Posted on 02/08/2007 3:04:03 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
February 8, 2007
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING - TEXAS SENATE
Transportation & Homeland Security Committee
Senator John Carona, Chairman
Public Hearing on State Policy For:
Toll Roads; Public Private Partnerships; and, The Trans Texas Corridor
8:30 AM – Thursday, March 1, 2007
Capitol Extension Auditorium
URGENT NOTICE to CorridorWatch.org Members and Others Challenging the Wisdom of the TTC:
We have expended years of effort challenging the TTC and the hard work is starting to payoff. We are getting the attention of those who can make a real change in the direction of the TTC. Now is not the time to let up.
It is extremely important that anyone and everyone who has a concern or issue with toll roads, public private partnerships, and especially the Trans Texas Corridor attend this public hearing and if possible offer personal testimony to the Senate Committee.
This means you, your family, friends, neighbors, and all fellow Texans.
This hearing represents the very first time that our state government has asked for input on the Trans Texas Corridor with the express purpose of actually listening.
Please do not squander this opportunity & privilege. You can't be heard if you don't speak out.
CorridorWatch.org calls on all members to attend this public hearing. Today we have active members in 199 Texas counties. Wouldn't it be great if all 199 of those counties are represented! CorridorWatch leadership, support staff and volunteers will arrive at the auditorium by 8:00am.
While we invite you sign-up to speak, it is not necessary that you do speak. Your presence with a CorridorWatch NO TTC lapel sticker (available free for you that morning) will demonstrate our strength and mutual concern.
We need your support. Senator Carona shares many of our concerns, but other members of his Committee like former Transportation Commissioner, Senator Robert Nichols will need some strong convincing.
Thousands and thousands of our members have asked the question, "what can we do?"
Thursday, March 1st the answer to that question is attend this public hearing.
It may be the single most important thing that you can do this year.
Come to Austin on March 1st and bring as many people with you as possible.
Volunteers are needed to visit legislative offices. CorridorWatch will provide you with all necessary materials, instruction and directions. If you can help us at the Capitol on Thursday, March 1st (and/or Friday, March 2nd), please contact our Legislative Liaison Heidi Ullrich at heidi@corridorwatch.org or by telephone at 512.585.3110.
We know that the hearing is on a workday. We know that you have other personal and business responsibilities. We also know that not everyone who shares our concerns can attend the hearing, even if they want to.
IF YOU CANNOT ATTEND THE HEARING PLEASE DO FOUR THINGS FOR US:
1. Call your Senator and ask that he or she attend the hearing. Tell your Senator's office that you will be unable to attend the hearing yourself and that you would like to leave your name and share with them your concern about tolls, privatization and the TTC. (get the phone number on-line here: http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us/mnuAddress.aspx )
2. Fax a personal letter from yourself to Chairman Carona at 512.463.0097 expressing your concerns about tolls, privatization and/or the TTC; if you do not have access to a fax machine mail your letter as soon as possible to:
The Honorable John Carona
PO Box 12068
Capitol Station
Austin, TX 78711-2068.
3. Fax or mail a copy of your letter to Senator Carona to your own State Senator (get contact information on-line here: http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us/mnuAddress.aspx ).
4. Call 512.463.0116 on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday, February 26, 27 or 28, and tell Chairman Carona's office that you will be unable to attend the hearing and that you would like to leave your name and express your concern about tolls, privatization and the TTC. Be brief, we don't want to block other callers from reaching their office.
Thank You!
If you can take the day off and invest it in the future of Texas Linda and I look forward to seeing and visiting with you at the Capitol on Thursday, March 1st.
David & Linda Stall
CorridorWatch.org
Trans-Texas Corridor PING!
Sign me up. I am all for the TTC. Drive I35 from San Antonio to Dallas and back and you will be all for it too.
IOW, do you need the full-blown TTC -- or do you just need a good (and toll-free) car trip from SA to D-FW?
Thanks, TSR!
An if the round trip costs you $80.00?
TXDOT got slapped for showing up with "consultants to promote TCC" in their budget. It is getting good now.
You can't add a lane without shutting one down.
I know from experience since I frequent I45. The I45 expansion started over fifteen years ago and it will take over twenty five more years to complete. That will be pushing my children life span.
I pay a lot more than that per mile on the Houston toll roads now. What are we talking about? $5.00 from San Antonio to Austin. $10.00 From Austin to Waco or Waco to Dallas. For a fast safe ride, you bet I would.
Thanks for the ping!
BTTT
At .15 cents per mile, the round trip from Houston to SA would be 60.00.
Cost from San Antonio to Dallas and back would be $82.00
82.00 bucks that would not be spent in Dallas. Too much.
Your contention that it somehow reduce traffic is completely unfounded.
"Sign me up. I am all for the TTC."
Have you studied any of the other effects of the TTC or are you just happy to have a another freeway from Dallas to SA?
You're on.
Well, in their master plan (1st Edition) Cintra-Zachry is figuring on starting out the toll rates at 15.2 cents/mile for cars and 58.5 cents/mile for trucks. Just something to think about.
You're welcome.
bump.
OK, let's look at several examples. On a typical highway most drivers use only a portion in literally thousand of different start and endpoints, so I'll give some common ones. Since they moved the route of TTC-35 on the DFW end (in response to feedback from local govt's and the public in the hearing process, so much for the anti-TTC lies about not responding to public comment) most users will get on the TTC around Venus, coming from the Dallas area on US 67, which is what I'll use for the northern end. Many from Ft. Worth will enter around Mansfield from US 287, about 6 miles north, so add $1 to the cost for them. Others would get on at I-20/360, which is almost 11 miles further north, so for them add another $1.65 (that assumes that the future mainlanes of 360 south of I-20 will be built as toll lanes, north of there it is already freeway.)
On the TTC, Venus-the outlet shops at Hillsboro is 25 miles, so $3.75 ($6.40 from I-20.) Double if a round-trip, though many may choose to use the free roads in one direction if they are traveling at an off-peak time.
Venus-Waco exit (TX 30) is 87 miles, so $8.55 (to $11.20.)
Venus-Temple/Killeen/Ft. Hood exit (US 190) is 132 miles, so $19.80 (to $22.45.)
Venus-Georgetown exit is 158 miles, $23.70 ($26.35.)
Venus-Round Rock exit is 174 miles, $26.10 ($28.75.)
Venus-US 290/US183 interchange (where the 290 mainlanes that are already built begin, 6 miles from the state capitol complex) is 189 miles, $28.35 ($31.00.)
So at the $.15 per mile rate, going from DFW to the capitol is about $30 one-way. That may seem high to the average Joe, but there are plenty of lobbyists, local officials, businessmen, etc. who would gladly expense account it, a lot cheaper for the business/gov't entity then an airline ticket. Especially considering that with a speed limit of 85 mph it would be about a 3 hour or so trip, competitive door to door with air travel. Cheaper than a hotel room for those with morning meetings.
For those headede to San Marcos, the tourist areas around New Braunfels, and San Antonio that just want to loop around Austin, it is 218 miles, $32.70 ($35.35.)
All the way from DFW to I-10 east of San Antonio (where the TTC will end for the first 10-15 years) is about 250 miles, $37.50 (to $40.15.)
Plus all the users from Waco, Temple, north Austin, Austin, south Austin, New Braunfels, and various areas of San Antonio and all the combinations of trips they can make. Most of the trips under $40 (really under $30.) When you think of all the business travel that will expense account it, and the speed factor making it competitive and cheaper than airfare and avoiding some hotel stays, Cintra's projected use at even $.15 per mile may indeed be realistic.
My only contention is this: I35 is extremely over crowded and the projection is gridlock. The TTC is the only plan I have heard that offers a reasonable solution. What is yours?
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