Posted on 02/28/2008 5:21:13 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
The proposed Trans Texas Corridor did not find any fans, or any support, in Fort Bend County this week.
At public meetings hosted by the Texas Department of Transportation in both Katy and Rosenberg, speaker after speaker, many in emotional tones, voiced their opposition to the proposed transportation corridor. No one spoke up in support of the proposal at either meeting.
The Tuesday night session took place at Katy High School’s Performing Arts Center with over 200 residents in attendance. The evening before at the Rosenberg Civic and Convention Center, a similar crowd showed up to voice their opinions. In both cases, speakers lined up to tell transportation officials that the proposal was “un-American” and urged them to stop the project.
Many of the speakers said that the proposed 1,200-foot-wide network of roads, rail lines and utility rights-of-way would devastate communities, cause families to lose their land and pollute the environment. Some also said the plan would increase illegal immigration.
At the Katy meeting, Edward Dickey, who currently lives in Houston, said that he planned to retire to family-owned land in Weimar, but the TTC would effectively destroy his dream and the town.
“The town of Weimar would be wiped out by the corridor,” Dickey said.
He added that he would have to “pay a toll to visit my family.”
“The corridor divides families and splits Texas,” Dickey said.
He also read a statement he prepared based on Col. William B. Travis’ famous letter from the Alamo. In the letter, Dickey likened TxDOT to Santa Anna’s army and vowed “to die like a soldier” opposing the project.
Diane Hodge of Waller said that the corridor would destroy an 1880s-era home she and her husband have restored. She also said that people need to fight the plan much as colonists fought in the American Revolution.
“You are destroying a way of life that families have spent generations building. You are destroying food-producing ranches and farms for Americans and taxing them through tolls in return and not allowing them to even vote on whether or not they want your corridor,” Hodge told TxDOT officials. “These are the things that started the American Revolution, the seizing of houses and land and taxation without representation. If we need a new American Revolution to restore a government of the people, for the people and by the people, let it begin in Texas.”
State representatives Dwayne Bohac, Bill Calligari and John Zerwas joined residents in opposing the corridor. Waller County Commissioner Glenn Beckendorff presented a resolution from the Waller County Commissioners Court stating that body’s opposition to the plan, saying that it did not take into account the county’s mobility plan.
After the meeting, Katy resident Frank King said that there should be an investigation of both Gov. Rick Perry and TxDOT commissioners for their role in promoting the corridor.
“Nobody, and I mean nobody, has yet to step up and say that this is a good idea. Everyone is against it, but (TxDOT) and Perry keep trying to shove this thing down our throats,” King said. “Ask yourself why. Why fly in the face of the people who put you in office unless there’s another agenda? That’s what we need to find out.”
In Rosenberg, political activist Mike Currie was cheered when he called the corridor an agreement between the U.S., Mexico and Canada to promote what he called a future “North American Union.”
Larry Dubose said that the state is trampling people’s rights and confiscating their private property for the sake of international economics.
“Just when did we lose our rights as property-owners? I always thought that your homestead was your castle,” Dubose said. “Now (TxDOT) and the governor are saying that they can take our land if it’s for what they think is a better cause.”
Anable West called the plan and the process “ridiculous.”
“They’ve been having these meetings all over the state and there’s been an avalanche of people against it. Why do they continue pushing it?” West asked.
Area congressman Ron Paul (R-Lake Jackson) said he, too, is concerned where the money and the land will come from.
“One major concern I discussed a few weeks ago regarding the Trans Texas Corridor is where the land will come from. Another concern is where the money will come from,” Paul said “Official government websites for the TTC assure that public-private partnerships will shield the taxpayer from bearing too much of the cost burden, but a careful reading shows the door is definitely open to public funding sources, while at the same time there is no doubt of the intention to charge tolls on the road.”
The meetings were a part a series of 46 public hearings being held by TxDOT to receive public input on the draft environmental impact study for the corridor. TxDOT spokesperson Karen Othon said that the comments offered at the meetings, as well as in writing and from a specially-designated website, will be submitted to the Federal Highway Administration for their review.
The proposed Trans-Texas Corridor is designed to be a conduit for highways, rail lines and utility rights-of-way. As proposed, it would have separate lanes for passenger vehicles and commercial truck traffic, high speed commuter rail service and utility infrastructure for oil, gas, water, electricity and telecommunications services.
No funding has been allocated for what is expected to be a multi-billion dollar project.
“No funding has been allocated for what is expected to be a multi-billion dollar project.”
That’s not exactly true. More than $36 million has been spent on TTC-35 and millions more are being spent on TTC-69 today. No, it’s not for construction, but these DEIS hearings and the large TxDOT staffs and contractors working on the TTC are all costing Texans everyday. Add to that the $7 million advertising and PR campaign Keep Texas Moving that is trying very hard to sell us all on toll roads and private for-profit highway operators.
Trans-Texas Corridor PING!
God bless the good people of Rosenberg ... I used to do some of my grocery shopping there when I lived out in the boonies of Needville. But the way Houston has been sprawling, Needville may be a suburb by now.
I think Perry has a ranch in West Texas, maybe they should reroute it to go through his property.
For some reason this calls to mind a joke I heard a comedian (and a Texan) tell on Johnny Carson about "teaching a redneck to 'Shiite'."
Since TxDOT is going to ram it down our throats anyway, I’m tempted to sue to enjoin them from the waste of the taxpayer’s money on these hearings. There’s no reason to have hearings if you are going to ignore what the people say.
BTTT
No funding has been allocated for what is expected to be a multi-billion dollar project.”
That’s not exactly true. More than $36 million has been spent on TTC-35 and millions more are being spent on TTC-69 today. No, it’s not for construction, but these DEIS hearings and the large TxDOT staffs and contractors working on the TTC are all costing Texans everyday. Add to that the $7 million advertising and PR campaign Keep Texas Moving that is trying very hard to sell us all on toll roads and private for-profit highway operators.
Texas voters need to lay it on the line. legislators must cut any and all funding relating to this TTC, or get voted out of office and replaced by people who will.
Between illegal immigration, the fence and the TTC, Texas is becoming the “battleground” state to prevent the destruction of America.
“The corridor divides families and splits Texas,” Dickey said.
Couldn’t have said it better!!!
You know its not just the money being spent on this traveling dog and pony show thats absurd...
If you go and look at the Texas Transportation Codem section 227 I believe...I could be wrong but all of the regulations and rules have already been written for all to see if you care to dive that deep into it...I know its there, but I believe I may have the section wrong...
Feel free to post the right number...No skin off my back...;-)
I get the feeling that if this goes to a vote (state wide referendum) the folks near the path of the TTC will be squashed by the vote from areas that will not be directly effected by this massive land grab...
Just my take on this...
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