Donna Williams, guest column: TTC essential to Texas' future

Waco Tribune-Herald ^ | August 13, 2006 | Donna Williams

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

What do the federal interstate highway system, the Golden Gate Bridge and D-FW International Airport all have in common?

All are indispensable projects safely transporting millions of families and tons of products every year. All also were bitterly attacked and criticized during their planning and construction phases.

Today, our state transportation system is at a crossroads.

Texas is the leading exporting state, the second biggest manufacturing state, and has added more than 600,000 jobs in the past 34 months.

Annually, Texans spend 3.7 billion hours sitting in traffic. Unless we change, it will only get worse. During the next 25 years, Texas road usage is projected to increase 214 percent. Yet road capacity will increase only 6 percent.

It is imperative that Texas expedite transportation improvements in the interest of public safety, job creation and overall quality of life.

The Trans-Texas Corridor (TTC-35) utilizes many new financing and construction tools to get needed roadways built years sooner, without increasing state gasoline or sales taxes.

By harnessing private-sector investment and charging motorists a fee, Texas can build a necessary new road much faster.

Texas’ disaster and hurricane response would dramatically improve with the Trans Texas Corridor and other new transportation projects.

Safer infrastructure means faster evacuations and fewer lives lost.

Economic boost

Thousands of new Texas jobs, higher property values and resulting economic development would follow the corridor route.

Employers tend to migrate to wherever it’s easier to transport workers, raw materials and products.

On the subject of toll roads, modern technology means no more required stopping at toll booths. Toll-tags allow for convenient and high-speed collection.

TTC-35 also would benefit those who don’t want to pay the toll.

Every car or truck using TTC-35 would be one less vehicle on I-35, thereby increasing its safety and convenience.

In addition, free roads, parallel to most toll roads, would remain a viable option for those who choose not to pay.

The State of Texas would own these new roads, but private companies and investors would pay to construct and operate them.

New state laws enhance private property protections and allow local communities and landowners to share in the benefits. As a result, billions in new, largely untapped private investments would pour into Texas to improve our transportation infrastructure, easing congestion, increasing commuter choice and improving highway safety.

The debate continues. The democratic process is working. But don’t let anyone tell you that business as usual can improve Texas transportation. People and jobs are migrating to Texas. We must have the roads and infrastructure to carry them safely and efficiently.

Donna Williams is a Dallas-based aviation engineer and a board member of Texans for Safe Reliable Transportation www.bettertexasroads.org.

[ARealMothersSonForever]

You aint from Texas. Cause if you were, you would care less about what a bunch of sandmaggots might do in the Valley. Good grief man, the cattle don't even like it there.

[Dog Gone]

Let's see. We're currently adding about 10 new lanes to the Katy Freeway on the west side of Houston, but you'll allow that one new lane MIGHT be needed on I-35, connecting San Antonio and Dallas in the next 50 years.

I'm impressed with how open-minded you are to the needs for expansion. You don't rule out a whole new lane.

[ARealMothersSonForever]

Where's the well-managed toll road in Texas that has alleviated congestion?

Dallas North Tollway and 190. Not perfectly managed, but they have alleviated traffic.

[Dog Gone]

Plenty of non-Texans have weighed in to tell us that Texas doesn't need a new road.

It's bizarre, except their real agenda is something quite different.

They don't care about traffic.

They don't really care about property rights.

They care about one thing. Eventually the road will stretch all the way to the border.

The border.

Texas shouldn't have roads that connect to Mexico.

[ARealMothersSonForever]

Read up on the Dallas- Fort Worth Turnpike. It is now just Interstate 30. The toll gates came down in 1977 or 78. It was paid for, so we took the tolls off. How many Yankee states have taken down tollbooths? Try none.

[ARealMothersSonForever]

Texas shouldn't have roads that connect to Mexico.

Yeah, that has been noted. In the meantime we have been real busy putting together datacomm/telecomm quotes. Sure, some people are going to think they get a raw deal on their property. Overall, this is great for the Texas economy, Oklahoma, and Kansas-Missouri. Let the Yankees holler. We will even bring in some Mexican NAFTA-visa laborers. Because the Amalgamated Ditchdiggers Union of NY/NJ quoted $85 an hour.

[Dog Gone]

The corridor is a GREAT idea. Built without taxpayer money, it will increase commerce and facilitate traffic through Texas for decades to come.

There are only two alternatives. Build no new roads in Texas, or build a whole lot of them, taking up more land, etc, and totally defeating all the arguments that the opponents here are offering.

There wouldn't be any argument here at all except that the plans are for the corridor to extend all the way to the border.

[Hydroshock]

I do not see a need for this between San Antonio and Austin. Period. It is a waste being pushed by Austin lobbiests.

[Dog Gone]

You do not see a need. I guess that settles it.

You will not be paying for it, so drop the "waste" argument.

Have any other red herrings?

[ARealMothersSonForever]

Well, there has been a lot of talk about "proof of concept". Success is envied:
1953
The Texas Turnpike Authority (TTA) was established as a state agency.

1957
Dallas-Fort Worth Turnpike opened after construction started in 1955 as the Texas Turnpike Authority's first project.

1968
Dallas North Tollway, the second project of the TTA, opened the first segment to motorists after construction began in 1966.

1978
Dallas-Fort Worth Turnpike became officially designated as Interstate 30. In 1977, when all outstanding bonds were retired, the road was transferred to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) as a toll-free highway, seventeen years ahead of schedule.

1979
Mountain Creek Lake Bridge, located in southwestern Dallas county, opened after construction on the 2.5 mile bridge in Grand Prairie began in 1977.

1987
Dallas North Tollway extension Phase I opened.

1989
TollTag system introduced on Dallas North Tollway. It was the first electronic toll collection system in North America.

Taking down tollgates 17 years ahead of schedule, implementing the first electronic Toll-Tag in North America, and many others have the naysayers at a disadvantage.
http://www.ntta.org/AboutUs/Who/History.htm

[Puddleglum]

I lived in the Dallas area for about 10 years (until recently) and watched the suburbs explode. I do not mind toll roads if people insist on driving 20-30 miles to work and do not want to live near work. It's their choice, so in a sense the toll is, too. I just do not like seeing the "de-congestion" argument lumped in with other issues, like interstate traffic. Suburban sprawl is often a sign of urban government corruption at every level (school system, police and other municipal services, etc). The fact of dying innner cities is a big ugly mess, and the notion of toll roads simply brought this to my mind. They are symptomatic of a service that could be avoided with some careful municpal planning, some civic-minded cooperation businesses and city hall, rather than the ordinary collusion.

I for one could not stand to drive as far to work as some folks do (so I don't). The thought of having to pay to join in the dance of gridlock just makes me shudder.

PS - I HAVE driven the Dallas Tollway at rush hour, and it is not pretty. Off-peak it is almost pleasant, however. Still, give me a well-timed major thoroughfare any day. I would even take a well-run interurbasn line rather than drive, but I realize I am in the minority.

[Dog Gone]

Nobody can seriously argue that no new roads should be built in Texas or anywhere else.

So the goofy arguments about taking land, the abuse of eminent domain, Kelo, and all that are false excuses made by people who don't want to disclose their real objection.

"We don't need a new road and we won't need a new one in the next 50 years" is too stupid to get into a serious debate about.

Who opposes the Trans Texas Corridor?

It's the John Birchers amongst us. The road will eventually connect to (cue sinister music) Mexico.

[hopespringseternal]

The Sam Houston Tollway around Houston would be the example you don't want to acknowledge.

Westpark is a a good example, Sam Houston isn't. It's funny you say it alleviates congestion, since the only time there are very many people on it at once is during the frequent accidents at the toll booths.

I used to work off it. I tried it a few times and wound up just taking the frontage road.

[ARealMothersSonForever]

The fact of dying innner cities is a big ugly mess, and the notion of toll roads simply brought this to my mind. They are symptomatic of a service that could be avoided with some careful municpal planning, some civic-minded cooperation businesses and city hall, rather than the ordinary collusion.

This is laughable. Downtown Fort Worth, Dallas, Austin, Houston, San Antonio, and even El Paso have been revitalized in the last 15 years. This project is not going to cause Urban Flight to the suburbs. On the contrary. Goods and services will become more readily available in what were once rural areas.

And by the way, since you left Texas; what dog do you have in the fight?

[Dog Gone]

Nobody is going to get forced to drive on the TTC. And nobody will be involuntarily taxed to pay for the TTC.

It will get some people out of your way if you choose to drive the freeways.

It's a good idea.

[hopespringseternal]

It was paid for, so we took the tolls off.

When I first moved to Houston the SHT was nearly paid off. They refinanced the debt for no other reason than to keep the toll booths.

Seeing so many boondoggles at once with politicians still running around with their hands out, the inescapable conclusion is that they have far, far too much money. They have massive increases in tax revenue, far outstripping both inflation and growth, and they still want to curtail or charge for basic services.

[Dog Gone]

There are plenty of people who use the Sam Houston tollway, although it's less than use 610.

If it didn't exist, I'd have to add about 45 minutes to a drive to the airport.

It costs me $2.50 to save 45 minutes. It would probably be an hour if the tollway wasn't in existence and we were all forced to use the existing roads.

[Hydroshock]

I am most of TX. Thismuch raod in that area is not needed by tx.

[wolfcreek]

Texans do not owe foreign importers a route through our land.


That pretty much sums it up. 4000 miles of additional roads will rape the character of this great state. I have seen the environmental and cultural destruction of this state over the last 20 or 30 yrs. first hand and I'm sick of it.

[Puddleglum]

This is laughable. Downtown Fort Worth, Dallas, Austin, Houston, San Antonio, and even El Paso have been revitalized in the last 15 years. This project is not going to cause Urban Flight to the suburbs. On the contrary. Goods and services will become more readily available in what were once rural areas.

I did not say the project would cause urban flight.

The "urban revitalization" has primarily to make the urban area tourist spots or other entertainment destinations, along with some non-family residences. It probably increases congestion of the roads in and out of downtown.

I don't have a "dog in this fight." I am interested in how local governments solve their basic issues.