"Many seem to agree that Gov. Perry's 'vision' includes rows of trees adorned with hundred dollar bills."
Truth be Tolled
Locals learn some facts on Trans-Texas Corridor
11/7/2006
By JESSICA KIRKPATRICK
Bonham Journal
Copyright 2006
With nearly 50 concerned citizens gathered, the supposedly hidden lies of the Trans-Texas Corridor were revealed. The lights went dark as the projector screen light up.
"What's wrong with this picture," asked one citizen at a public hearing held in June in San Antonio. "People would vote to raise taxes if they wanted a tollway," added Democratic candidate David Van Os. Feelings were mutual between those shown in the film. Toll ways are not the answer.
The Trans-Texas Corridor is a proposed superhighway that will include tollways for passenger vehicles and trucks, bullet trains, commuter trains, high-speed freight trains, pipelines of all types and electrical transmission towers. The tollways will also include economic development with gas stations, hotels, stores, parking facilities and toll booths. The proposed TTC-35 is 600 miles long extending from north of Dallas/Ft Worth to Mexico and parallels I-35.
Texas Mobility Fund, TxDOT irresponsible spending and corruption in Texas politics were unveiled in the film produced by William Malina. Human emotions were captured in the film as citizens rose to speak at public hearings throughout the past two years. Terri Hall, regional director of the San Antonio Toll Party explains how the toll roads would be a double taxation on Texas residents. Texans will pay their tax dollars which funds TxDOT improvements to existing roads and will then again pay toll costs to travel on Texas highways. The average Texas family pays between $2,000 and $4,000 per year in toll costs. "It's a money grabber," says Hall.
The toll roads will be under control of foreign investors, which more than frustrates Texans.
The first tollway approved under foreign investment was Camino Colombia, Highway 255 which was approved by TxDOT. The cost to build the road totaled $90 million. Three years after the foreclosure of the toll way, it was auctioned off for $12 million, explains Hall.
There is not simply one issue that Texans are unhappy with. The fact that foreign investors will have control, the fact that an election for such toll ways is not part of the process, eminent domain laws and the fact that politicians are not working for the people. Texans attend public meetings to voice their opinions, but they still feel that their opinions and suggestions do not matter.
City of Leon Valley near San Antonio fought an elevated toll way on their local Bandero Road. Officials with the Alamo Mobility Regional Authority suggested the tollway to residents and city officials. After hearing other suggestions from area residents, the Alamo MRA refused to reconsider a tollway. After an abstain vote from council members, fellow City of Helotes voted against the tollway. Shortly following their decision, the City of Leon Valley passed a resolution opposed to the toll way.
The film also captures the American farmers whose lands are at risk of being taken away through the process of eminent domain. As the blackland prairies of Texas are at risk of being turned into concrete, the farming lands that are so rich and abundant in Texas will be no more. "No vote, no road," says one citizen at a TxDOT public hearing in Floresville in August 2006.
Governor Rick Perry sees the toll roads as a "vision." Many seem to agree that that vision includes rows of trees adorned with hundred dollar bills.
© 2006 The Bonham Journal: bonhamjournal.com
To search TTC News Archives clickHERE
Locals learn some facts on Trans-Texas Corridor
11/7/2006
By JESSICA KIRKPATRICK
Bonham Journal
Copyright 2006
With nearly 50 concerned citizens gathered, the supposedly hidden lies of the Trans-Texas Corridor were revealed. The lights went dark as the projector screen light up.
"What's wrong with this picture," asked one citizen at a public hearing held in June in San Antonio. "People would vote to raise taxes if they wanted a tollway," added Democratic candidate David Van Os. Feelings were mutual between those shown in the film. Toll ways are not the answer.
The Trans-Texas Corridor is a proposed superhighway that will include tollways for passenger vehicles and trucks, bullet trains, commuter trains, high-speed freight trains, pipelines of all types and electrical transmission towers. The tollways will also include economic development with gas stations, hotels, stores, parking facilities and toll booths. The proposed TTC-35 is 600 miles long extending from north of Dallas/Ft Worth to Mexico and parallels I-35.
Texas Mobility Fund, TxDOT irresponsible spending and corruption in Texas politics were unveiled in the film produced by William Malina. Human emotions were captured in the film as citizens rose to speak at public hearings throughout the past two years. Terri Hall, regional director of the San Antonio Toll Party explains how the toll roads would be a double taxation on Texas residents. Texans will pay their tax dollars which funds TxDOT improvements to existing roads and will then again pay toll costs to travel on Texas highways. The average Texas family pays between $2,000 and $4,000 per year in toll costs. "It's a money grabber," says Hall.
The toll roads will be under control of foreign investors, which more than frustrates Texans.
The first tollway approved under foreign investment was Camino Colombia, Highway 255 which was approved by TxDOT. The cost to build the road totaled $90 million. Three years after the foreclosure of the toll way, it was auctioned off for $12 million, explains Hall.
There is not simply one issue that Texans are unhappy with. The fact that foreign investors will have control, the fact that an election for such toll ways is not part of the process, eminent domain laws and the fact that politicians are not working for the people. Texans attend public meetings to voice their opinions, but they still feel that their opinions and suggestions do not matter.
City of Leon Valley near San Antonio fought an elevated toll way on their local Bandero Road. Officials with the Alamo Mobility Regional Authority suggested the tollway to residents and city officials. After hearing other suggestions from area residents, the Alamo MRA refused to reconsider a tollway. After an abstain vote from council members, fellow City of Helotes voted against the tollway. Shortly following their decision, the City of Leon Valley passed a resolution opposed to the toll way.
The film also captures the American farmers whose lands are at risk of being taken away through the process of eminent domain. As the blackland prairies of Texas are at risk of being turned into concrete, the farming lands that are so rich and abundant in Texas will be no more. "No vote, no road," says one citizen at a TxDOT public hearing in Floresville in August 2006.
Governor Rick Perry sees the toll roads as a "vision." Many seem to agree that that vision includes rows of trees adorned with hundred dollar bills.
© 2006 The Bonham Journal:
To search TTC News Archives click
posted by Porkus Maximus Tex: at Tuesday, November 07, 2006
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