Shift may loom in toll road debate

Dallas Morning News ^ | January 1, 2008 | Michael A. Lindenberger

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Push for higher gas tax could follow chief's death

The death of Ric Williamson, the fiery, whip-smart chairman of the state transportation commission, could upend the still-roiling debate over toll roads in Texas in the new year.

Mr. Williamson died Saturday of a heart attack at age 55, sending shock waves through the nearly 15,000-employee department he led as well as the political and policy circles where his combative style and pro-toll-road agenda had engendered enormous change – and criticism.

Always careful to credit Gov. Rick Perry, a close friend and former roommate, Mr. Williamson emerged as a lightning rod in recent years as he pushed to let private companies build and operate toll roads throughout Texas.

"We are [expletive] running out of money," he told The News in a wide-ranging interview a week before his death, allowing his usual thoughtful, precise vocabulary to give way to frustration over continued resistance to the governor's toll road policies. "It absolutely boggles my mind how men and women elected to make courageous decisions in leading this state cannot focus on the simple fact that our congestion is rapidly approaching an intolerable level."

It was Mr. Williamson's sometimes-abrasive approach that has those who clashed with him hoping his successor will take a more conciliatory tone and a balanced approach to the state's problems. One of those critics, Sen. John Carona, D-Dallas, chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, said he is hoping that Mr. Williamson's successor will support raising state gas taxes to help reduce the need for tolls.

Even Mr. Williamson's supporters acknowledge that he often bruised feelings. Still, fellow members of the commission say he was indispensable.

"Ric was focused laser-like on the issues, well read and always researched things thoroughly," said commissioner Ted Houghton of El Paso.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

He stuck to his beliefs and willingly took heat for it

By GORDON DICKSON
Star-Telegram staff writer

Ric Williamson was remembered by North Texas colleagues Sunday as a cool customer under pressure.

He didn't seem to mind being the frontman for the state's plans to relieve gridlock by building toll roads -- and the target of many anti-toll-road groups, including one that created www.firericwilliamson.com.

Williamson often brushed aside questions about whether his health or his many critics would force him to step down as transportation chairman.

He logged tens of thousands of miles traveling the state in his GMC Jimmy, attending transportation-related meetings large and small.

"He was headstrong but always cordial," said Oscar Trevino, North Richland Hills Mayor and chairman of the Regional Transportation Council, which conducts long-term planning for the Metroplex.

"He was a dominant figure in transportation, and he traveled all over the state. He didn't delegate that responsibility. He was comfortable making statements he felt he had to make. He didn't back down at all. He didn't get all red-faced."

Firm convictions

Williamson strongly believed that injecting competition and market forces into the state's highway system would drive down the cost of building and maintaining roads. He spoke in big-picture terms, often shocking listeners with long-term predictions. He was fond of saying that in fewer than 50 years, the Dallas-Fort Worth and San Antonio areas would form a single megaregion and that it was his generation's responsibility to plan properly for that explosive growth.

He vehemently defended the Transportation Department's attempts to lease roads to private companies, many of them foreign-owned, saying he wanted investors -- not taxpayers -- to assume the financial risk of paying back debt issued on toll roads.

But Williamson also reluctantly compromised this year when he went along with the RTC's desire to have the North Texas Tollway Authority, not a private developer, build and collect tolls on Texas 121 north of Grapevine.

"In the long run, he came around to our way of thinking," Trevino said.

"He understood what the region wanted, and he backed the region on it."

Selfless visionary

Michael Morris, transportation director for the North Central Texas Council of Governments, had lunch with Williamson, Carrollton Mayor Becky Miller and other regional leaders just a few weeks ago.

Williamson insisted on paying for his food.

"He politely explained that if you let someone buy you lunch, what are they going to expect in return?" Morris said.

"He had a strong commitment to his principles and absolutely no tolerance for folks who were operating in a self-serving mode," Morris said. "I think transportation is in good hands because of his leadership. You'll see dividends over the next 50 years because of his efforts."

Williamson embraced his role as a lightning rod, believing that the state would be in better shape long-term if today's residents frankly discussed the economics of transportation.

"I don't think it bothered him at all," Morris said.

"Leaders who fully comprehend their responsibilities, especially a person with these strong principles, they don't get shy when things get hot. When there's controversy, I think it almost recommits them."

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Trans-Texas Corridor PING!

[Hardastarboard]

"It absolutely boggles my mind how men and women elected to make courageous decisions in leading this state cannot focus on the simple fact that our congestion is rapidly approaching an intolerable level."

With all due respect to the dead Mr. Williamson, most of the elected officials in this country today are either certifiable morons, crooks or Socialist (but I repeat myself). They are either incapable of understanding economics or willfully ignore economic facts. The same can be said for social trends and human nature generally.

[muawiyah]

Look, I've worked in a government office where an official has suddenly died. It's not a case of anything "....sending shock waves...." through the place ~ at least not for long.

Before you know it folks around there will be referring to "old what's his names office".

[Ann Archy]

Off Topic, but anyone know Austin very well? We will be visiting soon.

[2harddrive]

They HAVE to have toll roads, since the gas tax money that should have been used for highway construction has been spent on welfare-related programs, in an attmpt to lock-in certain voting groups.

[freekitty]

“Ric Williamson was remembered by North Texas colleagues Sunday as a cool customer under pressure.”

Apparently not. Maybe God was trying to tell him something.

[freekitty]

Agree

[MrEdd]

Funny how communists, celebrity activists, or political project managers suddenly become geniuses after they die. Even if they were stubborn idios who couldn’t understand two letter words like “no” or “is”.

[wolfcreek]

“anyone know Austin very well?”

Give me a short list of what you want to know. I’ll do my best to help you out.

[wolfcreek]

“It absolutely boggles my mind how men and women elected to make courageous decisions in leading this state cannot focus on the simple fact that our congestion is rapidly approaching an intolerable level.”

Quit giving tax breaks to businesses and get rid of the illegals. That will solve a lot of those problems.

[Ann Archy]

Is Round Rock a nice place to visit or live? Anything to see there?

[Redbob]

I wonder what TxDOT could do with a third more money?

That’s how much more they’d have if the got the 25% of gas taxes that are currently diverted to a variety of non-highway-related boondoggles like hiking trails, bike paths, etc.

[wolfcreek]

Check your FReepmail

[E.G.C.]

BTTT

[PAR35]

"He politely explained that if you let someone buy you lunch, what are they going to expect in return?" Morris said.

You know, if anyone picked up my tab for a business lunch, I wouldn't think they were trying to buy me, and I wouldn't expect them to think they had bought me. What, exactly, was he trying to say?

[Sarajevo]

"He was headstrong but always cordial,"

That's a nice way of saying he was an arrogant ass.

He was fond of saying that in fewer than 50 years, the Dallas-Fort Worth and San Antonio areas would form a single megaregion and that it was his generation's responsibility to plan properly for that explosive growth.

I seem to recall the pipe dreams of a San Antonio-Austin Metro-Mess going through political circles in the 90's. It did nothing other than raise property tax rates for everyone within 10 miles of I-35. The raised taxes forced a lot of small farmers in the area to sell.

[Liz]

Always careful to credit Gov. Rick Perry, a close friend and former roommate, Mr. Williamson emerged as a lightning rod in recent years as he pushed to let private companies build and operate toll roads throughout Texas.

TX governor rapped for paving way for construction of Trans-Texas Corridor
One News Now ^ | August 24, 2007 | Chad Groening
FR Posted on 08/25/2007 by Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Texas Governor Rick Perry is being called to task by an author and investigative journalist for vetoing bills that would have blocked construction of the controversial Trans-Texas Corridor. Dr. Jerome Corsi has been one of the leading voices warning the American public about the consequences of the Trans-Texas Corridor, which will be part of a superhighway -- purported to be four football fields wide -- that will allow Mexican trucks to enter the U.S. and traverse the core of the country all the way to Canada.

The best-selling author asserts that Governor Perry cleared the way for construction to begin in his state when he vetoed several bills passed by the Legislature that would have stalled the project. "Governor Perry has been 100 percent gung-ho in building this road," says Corsi. "The Legislature voted a two-year moratorium, it voted a redefinition of eminent domain -- [and] Governor Perry vetoed them. [On] at least one of those measures, he waited until the Texas Legislature was out of session so it couldn't even override his veto."

Corsi says it is unfortunate that there has been political pressure to get the project started. "The Federal Highway Administration's lawyer wrote letters threatening the Texas Legislature to cut off federal highway funds if they got in the way of this Trans-Texas Corridor," he says.

Corsi believes the same pressure will be applied on other states, like Oklahoma, to go along with the project. He suggests that would mean a loss of more American jobs and could pose a threat to U.S. sovereignty.

===============================================

In Mexico for trade talks, Perry blasts immigration policies
Houston Chronicle, Mexico City Bureau | Aug. 28, 2007 | DUDLEY ALTHAUS
Posted on 08/28/2007 5:35:20 PM PDT by Dubya

MEXICO CITY — Leading a large delegation of Texas executives trying to drum up business in Mexico, Gov. Rick Perry on Tuesday criticized the U.S. Congress for failing to pass an immigration bill that would legalize millions of workers. "I don't think this is that difficult an issue if Congress would have the maturity to sit down and really discuss it and cut out all the mean rhetoric," Perry said during a break in the third day of meetings with Mexican officials and business executives. (Excerpt) Read more at chron.com ...

==================================================

COMMENT Gov Rick Perry does a Dixie Chick---he criticizes the US while in a foreign country. Is Perry collaborating with a foreign government to influence the policies of the US government on the issue of amnesty for illegals? Gov Perry endorsed Giuliani's candidacy-----does candidate Giuliani agree with collaborating with foreign governments to change US policies? We need rational leaders who understand the dimensions of the problem. Perry and Giuliani are not among this group.

===========================================

Here's Rudy Giuliani and Rick Perry's idea of "border security."
Perry and Giuliani take US properties from taxpayers via eminent domain and give them to foreign entities.

MAP OF TEXAS-CANADA-MEXICO TRADE CORRIDOR BROKERED BY Bracewell & Giuliani

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY MAP----TERRORIST ENTRY POINTS

NASCO Members: United States: Texas Dept. of Transportation Iowa Department of Transportation State of Oklahoma Minnesota Dept. of Transportation Bell County, Texas Denton County, Texas Tarrant County, Texas Webb County, Texas Jackson County, Missouri City of Denton, Texas City of Ft. Worth, Texas City of Gainesville, Texas City of Kansas City, Missouri International Trade Institute of the Americas Free Trade Alliance San Antonio Port San Antonio United States - Mexico Chamber of Commerce Kansas City SmartPort The Ardmore Development Authority, City of Ardmore, Oklahoma Belton Economic Development Corporation The Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization The Allen Group Hillwood - Alliance Texas The Ambassador Bridge Detroit/Windsor Crossing American Airlines Blackwood, Langworthy & Tyson, an established Kansas City law firm Cadre Technologies Franco Eleuteri & Associates EWI Risk Services, Inc. GrowthNet Trading, LLC International Bank of Commerce Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores PROTECT-US, Inc. Scrub Oak Technologies Strasburger & Price Law Firm Trans Am Group Yellow Roadway Corporation Worldwide The NAFTA Superhighway and Lockheed Martin (the only Pentagon defense contractor listed)