San Antonio Regional Transportation Leadership Forum draw protesters
Transit forum draws protesters
09/08/2005
Patrick Driscoll
San Antonio Express-News
Copyright 2005
The Convention Center on Wednesday was the scene of two desperate but very different pleas about proposed toll roads in San Antonio.
About 400 community leaders and highway industry officials came to the kickoff dinner of the two-day San Antonio Regional Transportation Leadership Forum and heard a sobering story about how road projects nearly had come to a standstill across the state.
On a Market Street sidewalk, about 40 protesters waved signs, chanted and blasted a bullhorn while branding the forum as a cheerleading convention for highway interests who stand to profit from toll roads.
Ensconced in a dining room that was two escalators and several hallways away from the street ruckus, Texas Transportation Commission Chairman Ric Williamson laid out what he called hard-nosed facts.
The state's population is growing six times faster than road capacity, he said. The Legislature in the 1980s didn't plan for growth and even shifted huge amounts of highway dollars to other funds. Also, federal gas tax money didn't follow the nation's shifting population.
He pointed to a list of 20 San Antonio road projects projected on a screen and said there isn't enough money to do them.
"Don't be fooled," he said. "Don't be sucked into the world of the easy way out. These projects will not get built if we don't do something different."
The options are raising the gas tax by 50 cents a gallon for 11 years and then scaling it back by half, or selling bonds backed by tolls and other sources and inviting private companies to join the action.
State legislators didn't pass any gas tax increases in recent sessions, but they did overhaul laws to allow the state to sell bonds and partner with private companies to build toll roads.
"It's all within your grasp now that wasn't in your grasp four years ago," Williamson said. "It's time for us to buckle up and get after it."
Outside, speakers said toll roads would be a double tax to motorists and the biggest tax increase in Texas history.
"All people need to rise up and put a stop to it," said David Van Os, a candidate for Texas attorney general. "You're facing the height of arrogance. Fight 'em until hell freezes over and then fight 'em on the ice."
Other rally speakers were County Commissioner Tommy Adkisson, tax watchdog C.A. Stubbs, Homeowner-Taxpayer Association President Bob Martin and San Antonio-Texas Toll Party organizer Terri Hall.
pdriscoll@express-news.net
San Antonio Express-News: www.mysanantonio.com
09/08/2005
Patrick Driscoll
San Antonio Express-News
Copyright 2005
The Convention Center on Wednesday was the scene of two desperate but very different pleas about proposed toll roads in San Antonio.
About 400 community leaders and highway industry officials came to the kickoff dinner of the two-day San Antonio Regional Transportation Leadership Forum and heard a sobering story about how road projects nearly had come to a standstill across the state.
On a Market Street sidewalk, about 40 protesters waved signs, chanted and blasted a bullhorn while branding the forum as a cheerleading convention for highway interests who stand to profit from toll roads.
Ensconced in a dining room that was two escalators and several hallways away from the street ruckus, Texas Transportation Commission Chairman Ric Williamson laid out what he called hard-nosed facts.
The state's population is growing six times faster than road capacity, he said. The Legislature in the 1980s didn't plan for growth and even shifted huge amounts of highway dollars to other funds. Also, federal gas tax money didn't follow the nation's shifting population.
He pointed to a list of 20 San Antonio road projects projected on a screen and said there isn't enough money to do them.
"Don't be fooled," he said. "Don't be sucked into the world of the easy way out. These projects will not get built if we don't do something different."
The options are raising the gas tax by 50 cents a gallon for 11 years and then scaling it back by half, or selling bonds backed by tolls and other sources and inviting private companies to join the action.
State legislators didn't pass any gas tax increases in recent sessions, but they did overhaul laws to allow the state to sell bonds and partner with private companies to build toll roads.
"It's all within your grasp now that wasn't in your grasp four years ago," Williamson said. "It's time for us to buckle up and get after it."
Outside, speakers said toll roads would be a double tax to motorists and the biggest tax increase in Texas history.
"All people need to rise up and put a stop to it," said David Van Os, a candidate for Texas attorney general. "You're facing the height of arrogance. Fight 'em until hell freezes over and then fight 'em on the ice."
Other rally speakers were County Commissioner Tommy Adkisson, tax watchdog C.A. Stubbs, Homeowner-Taxpayer Association President Bob Martin and San Antonio-Texas Toll Party organizer Terri Hall.
pdriscoll@express-news.net
San Antonio Express-News:
posted by Porkus Maximus Tex: at Thursday, September 08, 2005
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