Trans-Texas Alternative -- Perry's transportation idea has merit but overlooks key issues

The Battalion ^ | July 27, 2006 | Andrew Burleson

[Jedidah]

Texas is facing a significant turning point. Gov. Rick Perry has called for the State to build a massive network of freeways with freight rail, commuter rail, utility lines, communication towers and oil and natural gas pipelines all concentrated into a single route. This massive corridor is intended to meet the future transportation needs of the state, which is expected to increase dramatically in the next 50 years.

Texas highways are already packed with cars and trucks, and gridlock strangles our major cities day and night. While the lofty goals of Perry's transportation program are admirable, the program has been met with opposition. In fact, all of Perry's opponents in the November elections are vehemently opposed to the plan. . .

[Jedidah]

Interesting take with comment that "challenges render the entire idea of the multi-modal corridor useless. Instead, the state needs to consider a different approach, routing different uses in different directions. . . "

[TexasTransplant]

>>>>Instead, the state needs to consider a different approach, routing different uses in different directions. . . "<<<<

Government needs to let "US" do it, instead of making Law and Rule that favors only Government and Foreign Companies.

If they put everything in one place it will become a Terrorist Magnet (which is good if you want to kill them, bad if you just want to get from a to b)

Professional Politicians need to retire (Perry should have long before we ended up with four no choices)

[Republicain]

"The passenger rail should also go directly to and from city centers. Texas could build high-speed rail networks through the medians of existing freeways, or over abandoned freight and utility lines. Austin and San Antonio have already been planning a connection using old right of way, which is currently underutilized. Coupling this with an investment in local level light rail and commuter trains could generate huge savings, reduce environmental impact and generate thousands of jobs. Not only could this offer rapid service between city centers (new trains can operate as fast as 300 mph) but would also give passengers safer, more affordable ways to travel. With an average of 43,000 Americans dying every year in automobile accidents, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, now is the time to invest in safer transportation modes."

There was a project of high speed train in Texas 15 years ago.

http://www.trainweb.org/tgvpages/texastgv.html

http://www.texasfreeway.com/Statewide/tgv/tgv.shtml

[DustyMoment]

Gov. Rick Perry has called for the State to build a massive network of freeways with freight rail, commuter rail, utility lines, communication towers and oil and natural gas pipelines all concentrated into a single route.

This is a TERRIBLE idea!!! With heightened awareness of terrorists, who would be dumb enough to concentrate so many critical resorces into one limited corridor???

The TTC is a bad enough idea by itself; the concentration of rail, utility lines, communication towers and oil and natural gas pipelines make it a disaster waiting to happen.

[monkapotamus]

[Jedidah]

ping

[1rudeboy]

The TTC is a bad enough idea by itself; the concentration of rail, utility lines, communication towers and oil and natural gas pipelines make it a disaster waiting to happen.

Some folks are legitimately concerned about the State taking private land for this project. How much more land do you want it to take?

[DustyMoment]

Some folks are legitimately concerned about the State taking private land for this project. How much more land do you want it to take?

You misunderstand. I don't support TTC in the first place and the idea of concentrating so many critical communications and transportation resources into such a tightly packed area only makes it that much worse. IMO, Texas would better serve theirs and the citizens needs by improving exisitng resources as necessary, rather than run up a huge debt with the TTC. Rick Perry needs to hear from an overwhelming majority of the state's residents telling him that they oppose this boondoggle that will come out of their pockets. It's a bad idea and getting worse with every day it comes closer to fruition.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Trans-Texas Corridor PING!

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Thanks.

[Hydroshock]

This thing is a bad idea that should be stopped.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT

[Dog Gone]

The TTC is completely privately funded. No taxpayer money involved. And worrying that it's a terrorist magnet is silly. It's a freeway and a rail line and a utility easement. We have that combination in numerous places in the state already.

There are many more attractive terrorist targets than a transportation corridor. And I'm not sure how you blow up a freeway, anyhow.

[hedgetrimmer]

No taxpayer money involved.

Really? Then why don't these private companies just go buy the land they need? Why do they need the government to be involved at all?

[BobL]

What a dingbat, doesn't this author know EVERYONE in Texas supports the governor's plan.

This insane plan, building on the existing highway system and giving trucks an alternative to driving on freeways through cities will ONLY work for the next 60 years or so, whereas the governor's plan is good for 200 years. This clown doesn't even tell us how he plans to handle traffic for those missing 140 years. Some visionary.

Thank goodness we have a governor willing to make the tough choices and TAKE 1,000 square miles of private land from its owners, in a way that would make Castro green with envy.

Yes, that's leadership. Thank you Rick Perry.

(/s).

[Dog Gone]

Because crazed opponents would try to buy a foot long strip of land in the path of the corridor and refuse to sell.

[Paleo Conservative]

The TTC is completely privately funded. No taxpayer money involved. And worrying that it's a terrorist magnet is silly. It's a freeway and a rail line and a utility easement. We have that combination in numerous places in the state already.

Also putting all those rights of way together avoids having to acquire separate rights of way that would disturb more adjacent land. In lots of cases existing single track rail rights of way will be abandoned once double tracked high-speed TTC rail rights of way are built. This will eliminate dangerous grade level crossings of railroad tracks. Also many existing rail rights of way are near highways. Once the rail roads are removed, the rights of way they occupied could be used to expand some roads or to revert to farm or ranch land.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

bump.

[Doctor Stochastic]

It's not obvious that the movements of trucks, trains, and liquids follow the same path.

[DustyMoment]

The TTC is completely privately funded.

It's a toll road. That means that loans are made or bond issues are passed to raise the money for initial construction. After that, administration of the road and collection of tolls is passed to the Tollway authority. If the Tollway authority has it's way (having learned from I-30), the TTC will NEVER be paid for. They were proving that with the N. Dallas Tollway.

And I'm not sure how you blow up a freeway, anyhow.

Don't worry, terrorists do.