By BRAD KELLAR
Herald-Banner Staff
GREENVILLE — There weren’t very many protesters, but they all brought their sacks of dirt.
About a half-dozen area residents met outside of the Hunt County Courthouse Saturday morning, as part of the “Hands Across the Corridor” protest, designed to show opposition to the Trans-Texas Corridor project.
Each carried the “cup full of dirt” organizers of the event, who also are supporting the campaign of independent candidate Carole Keeton Strayhorn for governor, asked them to bring.
Similar demonstrations were scheduled Saturday morning at county courthouses all along the proposed route of the Corridor.
The Trans-Texas Corridor was originated by Governor Rick Perry as a method to help relieve traffic congestion along Interstate 35.
While they were a little dismayed to find they were the only ones there, the protesters nonetheless felt they had a message that needed to get out.
“I don’t think it is going to go through the governor’s ranch,” said Richard Schauer, who lives near Caddo Mills.
“That’s where we ought to put it,” added Mary Strickland, who lives in Leonard.
Officials with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) have announced construction on the project could begin by 2011.
Maps released Thursday show the current preferred route of the roadway starting near Gainesville in Cooke County, then heading southeast through northeast Collin County. As the path veers back southwest, the eastern edge of the possible route passes through Caddo Mills, taking in the Municipal Airport, while the western edge passes just to the east of Copeville.
The breadth of the proposed route would then pass through Rockwall County as it heads further south, crossing through Royse City and the McLendon-Chisholm communities with the western edge nudging the east side of the Rockwall City limits.
The Trans-Texas Corridor would include separate lanes for passenger vehicles and large trucks, along with freight railways, high-speed commuter railways and infrastructure for utilities, covering a path up to 1,200 feet wide.
Cintra-Zachry, a Spanish-American consortium, is partnering with the State of Texas to develop the first segments of the corridor. The consortium is contributing $7.2 billion, in exchange for getting to operate the first parts of the corridor.
The protesters handed out information from Corridor Watch, a group which is helping lead the fight against the project. There was the question of what to do with the dirt, however.
“It started off as bring a cup, then my wife pulled up on the Internet and it said to bring a cup of dirt in a bag,” Schauer said. “It is trying to say, ‘This is all you are going to get’.”
First phase of [TTC-35] project goes on as environment studies, public debate continue (09/30/06)
Staff Report
Despite seemingly overwhelming opposition from Mr. and Mrs. Average Joe Texan, master development plans continue for the first phase of Trans-Texas Corridor 35 with possible construction beginning by 2011, according to a release issued Thursday by the Texas Department of Transportation.
Any final alignment of TTC-35 would be determined only after public input and the completion of rigorous environmental impact studies conducted by TxDOT and the Federal Highway Administration but Cintra Zachry, a consortium led by Spanish and Texas firms, is continuing to develop its plan for construction and management of the massive road project. In 2004, Cintra Zachry identified a plan to relieve congestion on U.S. Interstate 35 by investing $6 billion to build a state-owned toll road from east of San Antonio to the Dallas/Fort Worth area and to pay the state $1.2 billion for the investment opportunity.
The Texas Transportation Commission authorized TxDOT staff to enter into discussions with Cintra Zachry to produce a master development and financial plan. Work on the plan has been ongoing separately, but parallel to, the environmental process.
“What the public is seeing,” said Michael Behrens, TxDOT executive director, “is an environmental process that runs in tandem with a separate planning process. The private developer assumes a great deal of risk this way but the ultimate benefit to drivers is that the project is delivered sooner. In the past, environmental studies and detailed planning were performed sequentially, adding years to major projects. I firmly believe the public knows and appreciates it when we move faster on our projects.”
A two-tiered environmental study and public input in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act are ongoing. These studies will determine if and where TTC-35 is built.
The master development plan takes into account issues covered to date in the environmental study, but the plan will change as the environmental study proceeds and as project development continues, according to state transportation officials.
TxDOT is currently reviewing comments and input gathered at 54 public hearings this summer along the I-35 corridor. The comments will be addressed in a report to the FHWA, which is expected to determine next summer if studies for TTC-35 will continue to a second phase, or Tier Two level. It is anticipated that it could be four years before a final alignment for TTC-35 could be approved by FHWA.
For more articles on or mentioning the Trans-Texas Corridor and the associated Saturday protests, check out
Trans-Texas Corridor PING!
No it won't if ICE would deport about half the state and enforce current laws.
I notice that you live in Maryland. Mind if I ask why you are so involved in a Texas problem? Is Maryland where this giant road will eventually end up?
"Don't be messin' with my CASH COW!", said Riesel farmer Robert Cervenka, as he cashed his ag subsidy check for $37,871.00.
The plan is a multi-billion dollar project financed with government loans going to a foreign firm. Somebody's pocketing an absolute friggin fortune out of this.
This is killing Perry in the rural parts of the state, which are normally Republican strongholds. The resentment of Perry right now is palpable. Central Texans feel invaded by illegals already, and the concept of taking land to turn over to a foreign company has them furious. The only reason Perry's not running second is because Kinky and One Nutty Grandma are splitting the anti-Perry vote.
The proposed cost of using the corridor will be $15 to take a one way trip from Waco to Austin (100 miles) and nearly $100 for a big truck.
A lot of people in Texas are becoming convinced that the Perry wing of the Texas GOP doesn't give a d*mn about Texas, but simply wants to advance the unified North American Continent, eliminating countries.
I still think Perry will hang on, but if One Nutty Grandma dropped out, I think Kinky would take it. If Kinky dropped out, I think the Rat would. However, Perry is topped out at 35% of the vote, because 1/3rd of the state will never vote Republican, and another third will never vote Democrat, but will also never vote for Perry.