Thursday, February 12, 2009

"HB 11 would drive the final nail in the coffin of the project, preventing the state from using old corridor legislation to create something similar."

Toll road, Trans-Texas bills head to committee

2/12/09

Dallas Business Journal
Copyright 2009

Two bills with implications for Texas highways were referred to the Transportation Committee of the state House on Thursday.

House Bill 11, co-authored by Reps. David Leibowitz, D-San Antonio, and Dwaye Bohac, R-Houston, would repeal the authority to establish and operate the proposed Trans-Texas Corridor, a favorite of Gov. Rick Perry.

The project was originally supposed to be a 4,000-mile network featuring toll roads, railway and utility lines. The Trans-Texas Corridor has faced opposition partly because of the proposed use of eminent domain to acquire the necessary land.

Leibowitz and Bohac’s bill would essentially drive the final nail in the coffin of the project, preventing the state from using the old corridor legislation to create something similar.

In a similar vein, Leibowitz is the author of separate legislation, House Bill 13, that would prevent the conversion of state highways into toll roads, except in limited circumstances. HB 13 was also referred to committee on Thursday.

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