Thread: Officials: 'Trans-Texas Corridor' a taboo, but need real

Officials: 'Trans-Texas Corridor' a taboo, but need real
By GORDON DICKSONStar-Telegram Staff Writer
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FORT WORTH -- The Trans-Texas Corridor is now so controversial, merely uttering the words in most political circles is taboo.

"We're calling it a 'regional loop' because you can't say 'Trans-Texas Corridor' in the state of Texas anymore," said Michael Morris, transportation director for the North Central Texas Council of Governments.

"The Trans-Texas Corridor is a lightning rod," he told visiting state representatives this week while explaining how the corridor would connect to regional highways by 2030.

Opposition to the proposed construction of a $184 billion network of toll roads during the next 50 years is so strong statewide that lawmakers now question whether it's wise for the Texas Transportation Department to continue planning the huge project in its current form.

But transportation officials say they must press on. While opposing views must be respected, the state can't afford to ignore its growing traffic problems, Texas Transportation Commissioner Ned Holmes of Houston said this week.

"Clearly the Trans-Texas Corridor name has developed some controversy in and of itself," Holmes said. "That does not diminish the need for mobility in the state."

In the past two years, the Metroplex region and the Houston region both have created more jobs than any state in the union, he said.

"Texas is unique in its growth patterns. If we don't plan for Texas' growth patterns, we won't have a chance to meet those needs," he said.

Criticisms with merit

Despite Morris' hesitation to mention the Trans-Texas Corridor by name, North Texas leaders generally back the plan. Most are desperate to fix the region's growing traffic problems, clean up the air and keep the economy going in the nation's fourth-largest metropolitan area.

Elsewhere in Texas, common criticisms are that the corridor plan would take too much property out of the hands of private landowners, impose tolls in rural areas where drivers don't want them and turn over control of Texas roads to private, often foreign-owned companies.

"To say that the term Trans-Texas Corridor is tainted is an understatement," said state Rep. Vicki Truitt, R-Keller. "There are some positive components of the Trans-Texas Corridor, but those have been overshadowed by all the negative."

What makes good sense to her would be separating freight truck traffic from passenger traffic and routing it around major metropolitan areas, rather than congesting local streets, she said.

"The plan for marketing the Trans-Texas Corridor and properly seeking public input regarding the plan were flawed and poorly executed," she said. "Rumors about the plan were left unchecked and facts became obliterated by fiction in the minds of many."

Lawmakers may consider passing new laws during the 2009 legislative session to curb the Transportation Department's ability to advance the Trans-Texas Corridor and other privately run toll projects, according to state Sen. Kim Brimer, R-Fort Worth. One option: a ban on foreign investment in Texas roads.

What's in a name?

Some people who supported building Interstate 69 from Laredo to Houston and east Texas now oppose the plan to build it as a part of the Trans-Texas toll road, Holmes said.

About 14,000 people have submitted comments on the I-69 proposal, state records show.

Thousands of others submitted comments during public meetings in summer 2006 on the first leg of the Trans-Texas Corridor -- a proposed Interstate 35 reliever route from Dallas-Fort Worth to San Antonio. Even so, that project is still under study and could be under construction by 2012, according to a master plan developed by the Spanish firm Cintra.

State officials have even considered that perhaps the name itself has become too symbolic. Without the fancy name, the argument goes, would there be widespread resistance to adding lanes along gridlocked I-35?

"The Trans-Texas Corridor designation has begun to develop a life of its own that has muddled some of that support," Holmes said. "But I believe the support is still out there. We simply need to find a mechanism to tap into that support."

Transportation Commission Chairwoman Hope Andrade of San Antonio added: "Yes, it's a viable project. We're moving forward on it. We have to just be firm and committed to do what we believe is the right thing in preparing our state for the next 25 to 50 years."

GORDON DICKSON, 817-685-3816
gdickson@star-telegram.com
http://www.star-telegram.com/local/story/550167.html

Here is a look at the trans Texas corridor or the NAFTA super Highway

http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-100460.html

TexDot is the most arrogant organization that I have ever seen, yes they will move forward simply because money will be made for those at the top of the pyramid. Texas has out of control illegal immigration, property tax will no longer support the school system, road funds have been wasted, so toll roads built by various foreign companies and run by same is in our future selling out America continues.

Originally Posted by oldguy

TexDot is the most arrogant organization that I have ever seen, yes they will move forward simply because money will be made for those at the top of the pyramid. Texas has out of control illegal immigration, property tax will no longer support the school system, road funds have been wasted, so toll roads built by various foreign companies and run by same is in our future selling out America continues.

You got it . Not to mention the home & land owners that will be "Forced" off their land by this greedy little plan .

"We're calling it a 'regional loop'

New name, same pig wearing lipstick.

The jerks at TXDOT seem to forget that those pissed off people are paying their salary.

I think it's time to clean house. It's so bad, their own employees are turning coat on them.

Dixie

It's time to charge all involved, G.W. Bush, Gov. Perry.. T-DOT Officials with Treason and Sedition... It's time to put a hell of a lot of people in jail

[quote="SOSADFORUS"]Here is a look at the trans Texas corridor or the NAFTA super Highway

http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-100460.html[/quote]







Just the fact that it's referred to as "North America's Super Corridor" makes it reek of North America Union.

What gets me is that they think changing the name is going to satisfy the opposition.

This is a big indication of just how stupid they think we all are

The T.T.C. purpose is to provide access to United States markets for Asian(china) and latin american goods. The asian goods will be unloaded at a mexican port onto trucks and rail cars and shipped to the United States completely uninspected and untouched by those pesky United States workers. The mexican trucks will have complete and free access to the United States importing drugs and ILLEGALS without interference from the United States Government.

Originally Posted by Dixie

"We're calling it a 'regional loop'

New name, same pig wearing lipstick.

The jerks at TXDOT seem to forget that those pissed off people are paying their salary.

I think it's time to clean house. It's so bad, their own employees are turning coat on them.

Dixie

They are insulting our intelligence as usual, they are so out of touch they have no idea how enraged and fed up we are. They are just trudging forward hoping to push their greed agenda through. If they think we are just going to roll with it, they have ANOTHER THING COMING!!!

Originally Posted by lccat

The T.T.C. purpose is to provide access to United States markets for Asian(china) and latin american goods. The asian goods will be unloaded at a mexican port onto trucks and rail cars and shipped to the United States completely uninspected and untouched by those pesky United States workers. The mexican trucks will have complete and free access to the United States importing drugs and ILLEGALS without interference from the United States Government.

on the 35 corridor there will be no inspection till the port thing in kansas city. and look how far inland that is. if there are illegals, they can almost be let out anywhere along the way