Perry: "The federal funding genie is dead."
Perry urges private firms to drive I-69 construction
12/09/2005
Lisa Sandberg
San Antonio Express-News Austin Bureau
Copyright 2005
AUSTIN — Saying Texas had to solve its own problems and not wait for the federal government, Gov. Rick Perry called on private companies Thursday to fund a superhighway that would connect the Rio Grande Valley with Houston, East Texas and the American heartland.
"We all have to recognize the federal funding genie is dead," Perry told a gathering in Houston that advocates for the construction of a single highway that would be called Interstate 69 and that would link the Valley with points north and east.
His proposal will go to the Texas Transportation Commission today.
What incentive would there be for the private construction companies that would presumably shell out the billions of dollars needed to build a 650-mile high-speed corridor? In all likelihood, toll money, said Kathy Walt, the governor's spokeswoman.
Perry said the construction of a highway in Texas could one day link the Rio Grande Valley with the Canadian border. He did not put a price tag on the project or the amount to be covered by the private investment.
Where the highway would be built won't be determined until an environmental impact statement is completed.
Interstate 69 stretches from the Michigan-Canadian border to Indianapolis. The highway in Texas would become part of the Trans Texas Corridor, unveiled in 2002 as Perry's ambitious $184 billion vision of thousands of miles of tollways, railways and utility lines crisscrossing the state.
Rep. Juan M. Escobar, D-Kingsville, applauded Perry for keeping the highway idea alive but said that while he hadn't yet studied the governor's plan, he believed the federal government, not private industry, bore the responsibility for providing the bulk of the funding.
Randall Dillard, a spokesman for the Texas Department of Transportation, said the planned Texas highway had been listed as a high priority by the federal government for a number of years but federal dollars haven't come through. And probably won't.
Last month, Texas Transportation Commissioner Ted Houghton said that "I-69 is dead in the state of Texas. The road fairy has been shot."
Perry said Thursday there was no need to wait for federal funding.
"By the time Washington funds I-69, we'll be driving around in hover cars or whatever," Perry said.
"The harsh reality is we cannot wait for Washington, D.C., to solve the problems of this state."
lsandberg@express-news.net
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
© 2005 San Antonio Express-News: www.mysanantonio.com
12/09/2005
Lisa Sandberg
San Antonio Express-News Austin Bureau
Copyright 2005
AUSTIN — Saying Texas had to solve its own problems and not wait for the federal government, Gov. Rick Perry called on private companies Thursday to fund a superhighway that would connect the Rio Grande Valley with Houston, East Texas and the American heartland.
"We all have to recognize the federal funding genie is dead," Perry told a gathering in Houston that advocates for the construction of a single highway that would be called Interstate 69 and that would link the Valley with points north and east.
His proposal will go to the Texas Transportation Commission today.
What incentive would there be for the private construction companies that would presumably shell out the billions of dollars needed to build a 650-mile high-speed corridor? In all likelihood, toll money, said Kathy Walt, the governor's spokeswoman.
Perry said the construction of a highway in Texas could one day link the Rio Grande Valley with the Canadian border. He did not put a price tag on the project or the amount to be covered by the private investment.
Where the highway would be built won't be determined until an environmental impact statement is completed.
Interstate 69 stretches from the Michigan-Canadian border to Indianapolis. The highway in Texas would become part of the Trans Texas Corridor, unveiled in 2002 as Perry's ambitious $184 billion vision of thousands of miles of tollways, railways and utility lines crisscrossing the state.
Rep. Juan M. Escobar, D-Kingsville, applauded Perry for keeping the highway idea alive but said that while he hadn't yet studied the governor's plan, he believed the federal government, not private industry, bore the responsibility for providing the bulk of the funding.
Randall Dillard, a spokesman for the Texas Department of Transportation, said the planned Texas highway had been listed as a high priority by the federal government for a number of years but federal dollars haven't come through. And probably won't.
Last month, Texas Transportation Commissioner Ted Houghton said that "I-69 is dead in the state of Texas. The road fairy has been shot."
Perry said Thursday there was no need to wait for federal funding.
"By the time Washington funds I-69, we'll be driving around in hover cars or whatever," Perry said.
"The harsh reality is we cannot wait for Washington, D.C., to solve the problems of this state."
lsandberg@express-news.net
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
© 2005 San Antonio Express-News:
posted by Porkus Maximus Tex: at Friday, December 09, 2005
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