Despite Loss of
Amendment 13
CorridorWatch.org
Backs SB792

The valiant effort of Representative Lois Kolkhorst together with dozens of other legislators, thousands of CorridorWatch members, and the thousands more who joined us could not over come the tremendous power of the Governor's office. Those who fought this fight with us deserve our gratitude.

Did we lose? NO WE WON! We got a lot, a lot more than anyone thought possible!

Congratulations! Your calls, faxes and email generated the support necessary to produce a bill that's a giant leap forward in our fight to stop the Trans Texas Corridor. Without your support our effort would have been completely crushed by a Governor who is determined to build the TTC over the objections of Texas citizens, community leaders, and the entire Texas Legislature. Your pressure for Amendment 13 has produced tangible results that will become powerful tools in our continued fight against the TTC.

We will get a moratorium.

Although it's punched full of holes to accommodate a dozen pending toll road project across the state, SB792 still contains a two-year moratorium that will slow construction of the Trans Texas Corridor, particularly TTC-69. We remain unconvinced that the moratorium language of SB792 is tight enough to stop TTC-35 facility agreements from being executed during the next two-years, but we have been given that assurance from others who are very involved in the process, including Senator Nichols.

It has also been put on the official record over and over that it is the intent of the legislature to halt any TTC construction contract from being signed over the next two years, including TTC-35. In response, public representations have been made to the legislature that no TTC construction contracts will be executed during the moratorium. Should that occur a certain firestorm will erupt with CorridorWatch leading a charge against TxDOT.

Here are some of the positive things that Senate Bill 792 will do:

SB792 creates a formal legislative study committee to research and report on public policy implications of private partnership toll projects. This will provide the public a substantive opportunity to participate in the discussion of public-private partnerships and perhaps the overarching Trans Texas Corridor.

SB792 will require the authorization for comprehensive development agreements to come under review and reauthorization. This provides another opportunity to stop the use of CDAs.

SB792 provides for greater public access to information and more disclosure with regard to the Trans Texas Corridor and other toll related contracts and details.

Even without Amendment 13 there's enough in SB792 to merit our full support.

Our legislators listened, heard us, and did their best to deliver a TTC moratorium. It's not a perfect bill, they seldom are. And yes, there are several provisions that we don't like and would like to see removed. But that time is gone and we'll need to wait until next session to address them.

David & Linda Stall, Co-founders
CorridorWatch.org