We will be seeing why he was considering the TTC idea very soon here in Texas.
Perry was trying to address a problem we in Texas will soon be realizing in that with the completion of the Panama Expansion Project, Texas roadways and ports will soon be overwhelmed with over 200% increase in cargo traffic and railway transport in the next 10 years. He was trying to get ahead of the game and get these roads, railways, pipelines and utilities built to deal with this and all the while by not increasing Taxes or using Washington DC to do it.
He did have the vision to be looking way way ahead.
But, when he saw it was not a popular idea with us Texans, he did indeed drop it like a hot potato.
I hope we don’t regret it in the next few years. I have been seeing newspaper articles addresses issues already.
The Houston Port is going to have to deal with 11 million 20’ cargo container units coming in compared to 1.8 million now.
Perry did sign HB2702 to address the private property owners and strengthen protections. The bill also insured that the roads that were not toll roads now would remain toll free.
He had private investors willing to pay the initial investment of over 7 Billion dollars with no upfront costs to the taxpayers.
Before that law, the private landowners were offered either
a lump sum payment or long term royalty payments like those in the oil and gas industry. But HB2702 gave extra assurances. Example:
The state had to offer to purchase all of the tract if it was left with little or no value.
If the property loses value as a result of the TTC, the
state had to provide compensation for damages.
The State was prohibited under this law from condemning land along the Corridor.
The State was prohibited from taking groundwater.
Commercials development was limited to only gas stations and convenience stores.
BTW I was mad at him too because I had property that would have been effected. But recently when I did some research into it, I did understand his motive and thinking.
Your posting #60 is fantastic, TM7!!!
That’s the first time I’ve seen the rationale for the TTC expressed so succinctly! ....Too many folks were too nearsighted when disagreeing with Perry on the TTC.
Related... Recent news has been showing how the delays or constraints on the port of Charlotte NC regarding their need to deepen their port will preclude the much larger ships and the containers they carry from gaining access there, after the completion of the Panama Canal expansion.
Texas ports and inland transportation means should be updated as well.