Perry's road revolution could take electoral toll

Austin American-Statesman ^ | August 20, 2006 | Ben Wear

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Taking the right turn

Posted on Sun, Aug. 20, 2006

Star-Telegram

Dallas-Fort Worth area leaders spoke with a powerful, united voice. And they quite obviously were heard.

The result was a major victory for North Central Texas in terms of meeting its long-range transportation needs and helping to ensure that the economy remains robust in decades to come.

Thanks to those harmonic voices, both Texas Transportation Commission Chairman Ric Williamson and Gov. Rick Perry now support the incorporation of a crucial alternative regional proposal into the proposed routing of the Trans-Texas Corridor in the Metroplex.

Local elected officials and transportation planners were firmly united against a preliminary Texas Department of Transportation proposal to swing a primary leg of the corridor around eastern Dallas County, thereby snubbing the western half of the Metroplex.

Local leaders instead favor a much more logical proposal to have the corridor run up the middle of the Metroplex from the south via an extended Texas 360 and on to Dallas/Fort Worth Airport. They also favor constructing an east-west corridor at the southern edge of the region and looping it northward around the west side of Fort Worth and the east side of Dallas. The loop's transportation modes could include passenger cars and vehicles, rail freight and 18-wheelers.

Local elected officials merit praise for vigorously touting the alternative proposal in recent TxDOT public hearings and other forums. Fort Worth Mayor Mike Moncrief, Tarrant County Commissioner Glen Whitley and Dallas City Councilman Bill Blaydes were particularly effective.

Transportation planners at the North Central Texas Council of Governments, led by Michael Morris, deserve kudos for helping develop and explain the regional alternative, which would do far more to alleviate gridlock and foster a strong economy than the preliminary TxDOT proposal.

And thanks are due Williamson and Perry for listening to the region's concerns and taking them seriously.

That's what democratic government is supposed to be all about.

www.keeptexasmoving.org

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Trans-Texas Corridor PING!

[HamiltonFan]

finally a reasonable explanation of this program.

[Hydroshock]

I do not know of anyone who is in favor of this.

[deport]

I do not know of anyone who is in favor of this.

---

You need to expand your horizon of people you know.

[jf55510]

I do not know of anyone who is in favor of this.
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You need to expand your horizon of people you know.


Yup

[Hydroshock]

You need to expand yours as well.

[ARealMothersSonForever]

While the Bell, Friedman, Strayhorn cartel work feverishly to spike the program and admit that the lawsuits will pile up; nobody has spoken the most important words.

Railroad Commission of Texas

http://www.rrc.state.tx.us/about/index.html

Since this project includes railway and utility pipelines, it is not all about tollroads and passenger cars. The reason for all of the deflection about a "land grab" is to obscure what is really happening. Throw in foreign investment, connecting to Mexico, and claim that jobs will evaporate. Before researching the published information available from the State of Texas, it is easy to be against this project based on media soundbites. If Texans will study the information, it shows to be a viable plan. Not perfect, but viable. The other option is to make fun of the governors hair while we sit in traffic.

[Doctor Stochastic]

Local leaders instead favor a much more logical proposal to have the corridor run up the middle of the Metroplex from the south via an extended Texas 360 and on to Dallas/Fort Worth Airport.

Thus putting the road where the most traffic is now (it will be fun during construction) and where it will cost the most and disrupt things the most.

[JohnnyZ]

You know what would help transportation? Well-planned cities with honest-to-goodness subway systems and park-and-ride commuter rail.

[Doctor Stochastic]

I know no one in favor either. I do know some opposed, but they feel that the work is being done by some secret protocol with foreign companies.

[deport]

You need to expand yours as well.

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Why...... you don't seem to be interest in expanding yours?

[Hydroshock]

I am all the time.

[Hydroshock]

This is going to cost Gov. Goodhair in November.

[deport]

You know what would help transportation? Well-planned cities with honest-to-goodness subway systems and park-and-ride commuter rail.

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Yep.... at or at least around the metro areas. But roads are going to be needed for the long haul travel. I have no problem with people using them paying for them. That way my taxes don't go up for them and I only pay if I choose to drive them.

[deport]

I am all the time.

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Keep at it and you'll eventually find some that are far the roadways being built in Texas. Just hang in there and one day you'll be able to ride on one if'n you choose to pay your share otherwise you can ride the existing roadways for free excepting your gasoline tax, etc.

[USNBandit]

"Can't we all just get along?"

[deport]

This is going to cost Gov. Goodhair in November.

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Naw...... Gov. Perry will be elected and serve another term. Kinky will finish fourth in a four candidate race.

[Hydroshock]

Like I said I do not k now anyone in over 20 people who support this boondoggle of a road. And many are no longer supporting Gov. Goodhair. This will be an issue in November.

[deport]

"Can't we all just get along?"

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We get along, it's just that a few don't want to let others have the opportunity to ride on toll roads if they so choose. They'd rather tax everyone to build future roads.

Shucks the Studebaker and Conestoga wagon days are gone.