Then why doesn't he finally kill it completely and quit defending it in debates?
Did he see the light in time for the election? As recently as a year ago:
AUSTIN Gov. Rick Perry, talking from Iraq to reporters, suggested that the Texas Department of Transportation's decision to pull the plug on one of his biggest initiatives the Trans Texas Corridor was mostly a name change, and that public-private partnerships on toll roads would continue.
"The name 'Trans Texas Corridor' is over with. Were going to continue to build roads in the state of Texas," Perry said.
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/010609dngovttc.446a3861.html
Hutchison's plan would allow for the same TTC private toll roads, while she receives funds from a private toll road builder.