CorridorWatch.org Member NEWS (01.20.05)

Corridor Watch ^ | January 20, 2005 | David Stall

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

CorridorWatch.org Member NEWS (01.20.05)
CorridorWatch.org Members > CorridorWatch.org Members Newsletter

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CORRIDORWATCH.org WELCOMES MEMBERS FROM 121 COUNTIES!
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NEXT ROUND OF TTC-35 PUBLIC MEETINGS ANNOUNCED

TxDOT will hold another 47 open house style public meetings in 46 of the 77 counties that could be impacted by the Mexico to Oklahoma corridor element. All meetings will occur from 5pm to 8pm.

The meet schedule starts on February 7 and ends on March 31.

Click on the blue Hot Topics button TTC-35 PUBLIC MTGS on the CorridorWatch.org home page for more meeting information.

TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION TRANSCRIPT POSTED

The official transcript of the December 16 Commission meeting has been posted on both TxDOT and CorridorWatch.org websites. The transcript includes remarks made by Governor Perry and the press conference with Cintra following their selection for development of TTC-35.

Talking about Cintra and TxDOT’s future expansion of I-35 Chairman Williamson said at the press conference, - - - we fully expect that there will be limitations on our ability, at some point in the future, to compete with the road he is going to spend his money on and pay us for. We believe that profit is a decent and honorable pursuit and that for him to pay his franchise taxes in Texas, he's going to have to generate some profits. We're not afraid of that. He offers to take us out of the risk business in offering an alternative corridor parallel to 35, and he offers us cash in exchange for that.

Those limitations and others that will certainly appear in the Comprehensive Development Agreement between TxDOT and Cintra are of grave concern. Especially since they will be negotiated in secret and not made public until after it is signed. That action will obligate us, all Texans, for the next half-century.

The Commission calls this a free-market project. That’s pretty far from the truth. What this is, is a state sponsored monopoly. Cintra will have no competition in the marketplace; their agreement with the state is exclusive. Williamson has already indicated that the Commission will contractually surrender the state’s ability compete against Cintra’s interests. Where then is the competitive market pressure? There isn’t any!

Cintra will be free to charge whatever the market will bear. But when it’s a monopoly it’s a monopoly and not a free-market.

What else is the Commission giving away for the next 50-years in its greedy pursuit of billions of dollars today?

WHO IS TAKING ACTION? ASK YOUR REPRESENTATIVE WHAT THEY’RE DOING!

The 79th legislature has convened in Austin. As of January 19th no bills have been filed to change or repeal any element of HB-3588 (which includes the Trans Texas Corridor and toll conversion).

Our Senators and Representatives are the only elected officials who can address the issues with HB-3588 and the Trans Texas Corridor. What are they doing?

We’ve told them that we’re unhappy about the TTC project. Now we need to ask our Senators and Representatives to tell us what they are doing to address our concerns. Ask for a reply. Ask them to describe what action they personally are taking. Are they working on a bill?

CorridorWatch.org can’t do this for you. Legislators need to hear from their own constituents, within their own districts.

Please write and call your State Senator, write and call your State Representative, write and call the Lt. Governor David Dewhurst.

Please let us know the answers you receive.

Don't know who your representatives are?
Check Here: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/fyi/fyi.htm

MAILING ADDRESSES:

The Honorable David Dewhurst
Lt. Governor’s Office
PO Box 12068
Austin, Texas 78711-2068

The Honorable (your Senator’s name)
Texas Senate
PO Box 12068
Austin, TX 78711-2068

The Honorable (your Representative’s name)
Texas House of Representatives
PO Box 2910
Austin, TX 78768-2910

CORRIDORWATCH CONTINUES TO GROW WITH MEMBERS IN 121 COUNTIES

Today there are hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of CorridorWatch.org members in 121 counties across Texas. (We don’t disclose individual member information) Members in twenty of those counties hold elected office.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONCERN AND INTEREST

CorridorWatch.org

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Well, it sounds like the fix may be in, as BobL prophesied. It may be that I-35 will be left to fester and clog so that Cintra can charge higher fees to use their road. If they'd just charge lower rates, say 5 cents a mile, some people would use the road anyway. I bet they'd use it even if I-35 underwent all improvements that may be planned for it, considering the Cintra road would probably have a lower density of exits and thus serve as an express route.

But, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!. Isn't that right, BobL?

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

TTC Rip-off PING!

[ken21]

the same thing is happening across the country:

it's a run around our laws and electorate.

water is another grab by large investors.

look at the water grab near el paso, tx by philip anshultz, the denver billionaire who made a couple billion off of quest, but had his hands slapped by the feds.

[BobL]

I don't quite follow your comment, but I do appreciate being mentioned (and thanks for the ping).

In Canada, Cintra's fix was real simple, any improvement to other roads that would adversely affect them (Cintra) had to be compensated back to Cintra. In other words, for Texas, if the state added a lane to I-35, and Cintra and the state estimated that it would reduce traffic on Cintra's toll road by (hypothetically) $100M per year, then the State of Texas would have to pay Cintra that $100M - in other words the State of Texas would have to pay the tolls for the missing drivers. Would the state do that? No way, except if they... (whoops, got to run)

[BobL]

...just kidding. What it means is that the State of Texas would only improve I-35 if they started collecting tolls on I-35, so as to be able to be able to feed Cintra.

That is why the state is very anxious to get permission to start charging tolls on the (now) free Interstates, as clearly stated in this Texas Transportation Corridor plan.

And I'm really happy to see that a protected monopoly (for Cintra) is not "Free Market" as Williamson thought he could trick us on. It was a nice try.

Here's what it really is (or will be) - an incredibly lucrative second career for Williamson and Perry, as a thank you for letting them (Cintra) rob the state.

[BobL]

Like I had said many times before, no private company would put $7.2B of its own money at risk, without some level of protection. In fact, Subway wouldn't be able to get anyone to buy their franchise, without some level of protection.

[Ben Ficklin]

Some people consistently gripe about the developers. They get the gold mine and the taxpayer gets the shaft.

If its not Cintra, then its gonna be Perot, Jr. developing Alliance. If its not Perot, its Anshutz developing the well field mentioned by Ken21 in his reply above. If its not Anshutz, its Bush and his wealthy partners developing the ballpark.

And after that horse is sufficently beaten, lets turn to the bonding company. You know who's husband has the corner on that.

[BobL]

I'm not sure what you mean, but I do have a problem when our governor acts like he owns the highway corridors and feels like he can give them away, and then LOCK OUT everyone else for at least the next 50 years (i.e., franchise agreement). Yea, I do have a big problem with that.

As far as developers otherwise, if Perry wants to build another airport for Dallas (or any other city), I'd support him, as long as he doesn't steal my right to travel on Southwest.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!!!

[MarshallDillon]

Well, I bet Governor Perry and Ric Williamson will have a job when we vote Pery and his apparatchiks out of the state house.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

I'm sure WatchWatchWatch.org will be happy to hear about this.

[BobL]

No doubt. Perry and his cronies will have tons of money, so they probably won't even care about losing power.

This is so blatant, it's almost laughable.

[MarshallDillon]

So far I am not aware of ANY legislator in the current session who has introduced a bill to amend or replace HB3588.

We might have to freep this very heavily... (o o o h they're scared /sarc).

[BobL]

No surprise - I think the only option is to dump Perry as soon as possible, before he can sellout too many more right-of-ways.

Even if the legislature passed a bill rescinding this scheme, they would have to override Perry's veto - highly unlikely.

Personally, I voted for Sanchez in 2002 once I heard of this scheme, and will vote Democratic again, if that's my only choice. The best thing for everyone would be to defeat Perry in the Primary. I'll certainly vote against him.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

You're welcome.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Personally, I voted for Sanchez in 2002 once I heard of this scheme, and will vote Democratic again, if that's my only choice.

Always check for conservative independents first. Voting Democrat is usually a risky scheme in itself.

[BobL]

No argument about the risk in Dems, but there's not a heck of a lot of damage a Dem can do here, given the Republican lock on the Legislature. The one place where it could hurt is if Roe is overturned and a bill lands on the governor's desk to outlaw abortion - then you want a Republican there. But overall, having a Dem as Gov IMO pretty much freezes the state, until a Republican comes in - no damage, no improvement.

As to independents - definitely stay away from Libertarians - the Governor's scheme is right up their ally. But overall, if I'm trying to defeat Perry, I will only vote for someone who could win, otherwise I'm wasting half of my vote.

While I got you here, take a look at this article from our Weekly Left Wing Rag in Houston (but probably the best regarding real journalism - on occasion). Here's a quote:
"Williamson has said that 'In your lifetime, most existing roads will have tolls.'"
http://www.houstonpress.com/issues/2005-01-13/news/news.html