"I don't see the need to build a project of this magnitude."
Ranchers speak out against corridor
8/9/03
Ofelia Garcia Hunter
Alice Echo-News Journal
Copyright 2006
Concerns of property rights, crossing access and tax base revenue were some of the comments heard from three individuals at the public hearing held Tuesday at the K.C. Hall for the proposed Trans-Texas Corridor 35.
Long-time rancher and farmer Edwin E. Goldapp had two typed pages of questions and concerns.
"We are primarily concerned with property rights. We recognize the fact that we need access to our property and be paid for what we think it's worth," he said. "We're trying to shrink the right-of-way, take what they need, but scoot it together."
Goldapp said farmers and ranchers might not have access to crossovers and have to drive 10 to 20 miles to find one to get to the other side of their property.
About 30 residents from the area attended the public meeting in Alice. It was one of 54 public hearings throughout the TTC-35 study area where officials with the Texas Transportation Department answered questions and listened to public comment.
State Rep. Yvonne Gonzalez Toureilles also addressed the group.
"This stuff does scare a lot of people, especially the farmers and ranchers, I can understand their concerns and fears," she said. "I don't think it's feasible to put 12 lanes in the area I represent. I don't see the need to build a project of this magnitude."
The hearing was the fourth set of public meetings on TTC-35 that gave residents an opportunity to comment on the proposed development of TTC-35.
These public hearings will wind up a two-year public involvement process that has already included 117 public meetings netting more than 4,000 comments.
The presentation at the hearing focused on the preferred corridor alternative from Gainesville to Laredo and why it best meets the state's long-term goal of easing congestion and improving safety on I-35. Other corridor alternatives were also presented for public comment Tuesday.
Along with the TTC-35 corridor, TxDOT officials were also on hand to answer questions about the I-69 TTC.
The I-69 corridor is a concern for Robin Carter and her family, who own land in Brooks and Hidalgo counties.
"In general, my family is opposed to the trans-corridor," Carter said. "There will be a lot of revenue taken out of the tax base. My family specifically objects to the I-69 route that takes property west of (Highway) 281. It doesn't seem logical or practical to go west of 281."
The hearing began with an open house so residents could review maps of the preferred corridor alternative and ask questions. The presentation and oral comments began at 6:30 p.m.
Greg Edelen said the project could wipe out farming and ranching.
"Once you take the land out of production, it's lost forever," he said. "A farmer could lose his way of life - forever."
After the public hearings, staff will analyze the comments and submit a final environmental impact statement by the end of the year to the Federal Highway Administration. A decision from FHWA is expected next summer.
Construction could only begin after the additional studies are completed, TxDOT officials said.
"Untill we get to that process, we can't move to the definition of the route," said Craig Clark, district engineer from the Corpus Christi district. "We are still several steps away."
Copyright © 2006 Alice Echo-News Journal: www.aliceechonews.com
8/9/03
Ofelia Garcia Hunter
Alice Echo-News Journal
Copyright 2006
Concerns of property rights, crossing access and tax base revenue were some of the comments heard from three individuals at the public hearing held Tuesday at the K.C. Hall for the proposed Trans-Texas Corridor 35.
Long-time rancher and farmer Edwin E. Goldapp had two typed pages of questions and concerns.
"We are primarily concerned with property rights. We recognize the fact that we need access to our property and be paid for what we think it's worth," he said. "We're trying to shrink the right-of-way, take what they need, but scoot it together."
Goldapp said farmers and ranchers might not have access to crossovers and have to drive 10 to 20 miles to find one to get to the other side of their property.
About 30 residents from the area attended the public meeting in Alice. It was one of 54 public hearings throughout the TTC-35 study area where officials with the Texas Transportation Department answered questions and listened to public comment.
State Rep. Yvonne Gonzalez Toureilles also addressed the group.
"This stuff does scare a lot of people, especially the farmers and ranchers, I can understand their concerns and fears," she said. "I don't think it's feasible to put 12 lanes in the area I represent. I don't see the need to build a project of this magnitude."
The hearing was the fourth set of public meetings on TTC-35 that gave residents an opportunity to comment on the proposed development of TTC-35.
These public hearings will wind up a two-year public involvement process that has already included 117 public meetings netting more than 4,000 comments.
The presentation at the hearing focused on the preferred corridor alternative from Gainesville to Laredo and why it best meets the state's long-term goal of easing congestion and improving safety on I-35. Other corridor alternatives were also presented for public comment Tuesday.
Along with the TTC-35 corridor, TxDOT officials were also on hand to answer questions about the I-69 TTC.
The I-69 corridor is a concern for Robin Carter and her family, who own land in Brooks and Hidalgo counties.
"In general, my family is opposed to the trans-corridor," Carter said. "There will be a lot of revenue taken out of the tax base. My family specifically objects to the I-69 route that takes property west of (Highway) 281. It doesn't seem logical or practical to go west of 281."
The hearing began with an open house so residents could review maps of the preferred corridor alternative and ask questions. The presentation and oral comments began at 6:30 p.m.
Greg Edelen said the project could wipe out farming and ranching.
"Once you take the land out of production, it's lost forever," he said. "A farmer could lose his way of life - forever."
After the public hearings, staff will analyze the comments and submit a final environmental impact statement by the end of the year to the Federal Highway Administration. A decision from FHWA is expected next summer.
Construction could only begin after the additional studies are completed, TxDOT officials said.
"Untill we get to that process, we can't move to the definition of the route," said Craig Clark, district engineer from the Corpus Christi district. "We are still several steps away."
Copyright © 2006 Alice Echo-News Journal:
posted by Porkus Maximus Tex: at Wednesday, August 09, 2006
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