"TxDOT is over-representing the costs of the project."
El Paso toll roads take another step forward
May 19, 2006
KVIA
Copyright 2006
EL PASO, TX. - The El Paso Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) takes the next step to bring toll roads here.
MPO meetings feature a virtual "Who's-Who" of local elected officials. Representatives from city, county and state governments from all over El Paso County and Southern Dona Ana County get together to formally decide the region's transportation priorities.
During Friday morning's meeting, the El Paso MPO voted to move the completion of Loop 375, including parts with toll roads to the top of that list.
Texas Department of Transportation (Tx-DoT) officials told members of the board that the state only has about $150 million of the $800 million price tag on the project.
There were 15 members of the board present at Friday morning's meeting and only three of them voted no. State Senator Chente Quinatanilla, City Rep. Eddie Holguin, Jr. and Committee Chairman State Rep. Joe Pickett.
They all say Tx-DoT is "over-representing the costs of the project" and that their constituents have told them they don't want toll roads.
The vote at the end of the meeting was 12 to 3 in favor of continuing to look at the toll road project as the region's priority. However it was not a vote was not a binding one.
It just allows the organization to continue investigating the feasibility of using toll roads to complete Loop 375 and pay for other major highway projects in the county.
© 2006 WorldNow and KVIA: www.kvia.com
May 19, 2006
KVIA
Copyright 2006
EL PASO, TX. - The El Paso Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) takes the next step to bring toll roads here.
MPO meetings feature a virtual "Who's-Who" of local elected officials. Representatives from city, county and state governments from all over El Paso County and Southern Dona Ana County get together to formally decide the region's transportation priorities.
During Friday morning's meeting, the El Paso MPO voted to move the completion of Loop 375, including parts with toll roads to the top of that list.
Texas Department of Transportation (Tx-DoT) officials told members of the board that the state only has about $150 million of the $800 million price tag on the project.
There were 15 members of the board present at Friday morning's meeting and only three of them voted no. State Senator Chente Quinatanilla, City Rep. Eddie Holguin, Jr. and Committee Chairman State Rep. Joe Pickett.
They all say Tx-DoT is "over-representing the costs of the project" and that their constituents have told them they don't want toll roads.
The vote at the end of the meeting was 12 to 3 in favor of continuing to look at the toll road project as the region's priority. However it was not a vote was not a binding one.
It just allows the organization to continue investigating the feasibility of using toll roads to complete Loop 375 and pay for other major highway projects in the county.
© 2006 WorldNow and KVIA:
posted by Porkus Maximus Tex: at Friday, May 19, 2006
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