

Waller ISD says NO TTC to TxDOT

Mr. Michael W. Behrens, P.E.
Executive Director
Texas Department of Transportation
Division or Office
125 E. 11th St.
Austin, Texas 78701-2483

Re: Trans-Texas Corridor (I-69) through Waller School District

Dear Mr. Michael W. Behrens, P.E.:

The Board of Trustees and the Administration of the Waller Independent School District have thoroughly investigated the potential impact of the passage of the Trans-Texas Corridor (I-69) through the Waller school district.

As part of our fiduciary responsibility, the Board and Administration arranged and attended presentations on the issue from the following:
• Citizens for a Better Waller County
• Dr. Pat Guzman, Population and Survey Analysts (PASA)
• Frank McFarland, Texas A&M Economist
• Jack Heise & Ed Pensock, Tx Dept. of Transportation (Trans-Texas Corridor)

The presentations and discussions addressed areas of impact to the district including mobility, economic development, tax base, growth rate and other matters which would affect our ability to conduct long range planning for the school district. Our areas of concern include:

• Efficient school bus routing near, through, and around the proposed corridor and the increased transportation costs created by the routes
• Immediate loss of tax base due to the acquisition of property for the proposed corridor, and the uncertatinty of which properties would be acquired
• Types of corridor interchanges and access roads, and their frequencies
• Frequency of corridor overpasses
• Unpredictable growth rate which would be impacted by the location of the corridor and the corridor interchanges and access roads, and their frequencies
• Our greatest concern is the lack of details available in this (Tier 1) planning phase and the approval process which requires too much commitment without detailed information. Further, we are concerned that when these details become available we will not be allowed to make necessary changes.

We recognize that with proper planning and local input the corridor could provide long range benefits to the school district. It is our intent to monitor the activities of the Trans-Texas Corridor through the Texas Department of Transportation and to provide input as required. However, given the current lack of detailed information and the assumption that the approval process remains unchanged, we regret that we are unable to support the Trans-Texas Corridor and would encourage the planning committee to select a route outside of western Harris County and all of Waller County.

If you have any questions please call 936-931-4001.

Regards,
Richard T. McReavy
Superintendant
Robert Carvel
Waller ISD School Board President

cc:
Trans-Texas Corridor- Jack Heise
Trans-Texas Corridor- Ed Pensock
Representative Glenn Hegar Jr.
Senator Jon S. Lindsay
Representative Corbin Van Arsdale
Senator Ken Armbrister
Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst
Gov. Rick Perry

Lobbyists push Trans Taxes Corridor I-69

PET Inc. vs. Gov Perry, TxDOT & CAMPO/SAMPO hearing is set for Dec 19th, 9am Travis County Courthouse.

Freeway Tolling Judge NEEDS an Opponent for $95k a year job!

GREAT NEWS! I'm told Karen Sonleintner finally has a very viable opponent! I'll have the details on this blog within a few days.

We NEED a viable opponent for Travis County Judge Sam Biscoe. Just weeks ago his expected opponent Daryl Slusher decided not to run. So, at the moment, Biscoe has no opponent for the democratic primary! Deadline to file is Jan. 2, 2006. The Judge position pays 95k a year and they vote for who gets placed on the RMA board. This is not a court of law, but chief policy-making and administrative board for the county, so you don't need to be an attorney to run. We need real people in there to replace the puppets who work for the corporate welfare special interests.

Sam Biscoe is NOT any choice for Travis County Judge:

• Biscoe was charged with DWI in 2004.
• Biscoe Voted to raise our taxes just weeks ago.
• After he raised our taxes he gave himself a raise!
• Biscoe voted to toll roads we've already paid for.
• Biscoe reappointed a CTRMA board member (Johanna Zmud) with
conflicts after comptroller demanded her resignation.
• Biscoe voted for and gave hundreds of thousands of our county tax dollars, as seed money, to the new bureaucratic freeway tolling authority (CTRMA) so they can toll our public highways.

Call Travis County Elections Division (854-4996) and Travis County Democratic Party (477-7500) for more details.

This is his website ad for a special interest fund raiser he had:
This is his DWI photo:

Federal Officials Spending $59 Million to Push Congestion Tax

New ORToll Signage: "Toll drivers come to a complete stop, drive in reverse into 55 mph traffic and swerve out of E-ZPass lanes into oncoming traffic!

Flyvbjerg: "Strategic misrepresentation (lying) drives transportation projects."

How Looters' Lie: #776

How Looters' Lie: #776

"Based on national averages, RMA's will
charge 12 to 15 cents a mile"
– Every RMA in Texas

THE TRUTH: There are two lies in the above statement. An unbiased Illinois study shows the cost for traditional toll roads is 9 cents a mile (not 12 - 15 cents - and, don't forget there is a major difference between traditional tolls and freeway (double tax) tolls). The first Gov. Perry RMA in Texas (CTRMA) made the "12 to 15 cents per mile" claim in the summer of 2004. Since spring of 2005, that estimate has increased to 44-64 cents per mile! The Comptroller's report found one at the rate of $1.00 a mile.

Imagine paying 44 cents a mile for an expressway you've already paid for. If your car gets 20 mpg that means you will pay an additional $8.80 more per gallon to drive freeway tolls. And the money they collect can go as far as the next county (even if they don't have double tax tolls). How fair is that?

Happy Thanksgiving!

LOOK who's watching this blog.

With the free tracking available we're able to see who is coming into our websites and blogs. The good folks at Edelman PR have been spending a lot of time on my blog (and others) doing "research".

Who is Edelman PR? Edelman's Public Affairs practice creates programs to influence public opinion.

Who do they work for? Edelman's clients include the TTC's Cintra. You know, the folks that are making secret deals with Gov. Perry to take chunks of Texans land for profit.

Toll collectors get body armor!

New Push for Transparent City Government.

"I Sued the Double Tax Governor" Cup!

Help fund the Gov. Perry lawsuit
with a $50 contribution and receive an
"I Sued the Double Tax Governor" Cup!

PET Inc. has filed a lawsuit against Gov. Perry for tolling Texas public freeways and his Trans Texas Corridor land grab. Every dollar of profit from your purchase will go directly to the PET Inc. legal fund. PET Inc. won it's first lawsuit against the Regional Mobility Authority earlier this year. Contribute and tell everyone you Sued the Double Tax Governor!

GET YOUR "I sued the double tax Governor"
COFFEE CUP OR SWEATSHIRT HERE:
http://www.cafepress.com/perrycup

or SEND ANY CONTRIBUTION AMOUNT via check (and not receive an item):
People for Efficient Transportation Inc., PO Box 90715, Austin, TX 78709-0715
PETI is a nonprofit corporation - contributions are not tax deductible.

Giving what is public to private interests.

STATESMAN: Directing drivers onto the toll roads.

"But the real question is, why didn't they go ahead and build the four other bridges connecting on the Austin side of the 45/35 interchange as well? ... Could it be they didn't want those bridges to be there, at least for awhile, because they would discourage use of the toll roads?"
– AA Statesman, 11/21/05

Rep. Eddie Rodriguez: One of the good guys!

The following is a smart auto email Rep. Eddie Rodriguez sends to those that contact him. More Reps should be as wise as Rep. Rodriguez!:

Thank you for contacting my office regarding toll roads; I appreciate and value all feedback I get from the citizens of Texas. I am honored to be recognized by TexasTollParty.com as a "good guy" and a "rare individual [who said] NO to Rick Perry and his highway henchmen" and am grateful for the praise from your organization.

As you may be aware, I voted NO on the toll road plan. The Central Texas area has mobility and congestion issues which no one would challenge. We need to have creative responses to these pressing problems which preserve the environment and allow for greater mobility by decreasing road congestion.

I wholeheartedly support legislation that would transfer control from special interest to voters over how to best finance our highway construction and other transportation issues. Allowing the citizens of Texas to vote on whether they prefer a higher gasoline tax or toll roads is sound public policy and takes the power away from the toll lobby giving it to the people of Texas.

Thank you again for your e-mail. If you have any questions or further comments, please feel free to contact me again.

Sincerely,
Eddie Rodriguez

RMAs not just toll authorities in TX

Lone Star Report: "Toll roads have become extremely unpopular in Central Texas."

Gov. Perry answers a reporter's Toll Road question with the same question.

How Looters' Lie: #908

TxDOT District Engineer Bob Daigh and
a couple of his intellectual equals.

How Looters' Lie: #908

"The (freeway tolling) alternative
of paying $2 to $3 more per gallon
gas tax would never be accepted."
– TxDOT's Bob Daigh, Capital Area District Manager 3/04

THE TRUTH: After a request from a board member in 2005, Michael Aulick, Executive Director of the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) announced it would not cost $2 to $3 more a gallon, but instead, only an additional 2 cents per gallon of gas tax for the same citywide roads built without tolls.

Gov. Perry's $2.8 Billion Dollar Lie.

"TxDOT has a funding crisis and
has run out of money."

Delvin Dennis, TxDOT Deputy District Engineer, 8/04

"Texas will soon run out of money to build highways"
Sen. Kim Brimer, 3/03

A document I just received from a TxDOT open records request reveals how Gov. Perry's TxDOT is not "broke" at all. TxDOT and other tollers continue to say we must toll Texas public highways because TxDOT has "run out of money". My October request was worded as follows:

"I would like the comprehensive balance as of October 13, 2005, of all TxDOT accessible accounts to see if TxDOT has run out of money."

The document I received is titled, "Cash and Investments Controlled by TxDOT as of 10/13/05". This document shows TxDOT has a grand total of over $2.8 Billion.

(Total TxDOT Cash & Investments = $2,802,037,035)

The document also claims every single one of these dollars are "committed" or restricted. TxDOT uses the word "committed" for hundreds of millions, perhaps over 1 Billion tax dollars to pay for right of way and construction of public freeways - only to toll those tax funded roads at the last minute. This allows TxDOT an unaccountable revenue generating goose that lays golden eggs. Except it's Texas families who pay the golden toll.

Shifting public highways to tollways (Gov. Perry calls it "innovative financing") cost much more because the footprint is much larger. The maintenance and service of a tollway also costs more. And of course, the private toll industry also gets their cut. And, Gov. Rick Perry's radical freeway tolls come without "even a semblance of study" as a well respected pro-toller has stated.

The added bureaucracy of a regional mobility authority certainly is not efficient in these tight times. The added debt to build the more expensive freeway as a tollway is not cost efficient. The unelected toll authority setting the toll/tax rate for a public highway illustrates unaccountable double taxation. And, it is fair for one portion of a city or region to pay a toll to drive an expressway to work school or shop, while others drive free?

We currently have one tax in place for our public freeways - the gas tax. Does creating a second inefficient sloppy tax make any financial sense?

Does sitting on $2.8 Billion mean you're broke?

The link for the TxDOT Document is here.

Speeding Tickets Replace Tolls on Coronado Bridge

Bureaucracy 101 from Rep. Pickett, "once you create a regional mobility authority it must be fed to exist"

VIDEO - MUST SEE: Drivers boycott toll after government tries to force drivers onto toll roads.

Click Here for VIDEO OF GHOST TOWN TOLL STORY:

Can't view the video? Read the text. Click here to find out why secret noncompete agreements and NO economic impact studies are bad for mobility, business, drivers, and generations of debt. Also note Gov. Perry's TxDOT internal presentation below for his "innovative financing" (tolling public highways) plan to force Texans onto freeway tolls, holding them hostage to drive to work, school and shop.

Toll roads to help pay for commuter rail.

Rail "Strategic Misrepresentation." Lies, That Is.

"Project approval equals underestimated cost, plus overestimated revenue, plus undervalued environmental impact, plus overvalued economic development effect," he wrote in a recent article for the Engineering News-Record called "Misrepresentation drives projects."

Dallas News: New toll road revenue projections fall short - toll rates must go up.

Mike Krusee loses big at home on the propositions.

"Campaign issue, anyone? Krusee's in a fairly safe seat, but if he's not a little bit worried about what the voters thought of the issues he cared about and campaigned for, he ought to be."

Pro-Toll Guru spanks inept Freeway Tollers!

Peter Samuel, the father of traditional toll road privatization and the biggest supporter of tolls you can find, speaks out about Texas Tollers lack of studies and principles, and says Texas Tollers like Gov. Perry, TxDOT and Rep. Krusee are inept and arrogant over tolling public highways in his newsletter this past Thursday.

The Defeat of Texas Prop 9 spurred Samuel to comment, "the vote is a political blow to tolling since it suggests a lack of public confidence in the way tolling is being handled in the state." Samuel is the editor of the worlds premier pro-toll newsletter called TollRoadsNews.com.

Thursday's article includes the following quotes about shifting tax funded public highway projects to toll roads:

"Political support in TX has also been sapped by a bewilderingly unprincipled and unexplained intermixing of funding of projects by TxDOT.

"In Texas the tollers are behaving arrogantly and with extraordinary political ineptitude"

"There's something sleazy too in that term "regional mobility authority". It's a toll authority. Why run away from that? Only people without the courage of their convictions or who are too tongue tied to explain themselves resort to silly euphemisms. Does it fool anyone anyway?"

"TxDOT's promiscuous approach to raising funds and their promotion of projects without even a semblance of study has been the anti-toll groups' major recruiter."

Samuel has also stated recently in his newsletter,

"It has no coherent explanation for its project selection, or for the way tax and toll monies are mixed. It has been cavalier in proposing tolls on highways already funded - breaching a long-established piece of political wisdom about tolling."

"TxDOT produces precious little analysis of costs and benefits, yet it is pressing ahead with a huge array of toll projects."

Click on the envelope below to automaticly send this article's link to others (INCLUDING YOUR ELECTED LOOTING REPRESENTATIVES).

TxDOT to county: SH 121 is ours! (what local control?)

"It's real frustrating that they would put through charade of encouraging local control and ask for us to come up with their own plan if not going to consider it," said Plano Mayor Pat Evans

McCracken's "Independent" Toll Review Sham

TOLLERS BEGIN "INDEPENDENT" REVIEW CON.

I went to the first meeting of the Central Texas "Independent Review" yesterday. The sham was a who's who of tollers, including councilmember Brewster McCracken who dreamt up this joke of an "Independent Review", and other tollers like County Commissioner Gerald Daugherty, Rep. Mike Krusee, Rep. Mark Strama, and bunch of other folks that have been pushing tolls on our funded freeways.

Can you say Enron auditing Enron con? Brewster McCracken (shown here) said yesterday, that all sides are represented, but saying it doesn't make it so. And he voted for the toll plan twice! As they spoke, the Steering Committee sat there feasting on a high priced taxpayer funded deli lunch, while they prepared to make decisions at our expense.

Find this in the American Statesman today, it includes comments from Freeway Toll voting Rep. Mark Strama, trying to put make-up on this pig:

"Underlying Tuesday's hair-splitting is the charge, made by anti-toll activists originally but echoed by some officials Tuesday, that what was originally envisioned as an independent review of Austin's second wave of proposed toll roads has been co-opted by the people who conceived and pushed through that toll road plan last year.

The fear is that the coalition of local governments that pitched in $350,000 to do the study could in the end produce a dead-on-arrival report. "This process is only worthwhile if the public trusts the outcome," said state Rep. Mark Strama, D-Austin, a member of the steering committee.

So how can the public trust an "independent review" of the same folks that have been pushing the Freeway toll plan? We can't. Because it is not independent. Brewster says, the steering committee doesn't really matter. That makes me wonder - then why is it so unbalanced?

And, in the meeting, another pro-toller stated the obvious, "This thing is not going to have the credibility that we want it to have in the community if we do this." said Commissioner Gerald Daugherty.

Statesman continues:

"What distinguished the Phase 2 plan of seven roads — later cut to five — was that it envisioned turning several existing highways interrupted with stoplights into expressways that would have toll charges on the main lanes and free frontage roads.

And it included three roads already under construction with gasoline tax dollars."

More of the Statesman Story

My list of what is wrong with the Independent Study:

Secret meetings are allowed.
• Toll Authority (CTRMA) is the Project Coordinator!
• One sided Review Steering Committee.
• The Committee can select to not accept the results!
• It is NOT in any way independent.
• It allows tollers to unveil a toll plan "B".

style="text-align: center;">Read my full report from last month here.

Comment below or click on the envelope below to send the link of this story to others.

Proposition 9 Goes Down in Flames...

The People Win Prop 9!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 9, 2005
People for Efficient Transportation (TexasTollParty.com)
Contact: Sal Costello
Sal@TexasTollParty.com

The People Win Prop 9!
Prop 1 Rail Fund Fight - Far From Over.

Austin, TX - While the controversial Constitutional Amendment 2 soaked up the limelight in this election, a grassroots whisper campaign for accountability took hold across central Texas, uniting urban and rural communities. With virtually no dollars, the movement against the tolling of the public highways and against the mammoth Trans Texas Corridor scored an important victory and exposed the vulnerability of Governor Rick Perry.

Farmers and ranchers from the Texas blacklands, suburban "soccer moms", and central city dwellers from Austin, most having never participated in political campaigns in their lives, worked together with nothing more than 100,000 donated flyers, homemade signs, a growing email list and shoe polish on their car windows. These ordinary people were quietly organizing their friends, neighbors and co-workers to the polls in Travis, Bell, Waller, Bexar, Fayette, Harris, Travis Johnson, Navarro, Brazos, Gonzales, Williamson, Hays, Milam, Bastrop, Uvalde and Comal counties.

Constitutional Amendment 1, the Texas Relocation Rail Fund passed -- by a small statewide margin. Constitutional Amendment 9, the Governor's attempts to extend the terms of unelected, unaccountable Regional Mobility Authority board members, who will set toll rates for Texas public freeways, was soundly defeated.

Both measures were trounced by 66-78% margins in counties, like Milam, Waller, Fayette and Bell where farmers and ranchers are trying desperately to hold on to their land being threatened by Gov. Perry's Trans Texas Corridor Tollway. Travis and Williamson County, where the anti-"double-tax" toll movement began brought central and suburban neighbors together to defeat pro-toll, pro-Corridor, Props 1 & 9.

Sal Costello, founder of TexasTollParty.com said, "We fought Goliath with sticks and stones -- emails, word of mouth, 100,000 leaflets and the people came through for the sake of accountability. That means the Governor and his minions, who pushed 1 & 9, like State Rep. Mike Krusee -- who sent out an expensive direct mail (at the taxpayers expense) to his constituents -- are vulnerable. As a matter of fact, the majority of Krusse's district said no to 1, 3 & 9, two of which are authored by Krusee!"

"The rail tax giveaway fight is far from over. The foxes in the 2007 legislature will be seeking to raise our taxes, as a giveaway to private corporations like Union Pacific, so they can get new rail in the Trans Texas Corridor Tollway. Now, it's also up to the people to decide who's going to be in office in 2007 as we head in to the heated primaries next March. And, we'll be there in some key races," said Sal Costello

Linda Curtis, who chairs Independent Texans and is the chief organizer for the TexasTollParty.com said, "Our task now is to use our loss as well as our gains, to build for the future. That's going to take a host of reforms, not the least of which is for the ballot language on these constitutional amendments to be crystal clear. That's going to take a full blown statewide movement, across all party lines, for political reform as those who make the rules -- for now -- rule."

Porkus Maximus Tex: Missing in Action - Eminent Domain Amendment for Texans!

Federal Engineer claims I'm wrong, but offers NO details.

My interview with Brett Jackson, Central Texas Turnpike Project Engineer, FHWA Texas Division:

SAL: Brett, Check it out! GUEST BLOGGER Slams Props 1 & 9 on DallasBlog.com!
http://dallasblog.com/dallas-blogs/2005/11/7/guest-blog-props-1-9-are-tax-wolves-by-sal-costello.html

BRETT: Perry's TxDOT to toll public highways for the first time in the U.S. (is an) INCORRECT STATEMENT.

SAL: Please provide where and when another public highway was shifted to a toll road in the U.S.

BRETT: Oh, you meant to say shifted, or you meant to say toll conversion. Is your article correct?

SAL: OK...I'll bite...name a public highway that has been tolled.

BRETT: Define a public highway

SAL: A highway for which public money has been spent and which was dedicated for public use as a freeway.

BRETT: I think you should research that a bit more. Public funds have been spent on many a toll road.

SAL: You are the one that said my statement was incorrect. You are the "professional engineer". That would lead me to believe you know of another example of where a public highway was tolled. Does tolling public highways give you more job security?

BRETT: No Reply

Brett doesn't think there is a disproportionate
economic burden on folks that have tolled expressways
compared to others with free expressways.

MPO director gets FAT new job, as a thank you, for helping to allocate $500 Million in public funds on freeway toll roads for toll industry to profit.

Joanne Walsh was hired by Parsons Brinkerhoff (dba, "Mile High Toll Services").

GUEST BLOG ON DALLASBLOG.COM: Props 1 & 9

LISTEN TO DAVID STALL'S ANNOUNCEMENT HERE!

TxDOT to renege "Local Control" Promise. PLANO COURIER: 121 tolls resolution on its deathbed.

BIG NEWS: Trans Texas Corridor Grassroots Activist David Stall, founder of CorridorWatch.org, announces run for State Senate!

NOVEMBER 7, 2005
P R E S S R E L E A S E
CONTACT:
David Stall
david.stall@stallforsenate.org
November 06, 2005

David Stall Announces
As Candidate for State
Senate District 18!

Fayette County resident David Stall has announced his candidacy for Texas Senate District 18.

The formal announcement came in a five-minute speech broadcast via the Internet Monday afternoon, November 7. Stall is widely known as a Republican grassroots activist and co-founder of CorridorWatch.org, a statewide non-partisan organization opposing the Trans-Texas Corridor project. Stall acknowledges that the run for Senate has been stimulated by his objections to the Trans-Texas Corridor.

“I agree that the state population is growing and we need better and safer roads. I also understand that we need to address congestion, but I have serious concerns about the Trans-Texas Corridor and how it is being advanced,” says Stall. “After nearly two years of attending state agency and legislative meetings and visiting with thousands of Texans, I see a bigger picture and bigger problems. There is a tremendous disconnect between the will of the people and the leadership in Austin.”

As examples of how the leadership is out of step Stall says, “Texans are asking for lower taxes and the legislature is giving them more debt and bigger government. And they’re doing it in ways that are hidden from the public and lack fundamental accountability.”

In his announcement speech Stall said, “I have watched our legislature in action – and failing to act.” Moments later Stall said, “And maybe worst of all, in the last four years we have seen our state government spend more time and money accomplishing less than ever before.”

Stall has been actively involved in Texas politics and local government for 30-years. His background includes emergency management, law enforcement, municipal finance, and, business management. Stall, a police officer and arson investigator, retired from law enforcement with twenty-one years of continuous service that began as a patrolman and concluded at retirement with the rank of Fire Marshal Chief. Since 1991 he has been a professional city manager serving urban and rural communities in Colorado and Harris counties. In 2003 he earned the designation of Credentialed Manager from the International City/County Management Association.

Stall has previously been elected to city council and during his public career been appointed to numerous positions particularly in the areas of parks, emergency management, and municipal finance.

Stall has served on the board of directors of many community organizations, including art alliance council, transportation partnership, water purification plant, convention & visitor’s bureau, tourism, volunteer fire department, emergency medial corps, and service clubs.

In 2000, after twenty-five years of living and working in the Houston metropolitan area David Stall and his wife Linda relocated to a 90-year-old farmhouse near the charming town of Fayetteville in Fayette County.

Presently Stall is vice-chairman of the United States Selective Service System Local Board that serves five counties within District 18, a director of the Columbus Lion’s Club, member of the Clean Texas Citizen Advisory Board, Texas Farm Bureau, and is active in several other civic organizations.

The David Stall for State Senate Campaign is taking full advantage of modern technology and making good use of the Internet. “David and I have spent the last year and a half meeting thousands of Texans across the state and in District 18. By using the Internet all of our supporters across the District could listen to David make his announcement,” said the candidate’s wife Linda Stall.

# # #

Public Announcement and Webcast
of speech is scheduled for:
2:00pm Monday, November 7, 2005
via an Internet audio broadcast at
www.StallForSenate.org

Media can access advance
copy of speech text at:
www.StallForSenate.org/press/dsfss-spch-110705.htm

Additional candidate information is
also available on the Internet at:
www.StallForSenate.org

"Our legislature has placed a proposition on the ballot that opens the door to unlimited public debt without identifying how we will ever repay it. Friends, I’m talking about Proposition One. It is a measure that effectively subsidizes giant profit-making corporations with taxpayer money. And yet, the same legislature failed to provide protection against seizure of your property if the government thinks someone else can make better use of it than you!"

– David Stall from speech above

BIG news to be released here by Sunday!

GOVERNOR "Freeway Toller" PERRY CHASED OUT OF SA!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Freeway Toll Authority Pays the Toll

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
11/4/05, People for Efficient Transportation
Contact: Sal Costello
Sal@TexasTollParty.com

Freeway Toll Authority Pays the Toll

Mobility Authority boldly told the press they will appeal and refuse to pay.
Only to pay up and admit defeat weeks later.

AUSTIN, Tex. – Judge Darlene Byrne ruled Texas RMA board terms were unconstitutional in July. In September, the Judge demanded Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority (CTRMA) was to pay more than $19,000 in legal fees to People for Efficient Transportation Inc. (PET Inc.), who brought the lawsuit last spring.

CTRMA quickly put out a press release statewide on 9/14/05 in which council Brian Cassidy claimed "We do not believe payment is warranted and the authority will appeal" (http://www.ctrma.org/pr.php)

The CTRMA check for $19,331.98 was delivered to PET Inc. council yesterday and there will be no appeal.

"Gov. Perry's new bureaucratic RMA not only gives out no bid contracts to themselves and their friends (as stated in the Comptrollers report - http://www.window.state.tx.us/specialrpt/ctrma05/), but this check proves these crooks who will set the toll rates for roads we've already paid for, just keep telling mistruths at every turn. Their press release just weeks ago (http://www.ctrma.org/pr.php) in which they beat their chest and proclaimed they would appeal, and not pay at all, was just one more of many statements to misdirect the press and the public. We've just begun to fight for the public roads we've already funded. The people will not allow Gov. Perry to toll roads that are already ours." said Sal Costello, founder of People for Efficient Transportation Inc.

###

Now it could get interesting...

LULAC members join TTP to oppose toll-related votes

Trans-Texas Corridor Tyranny

ANOTHER no-freeway toll group is born! www.NoTOLLon183.com

LULAC, HTA, and Toll Party Join Forces to Fight Props 1 & 9 and Perry's Freeway Tolls

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Terri Hall,
San Antonio Regional Director, Texas Toll Party
EMAIL: terrih@gvtc.com
WEB: www.TexasTollParty.com

PRESS ADVISORY

Texas Toll Party, LULAC & other groups join forces to oppose Props 1 & 9!
San Antonio, TX, November 2, 2005 – From all over the region, citizens opposed to freeway tolls on publicly funded highways are joining forces to oppose Propositions 1 & 9. LULAC, Texas Toll Party, Homeowners Taxpayers Association, Candidate for Attorney General David Van Os among others are working together to defeat Props 1 & 9.

WHO: LULAC, Texas Toll Party, Homeowners Taxpayers Association, Candidate for Attorney General David Van Os, and Bexar County Commissioner Tommy Adkisson

WHAT: Press conference uniting against Propositions 1 & 9

WHEN: Wed., Nov. 2 @ 10:00 AM

WHERE: La Foccacia's Conference Room at 800 S. Alamo

Many will caravan over to Carroll Bell Elementary School at 2717 Pleasanton Road for Governor Perry's press conference at 11:00 AM to voice their opposition in person to his "innovative" financing toll road scheme.

Another foreign company wants to toll our public highways - more secrets.

AP: "a smoke screen for tax increases" that is designed to help spur Perry's controversial plan for a transportation CORRIDOR across Texas.

Planner argues against toll roads