"What this governor has had the TxDOT staff do is outrageous."
Crowd flocks to hearing on corridor
7/27/06
By Robert Nathan
Killeen Daily Herald
Copyright 2006
TEMPLE – A public hearing concerning the proposed Trans-Texas Corridor project drew nearly 700 Central Texas residents and state and local officials Wednesday.
A multi-use transportation proposal many Texans argue is designed only to generate revenue and transform private land into state land brought one of the largest public turnouts in one of 54 scheduled public hearings concerning the proposed Trans-Texas Corridor, or TTC-35, at the
Frank W. Mayborn Civic and Convention Center.
The Texas Department of Transportation's proposed TTC-35 is considered to be one of the largest transportation endeavors in the state and will not only separate car and truck lanes, but will also include railroads and underground utilities such as telephone, water and gas pipelines.
Its stated purpose is to improve international, interstate and intrastate movement of goods and people and address the transportation needs for a growing statewide population.
TxDOT officials said plans for TTC-35 are to be constructed in phases over the next 50 years with the development of specific projects to be prioritized according to state transportation needs.
Before the project's right of way acquisition and construction can begin, TTC-35 must first gain federal environmental approval for a final route alignment, TxDOT officials said.
The first step, officials said, is to complete the ongoing environmental study that focuses on narrowing the study area.
A decision on the project's location from the Federal Highway Administration is expected to be announced as early as September 2007.
"What we can anticipate, if this budget is able to go forward, the reduced congestion on Interstate 35 will make it a much safer and efficient facility for the greater Fort Hood area," said Ken Roberts, TxDOT Waco District public information officer.
Many of the state and local officials and Central Texas residents who would be affected by the corridor, argued it would change their way of life.
"What this governor has had the TxDOT staff do is outrageous," said state Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn, a gubernatorial candidate. "These 54 so-called public hearings are deliberately designed not to get public input, but to wear the public out."
David Skrabanek, the chairman of the Blackland Coalition, said TTC-35 would affect everyone living near I-35, including the Killeen area.
Skrabanek said that even if local residents don't get on the highway and pay the toll, businesses will pass along the price of goods and services shipped on the roadway to consumers in cities such as Killeen and Harker Heights.
"You're going to pay it indirectly," he said.
Troy Mayor Sammy Warren said the Troy City Council recently approved a resolution stating Troy is against TTC-35 because it would destroy family farms and divide the community in a way where the EMS and Fire Services would be unable to cross the massive highway.
"We're not against the concept, but the way it is set up, it doesn't sound like its the best thing for Texas," Warren said.
Bell County Judge Jon Burrows told TxDOT officials to not forget the ongoing needs to widen and improve and complete existing project on I-35. He added the county has more than 47 miles of I-35 going through the center of the county. It is consistently overcrowded, he said, and the site of almost daily traffic accidents and fatalities.
"Concerning the Trans-Texas Corridor, if that project proceeds and if the actual route does cross Bell County, the adverse effect on property owners must be limited to only necessary transportation and feeder road needs," Burrows said.
Contact Robert Nathan at ranathan@kdhnews.com
© 2006 Killeen Daily Herald: www.kdhnews.com
7/27/06
By Robert Nathan
Killeen Daily Herald
Copyright 2006
TEMPLE – A public hearing concerning the proposed Trans-Texas Corridor project drew nearly 700 Central Texas residents and state and local officials Wednesday.
A multi-use transportation proposal many Texans argue is designed only to generate revenue and transform private land into state land brought one of the largest public turnouts in one of 54 scheduled public hearings concerning the proposed Trans-Texas Corridor, or TTC-35, at the
Frank W. Mayborn Civic and Convention Center.
The Texas Department of Transportation's proposed TTC-35 is considered to be one of the largest transportation endeavors in the state and will not only separate car and truck lanes, but will also include railroads and underground utilities such as telephone, water and gas pipelines.
Its stated purpose is to improve international, interstate and intrastate movement of goods and people and address the transportation needs for a growing statewide population.
TxDOT officials said plans for TTC-35 are to be constructed in phases over the next 50 years with the development of specific projects to be prioritized according to state transportation needs.
Before the project's right of way acquisition and construction can begin, TTC-35 must first gain federal environmental approval for a final route alignment, TxDOT officials said.
The first step, officials said, is to complete the ongoing environmental study that focuses on narrowing the study area.
A decision on the project's location from the Federal Highway Administration is expected to be announced as early as September 2007.
"What we can anticipate, if this budget is able to go forward, the reduced congestion on Interstate 35 will make it a much safer and efficient facility for the greater Fort Hood area," said Ken Roberts, TxDOT Waco District public information officer.
Many of the state and local officials and Central Texas residents who would be affected by the corridor, argued it would change their way of life.
"What this governor has had the TxDOT staff do is outrageous," said state Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn, a gubernatorial candidate. "These 54 so-called public hearings are deliberately designed not to get public input, but to wear the public out."
David Skrabanek, the chairman of the Blackland Coalition, said TTC-35 would affect everyone living near I-35, including the Killeen area.
Skrabanek said that even if local residents don't get on the highway and pay the toll, businesses will pass along the price of goods and services shipped on the roadway to consumers in cities such as Killeen and Harker Heights.
"You're going to pay it indirectly," he said.
Troy Mayor Sammy Warren said the Troy City Council recently approved a resolution stating Troy is against TTC-35 because it would destroy family farms and divide the community in a way where the EMS and Fire Services would be unable to cross the massive highway.
"We're not against the concept, but the way it is set up, it doesn't sound like its the best thing for Texas," Warren said.
Bell County Judge Jon Burrows told TxDOT officials to not forget the ongoing needs to widen and improve and complete existing project on I-35. He added the county has more than 47 miles of I-35 going through the center of the county. It is consistently overcrowded, he said, and the site of almost daily traffic accidents and fatalities.
"Concerning the Trans-Texas Corridor, if that project proceeds and if the actual route does cross Bell County, the adverse effect on property owners must be limited to only necessary transportation and feeder road needs," Burrows said.
Contact Robert Nathan at ranathan@kdhnews.com
© 2006 Killeen Daily Herald:
posted by Porkus Maximus Tex: at Thursday, July 27, 2006
<< Home