Thread: Statewide gatherings Saturday protest Trans-Texas Corridor

http://www.corsicanadailysun.com/news/l ... d=topstory

Published: October 02, 2006 10:06 am

‘Not in my backyard you don’t’

Statewide gatherings Saturday protest Trans-Texas Corridor

By Bob Belcher

A small turnout, but a loud and clear message was heard Saturday as a citizen protest against the construction of the Trans-Texas Corridor was held on the steps of the Navarro County Courthouse. The gathering was one of 36 such protests planned across the state Saturday.

Jesse Mills, a Frost area resident and vocal opponent of the giant toll-road project, passed out information and campaign materials to the small group that joined in the protest.

“We have got to stop this thing,” Mills said of the project known as “TTC-35” that would cut a quarter-mile wide path through central Texas, eventually from the Mexican border, through Texas, and into Oklahoma.

Mills had called for residents protesting the project to bring a cup of dirt from their land, symbolizing the land that opponents of the project say they might lose should federal agencies give the corridor the green-light for construction.

Opponents like Mills say that private land owners stand to lose the most, having their property taken away, or rendered useless by the path the toll-road could take.

TxDOT officials say that no specific route has been chosen, but have identified “preferred paths” through the state for further environmental studies. One such path does make its way through the western part of Navarro County.

Actual construction of the Trans-Texas Corridor is likely years away, should it be approved by Congress following environmental impact studies, but is still being brought to the campaign trail by various candidates who want to put a stop to any construction before it even starts.

Public opinion on the proposal to construct the restricted access highway and private operation of concessions has been generally negative in every hearing held in the state this year, including the one in Corsicana.

Mills has attended a number of those public hearings on the toll-road proposal, which would be built and managed by a Spanish corporation, CINTRA, under a contract just made public last week.

“We haven’t had a chance to study the document yet, but we don’t understand why it was kept a secret for so long. We think the people of Texas should be given a chance to vote on whether or not they want it,” Mills said.

The 1,600 page contract was released by the Texas Department of Transportation last week. Gubernatorial candidate Carole Keaton-Strayhorn had called for disclosure of the agreement, and has been a vocal opponent of the road’s concept and construction.

“One thing we have learned this week is that there is supposed to be an access point at every state highway the corridor crosses,” Mills said Saturday. He questioned the logistics, and cost, of such a proposal.

Mills called Saturday for a united effort by citizens to continue to oppose the Trans-Texas Corridor project, and support candidates who oppose its construction.

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Bob Belcher may be contacted via e-mail at belcher@corsicanadailysun.com.

This outcry needs to grow!