Cintra will invest $7.2 billion for the Trans-Texas Corridor

TxDOT Expressway ^ | December 16, 2004 | Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)

[BobL]

"As I understand it, Texas devotes about 1/4th of its gas tax money to education. Imagine what directing ALL of the tax to roads could do for I-35 and other "needy" highways."

That's where a responsible governor would start. He would first get the gas tax back to the roads, and, second, tell the voter that the gas tax is too low to support our growth, and that an increase is needed. Rather than scrap the whole freeway system - as he appears heading to do.

That's all I ask.

[BobL]

"This is an historic change in the way major transportation assets are built and paid for in Texas," said Ric Williamson, chairman of the Texas Transportation Commission. "Private investment, not taxpayer dollars, will be where we look first for funding."

"Anyone remember when conservatives used to think that this sort of thing (generally) is a good idea?"

Yea - I remember. That was done when the railroads robbed this country blind.

[1rudeboy]

The railroad barons may have "robbed this country blind," but they also built a transcontinental railroad. Where do you think this country would be without one?

[BobL]

We don't need them again!!!

Eisenhower built the Interstate Freeway system, without the tollway barons. So why bring these sordid people back to run our lives?

[1rudeboy]

Who's sordid?

[BobL]

The guys who stole our money and forced the government to have to move in break up their holdings (and that was something that our government was not inclined to do much back then - but they had to because things got so bad).

[1rudeboy]

Here's the Cintra you seek.

[MarshallDillon]

Hang in there, brother! Am glad to be on your side.

[Freebird Forever]

Here's the Cintra you seek.

Thanks for the link.

Why must this contract be farmed out to a Spanish corp?

Wouldn't it be better to let Bechtel run the project?

[1rudeboy]

Cintra has a track record in operating toll roads. I don't think Bechtel does. As for construction, I don't know if Cintra plans on farming-out the project, or not.