“I think TxDOT had to release the document and do damage control before elections.”
TTC-35 master plan crosses county
October 6, 2006
By Daneil K. Lai
Taylor Daily Press
Copyright 2006
The Texas Department of Transportation said allegations its has kept the path of the Trans-Texas Corridor 35 secret are unfounded.
The allegations from rural farmers arose after TxDOT released its Trans-Texas Corridor Master Development Plan in its entirety Sept. 29.
“This is not the plan on where the corridor will go,” TxDOT spokesman Gabby Garcia said. “It is merely a guide on where it could go. Environmental studies we are required to conduct will shape where it (goes).”
The department released the 256-page developing and finance section as part of the overall 400-page Comprehensive Development Agreement signed between TxDOT and Concesiones de Infraestructures de Transporte, S.A. (Cintra) and Zachry Construction Corporation a year ago.
Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott had previously ruled those sections were not protected under Open Records laws and had to be released. However, in a legal effort to block the release from public disclosure, Cintra-Zachry and TxDOT filed a lawsuit against the AG's office in June 2005. The lawsuit has since been dropped.
“On Thursday the department approved the conceptual development and conceptual financial plans submitted by Cintra-Zachry which were used to update the Master Development Plan,” Garcia said. “Before that we had not accepted the final development plan for Trans-Texas Corridor 35 (TTC-35). Those pages were not released previously because we had not decided whether we were going to accept Cintra-Zachry's proposal.”
Dan Byfield, one of the 175 Texas landowners who had previously filed an open records request to view the document, said he is not convinced.
“I think TxDOT had to get their ducks in a row, get it out there and release the document and do damage control before elections,” he said. “They claim the proposed corridor route is contingent on the final decisions that come out of the environmental impact study; that's a farce. They've had these maps, they've had these routes already decided. Someone needs to admit they knew about the location all along.”
But Garcia said TxDOT is required by law to utilize information gained from the environmental impact studies.
“The environmental study fueled by public input is a federally-dictated process we are required to follow. That will not change. It is the same process required with any road we build,” she said. “To suggest otherwise is nothing more than a group or groups putting out false information to the public that is not true.
“Cintra-Zachry will not dictate where the corridor will go.”
However, Granger resident Joyce White, who owns 75 acres of land in Eastern Williamson County, said there hasn't been enough public input sought.
“These meetings were held not before proposals were made and not before contracts were given,” she said. “It's a land grab, it's ridiculous and I feel it was all done without notification to the people.”
White said she is concerned TTC-35 will cut off access in the county.
“If it stays where it is, it cuts the county in half,” she said. “I work in Temple and I would have to drive a long way to get to work.”
Garcia said the corridor will have crossroads to accommodate commuters.
“Our goal is not to cut off access in a county. TTC-35 will not cut Williamson County in half,” Garcia said. “That's the silliest thing we've ever heard. There will be crossroads and ways for people to get around that are all part of the plan.”
White said regardless of where the final route of the corridor ends up it will take over valuable farmland from farmers who have owned it for generations.
“A lot of people don't want to lose their homes,” she said.
Representative Mike Krusee, R-Round Rock, said the TTC-35 will not go through Williamson County.
“SH 130 will be the Trans-Texas Corridor for Williamson County,” he said. “The simple fact is it is not financially possible to have two toll roads in the same area ... If you build a second toll road further east from SH 130 no one will use it.”
“It is a shame this issue is being used as a fear-mongering tool by candidates in an election year,” he said.
The TxDOT Master Development Plan can be viewed at www.keeptexasmoving.com.
© 2006 Taylor Daily Press: www.taylordailypress.net
October 6, 2006
By Daneil K. Lai
Taylor Daily Press
Copyright 2006
The Texas Department of Transportation said allegations its has kept the path of the Trans-Texas Corridor 35 secret are unfounded.
The allegations from rural farmers arose after TxDOT released its Trans-Texas Corridor Master Development Plan in its entirety Sept. 29.
“This is not the plan on where the corridor will go,” TxDOT spokesman Gabby Garcia said. “It is merely a guide on where it could go. Environmental studies we are required to conduct will shape where it (goes).”
The department released the 256-page developing and finance section as part of the overall 400-page Comprehensive Development Agreement signed between TxDOT and Concesiones de Infraestructures de Transporte, S.A. (Cintra) and Zachry Construction Corporation a year ago.
Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott had previously ruled those sections were not protected under Open Records laws and had to be released. However, in a legal effort to block the release from public disclosure, Cintra-Zachry and TxDOT filed a lawsuit against the AG's office in June 2005. The lawsuit has since been dropped.
“On Thursday the department approved the conceptual development and conceptual financial plans submitted by Cintra-Zachry which were used to update the Master Development Plan,” Garcia said. “Before that we had not accepted the final development plan for Trans-Texas Corridor 35 (TTC-35). Those pages were not released previously because we had not decided whether we were going to accept Cintra-Zachry's proposal.”
Dan Byfield, one of the 175 Texas landowners who had previously filed an open records request to view the document, said he is not convinced.
“I think TxDOT had to get their ducks in a row, get it out there and release the document and do damage control before elections,” he said. “They claim the proposed corridor route is contingent on the final decisions that come out of the environmental impact study; that's a farce. They've had these maps, they've had these routes already decided. Someone needs to admit they knew about the location all along.”
But Garcia said TxDOT is required by law to utilize information gained from the environmental impact studies.
“The environmental study fueled by public input is a federally-dictated process we are required to follow. That will not change. It is the same process required with any road we build,” she said. “To suggest otherwise is nothing more than a group or groups putting out false information to the public that is not true.
“Cintra-Zachry will not dictate where the corridor will go.”
However, Granger resident Joyce White, who owns 75 acres of land in Eastern Williamson County, said there hasn't been enough public input sought.
“These meetings were held not before proposals were made and not before contracts were given,” she said. “It's a land grab, it's ridiculous and I feel it was all done without notification to the people.”
White said she is concerned TTC-35 will cut off access in the county.
“If it stays where it is, it cuts the county in half,” she said. “I work in Temple and I would have to drive a long way to get to work.”
Garcia said the corridor will have crossroads to accommodate commuters.
“Our goal is not to cut off access in a county. TTC-35 will not cut Williamson County in half,” Garcia said. “That's the silliest thing we've ever heard. There will be crossroads and ways for people to get around that are all part of the plan.”
White said regardless of where the final route of the corridor ends up it will take over valuable farmland from farmers who have owned it for generations.
“A lot of people don't want to lose their homes,” she said.
Representative Mike Krusee, R-Round Rock, said the TTC-35 will not go through Williamson County.
“SH 130 will be the Trans-Texas Corridor for Williamson County,” he said. “The simple fact is it is not financially possible to have two toll roads in the same area ... If you build a second toll road further east from SH 130 no one will use it.”
“It is a shame this issue is being used as a fear-mongering tool by candidates in an election year,” he said.
The TxDOT Master Development Plan can be viewed at www.keeptexasmoving.com.
© 2006 Taylor Daily Press:
posted by Porkus Maximus Tex: at Friday, October 06, 2006
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