"The people of Texas will not be fooled by this election gimmickry."
Strayhorn: 121 toll delay is a victory - for now
Lewisville: She calls Perry's announcement 'election gimmickry'
September 1, 2006
By TONY HARTZEL
The Dallas Morning News
Copyright 2006
Gubernatorial candidate Carole Keeton Strayhorn was joined by the anti-toll crowd on Thursday along the new State Highway 121 toll road in Lewisville. Mrs. Strayhorn declared the state's recent decision to delay toll collections on Highway 121 a victory. Earlier this week, Gov. Rick Perry came to nearby Coppell and announced that the state will not start charging drivers until at least mid-November.
"What he is doing is buying himself votes to get this past Nov. 7," said Mrs. Strayhorn, an independent candidate for governor. "The people of Texas will not be fooled by his election gimmickry."
Earlier this summer, the state announced it would start collecting tolls on Highway 121 today.
Mrs. Strayhorn scheduled her campaign event for Thursday because it was supposed to be the last day of free rides on the new highway. Earlier this week, however, Mr. Perry announced the delay in collecting tolls. He said workers needed more time to install equipment and iron out bugs in the new video toll-collection system.
About 30 people braved the afternoon heat to support Mrs. Strayhorn. Many carried her campaign signs or anti-toll signs with slogans including "Keep Texas Freeways" and "No Perry Tolls."
"Most young people don't care, but this is going to affect everyone directly," said Christina Hollimon, 24, who came to the Strayhorn speech with her father, Charles. The family owns property in North Richland Hills and in Stockdale in Central Texas, where Mr. Perry's planned Trans-Texas Corridor toll road could run near their farmland.
Linda Curtis said she's concerned about turning over toll roads to private companies. She also said it's not clear where the toll revenue will go.
Four private groups are vying to take over operation of the Highway 121 toll road in Denton and Collin counties.
State and regional leaders expect to receive close to $1 billion from the winning bidder up front and receive a share of future toll revenue over time.
"Transportation is not the issue. No one really knows where this money is going," Ms. Curtis said.
'Flip-flopped'
Mr. Perry's campaign staff has accused Mrs. Strayhorn of advocating construction of toll roads before her campaign for governor.
"She's flip-flopped on this issue pretty hard," said Perry campaign spokesman Robert Black.
Mr. Black also challenged Mrs. Strayhorn's alternate transportation plan, which calls for widening Interstate 35 instead of building the Trans-Texas Corridor from the Red River to the Rio Grande. The state already has plans to widen the interstate to three lanes. Anything more, he said, would require taking many notable and expensive properties alongside the highway.
So what will be the role of toll roads in the upcoming election?
"We see it as more the role of transportation," Mr. Black said, noting that half of all Texans live along I-35 and that the state will double in population in the next 40 years. "Texans are tired of being stuck in traffic. Our infrastructure, and the way we fund infrastructure, cannot meet those needs."
Toll revenue
The governor and state officials point out that tolls on Highway 121 are expected to raise hundreds of millions of dollars that will be spent for other long-awaited projects. Those projects include $200 million to help rebuild and widen nearby portions of Interstate 35E and $80 million to rebuild and widen FM423 in Denton County.
Local and regional leaders approved the tolls and have budgeted toll bond revenue for those projects.
When asked whether she would override local opinion that supported the tolls, Mrs. Strayhorn said she would seek a vote on all toll roads, including Highway 121.
"I believe it was built as a freeway and it should stay a freeway," she said. "If the people vote for this, fine."
E-mail thartzel@dallasnews.com
© 2006 The Dallas Morning News Co www.dallasnews.com
Lewisville: She calls Perry's announcement 'election gimmickry'
September 1, 2006
By TONY HARTZEL
The Dallas Morning News
Copyright 2006
Gubernatorial candidate Carole Keeton Strayhorn was joined by the anti-toll crowd on Thursday along the new State Highway 121 toll road in Lewisville. Mrs. Strayhorn declared the state's recent decision to delay toll collections on Highway 121 a victory. Earlier this week, Gov. Rick Perry came to nearby Coppell and announced that the state will not start charging drivers until at least mid-November.
"What he is doing is buying himself votes to get this past Nov. 7," said Mrs. Strayhorn, an independent candidate for governor. "The people of Texas will not be fooled by his election gimmickry."
Earlier this summer, the state announced it would start collecting tolls on Highway 121 today.
Mrs. Strayhorn scheduled her campaign event for Thursday because it was supposed to be the last day of free rides on the new highway. Earlier this week, however, Mr. Perry announced the delay in collecting tolls. He said workers needed more time to install equipment and iron out bugs in the new video toll-collection system.
About 30 people braved the afternoon heat to support Mrs. Strayhorn. Many carried her campaign signs or anti-toll signs with slogans including "Keep Texas Freeways" and "No Perry Tolls."
"Most young people don't care, but this is going to affect everyone directly," said Christina Hollimon, 24, who came to the Strayhorn speech with her father, Charles. The family owns property in North Richland Hills and in Stockdale in Central Texas, where Mr. Perry's planned Trans-Texas Corridor toll road could run near their farmland.
Linda Curtis said she's concerned about turning over toll roads to private companies. She also said it's not clear where the toll revenue will go.
Four private groups are vying to take over operation of the Highway 121 toll road in Denton and Collin counties.
State and regional leaders expect to receive close to $1 billion from the winning bidder up front and receive a share of future toll revenue over time.
"Transportation is not the issue. No one really knows where this money is going," Ms. Curtis said.
'Flip-flopped'
Mr. Perry's campaign staff has accused Mrs. Strayhorn of advocating construction of toll roads before her campaign for governor.
"She's flip-flopped on this issue pretty hard," said Perry campaign spokesman Robert Black.
Mr. Black also challenged Mrs. Strayhorn's alternate transportation plan, which calls for widening Interstate 35 instead of building the Trans-Texas Corridor from the Red River to the Rio Grande. The state already has plans to widen the interstate to three lanes. Anything more, he said, would require taking many notable and expensive properties alongside the highway.
So what will be the role of toll roads in the upcoming election?
"We see it as more the role of transportation," Mr. Black said, noting that half of all Texans live along I-35 and that the state will double in population in the next 40 years. "Texans are tired of being stuck in traffic. Our infrastructure, and the way we fund infrastructure, cannot meet those needs."
Toll revenue
The governor and state officials point out that tolls on Highway 121 are expected to raise hundreds of millions of dollars that will be spent for other long-awaited projects. Those projects include $200 million to help rebuild and widen nearby portions of Interstate 35E and $80 million to rebuild and widen FM423 in Denton County.
Local and regional leaders approved the tolls and have budgeted toll bond revenue for those projects.
When asked whether she would override local opinion that supported the tolls, Mrs. Strayhorn said she would seek a vote on all toll roads, including Highway 121.
"I believe it was built as a freeway and it should stay a freeway," she said. "If the people vote for this, fine."
E-mail thartzel@dallasnews.com
© 2006 The Dallas Morning News Co
posted by Porkus Maximus Tex: at Friday, September 01, 2006
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