"What were they thinking?... WERE they thinking?"
TxDOT Fails in San Antonio
Hundreds of Texans are locked out of the public hearing in San Antonio on August 8, 2006
August 9, 2006
CorridorWatch.org
Copyright 2006
Apparently TxDOT didn't realize that San Antonio is the 2nd most populated city in Texas. In fact the Alamo city is. And TxDOT might take note that it is also the 7th most populated city in the entire United States. Really something we would have expected them to have already known.
Hundreds of Texans were unable to attend and participate in the TTC-35 DEIS Public Hearing held in a San Antonio high school on August 8, 2006. When the East Central High School Cafeteria reached it's 600 person capacity the doors were closed. Many of those left standing outside had driven great distances, some from as far away as Houston.
How did this happen? Was TxDOT unaware that metropolitan Bexar County's population had grown to near 2 million? Did they really expect that a meeting room with a 600 person capacity would be adequate, especially given the vigorous debate over the TTC and toll projects in Bexar County?
This stands in stark contrast to Temple, population less than 55,000. When a stunning 1,600 people showed up for the TTC-35 DEIS Public Hearing in Temple, TxDOT needed only add an additional 100 chairs to accommodate the crowd. And that wasn't the only big turn out by Texans who want to let TxDOT know what they think about the TTC. Waco attracted more than 1,000 and Floresville, a stones throw from San Antonio 700.
What were they thinking? Were they thinking? Some suspicious types might even suspect an evil plot designed to repel the thongs of unhappy citizens who or taking advantage of their right to express their unhappiness. CorridorWatch.org is more inclined to suspect it was just horribly poor planning. The kind of planning we fear will be commonplace with the massive TTC project that's currently being designed in secret without coordination with regional transportation planners or meaningful citizen review and comment.
Of course TxDOT will hold an additional Public Hearing in San Antonio to reach those who were turned away on Tuesday. Will they move to a larger facility where everyone, even if there's more than 600, can be assured that they can get in the building? No they won't.
The next San Antonio DEIS Tier One Public Hearing will be held on Thursday, August 10, 2006, at the East Central High School cafeteria, 7173 FM 1628, San Antonio, Texas. The meeting room will open at 5:00 p.m. for open house style displays and discussion with a formal presentation beginning at 6:30 p.m., followed by oral comments from the public.
© 2006 CorridorWatch: www.corridorwatch.org
Hundreds of Texans are locked out of the public hearing in San Antonio on August 8, 2006
August 9, 2006
CorridorWatch.org
Copyright 2006
Apparently TxDOT didn't realize that San Antonio is the 2nd most populated city in Texas. In fact the Alamo city is. And TxDOT might take note that it is also the 7th most populated city in the entire United States. Really something we would have expected them to have already known.
Hundreds of Texans were unable to attend and participate in the TTC-35 DEIS Public Hearing held in a San Antonio high school on August 8, 2006. When the East Central High School Cafeteria reached it's 600 person capacity the doors were closed. Many of those left standing outside had driven great distances, some from as far away as Houston.
How did this happen? Was TxDOT unaware that metropolitan Bexar County's population had grown to near 2 million? Did they really expect that a meeting room with a 600 person capacity would be adequate, especially given the vigorous debate over the TTC and toll projects in Bexar County?
This stands in stark contrast to Temple, population less than 55,000. When a stunning 1,600 people showed up for the TTC-35 DEIS Public Hearing in Temple, TxDOT needed only add an additional 100 chairs to accommodate the crowd. And that wasn't the only big turn out by Texans who want to let TxDOT know what they think about the TTC. Waco attracted more than 1,000 and Floresville, a stones throw from San Antonio 700.
What were they thinking? Were they thinking? Some suspicious types might even suspect an evil plot designed to repel the thongs of unhappy citizens who or taking advantage of their right to express their unhappiness. CorridorWatch.org is more inclined to suspect it was just horribly poor planning. The kind of planning we fear will be commonplace with the massive TTC project that's currently being designed in secret without coordination with regional transportation planners or meaningful citizen review and comment.
Of course TxDOT will hold an additional Public Hearing in San Antonio to reach those who were turned away on Tuesday. Will they move to a larger facility where everyone, even if there's more than 600, can be assured that they can get in the building? No they won't.
The next San Antonio DEIS Tier One Public Hearing will be held on Thursday, August 10, 2006, at the East Central High School cafeteria, 7173 FM 1628, San Antonio, Texas. The meeting room will open at 5:00 p.m. for open house style displays and discussion with a formal presentation beginning at 6:30 p.m., followed by oral comments from the public.
© 2006 CorridorWatch:
posted by Porkus Maximus Tex: at Thursday, August 10, 2006
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