Posted on 10/13/2006 12:42:43 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
It's all out there now.
Hundreds and hundreds of pages of detailed information about one of the largest contracts the state has ever signed with a private consortium.
The Texas Department of Transportation recently released a controversial document that outlines how Cintra-Zachry plans to build and operate toll roads and rail lines across the state.
The project, known as the Trans-Texas Corridor, is a massive undertaking, spanning hundreds of miles and 50 years of profits for the company, a marriage of Spanish and Texas interests.
Gov. Rick Perry, the department and Cintra-Zachry had rightfully come under fire during the past 18 months for refusing to release the details of the contract, despite an attorney general's opinion that the information is public.
They argued that the contract's financial details were too sensitive to release and could have given the company's competitors an unfair advantage.
The delay and eventual release was not intended to hide anything untoward or give him an electoral advantage, Perry said this week at a meeting with the Express-News Editorial Board.
"There is no big secret," said Perry, the project's chief cheerleader. "If we'd waited until December, I doubt there'd be one vote change. I really don't care if there is one vote changed."
I find that hard to believe. The release of information helps Perry politically, whether he acknowledges it or not.
It takes the air out of one of the key weapons that Perry's four gubernatorial opponents have used to bludgeon him throughout the campaign.
Democrat Chris Bell and independents Carole Keeton Strayhorn and Kinky Friedman are opposed to the TTC, while Libertarian James Werner does support limited aspects of it.
Attorney General Greg Abbott, whose office had urged the release, this week called the timing of the announcement "interesting," but stopped short of calling it a political move.
"It may or may not have had anything to do with the election cycle," he said. In his opinion, the release date had more to do with the legal calendar than the upcoming gubernatorial battle.
The case was set to go to trial this week.
But even with the information out, the Trans-Texas Corridor will continue to be a campaign issue, and should be.
We're talking about a major transportation project that will change the way Texans and cargo move across the state.
It's an issue no one can afford to ignore. The Texas population is expected to double by the year 2040. Unless we're all willing to forgo driving our individual cars and start seriously thinking about light rail or other mass transit options, privately financed transportation options have to be considered.
While I'm not crazy about a company profiting for 50 years by maintaining public roads, private investment seems the only realistic way to fund our needs.
Maybe in the future, politicians will look ahead to the state's challenges and deal with them pro-actively rather than reactively. They could raise the gas tax incrementally, for example, rather than hide behind a "voters-will-never-go-for-it" mentality after it's too late.
In other words, maybe political considerations will take a back seat to foresight when it comes to big-ticket items like transportation.
But I doubt it.
Advice for Kinky
It's been a fun ride, but Kinky Friedman has fallen far short of proving his case to the Texas electorate. In the upcoming gubernatorial battle, Friedman seems to have traded a desire to boot the incumbent for 15 more minutes of fame.
If Kinky really believes that Perry no longer belongs in the Governor's Mansion, he'll take Chris Bell's advice — proffered by the Democrat this week — hit the bench and help one of his fellow teammates work to unseat Perry.
10.12.06CorridorWatch.org MEMBER BULLETIN
CorridorWatch.org has always said that Cintra had drawn a line on a map. It is unconceivable that a proposal was made, including projected project costs, without having first determined a probable alignment (route) for TTC-35.
Today we have copies of where the TTC-35 corridor had been placed by Cintra in August 2004. We believe that the alignment at that time was based on good engineering principals and the physical constraints of the TTC project as proposed. Of course there is nothing that obligates Cinta Zachry or TxDOT to build any or all of TTC-35 (if it is ever constructed) where it was proposed in August 2004 drawings.
CorridorWatch.org has posted to the Internet a complete copy of the Cintra Zachry "Proposal for TTC-35 High Priority Trans-Texas Corridor Project Comprehensive Development Agreement," as submitted on August 23, 2004.
The entire proposal is presented, although most of it won't be of general interest. It is a valuable reference to those researching and studying TTC-35. Because of the large amount of graphics, some of the files are very large. These documents are all in a PDF format.
CorridorWatch.org is making this document accessible to the public in advance of being available on any other public Internet site (including TxDOT’s).
CorridorWatch.org will review and condense the contents for its members and present the information through future Member Newsletters and the website.
Direct Link: http://www.corridorwatch.org/ttc/cw-ttc35-documents.htm
- - -
FREE "NO TTC" WINDOW & BUMPER STICKERS A BIG HIT!
Our mail is full of requests for free stickers and we want more!
A hundred free stickers were in the mail after just the first two day of receiving requests.
If you haven't heard, CorridorWatch.org has new high-quality vinyl "NO TTC" stickers for your car or truck. And, they are FREE.
That's right, they are absolutely FREE!
Our basic round "NO TTC" stickers have been so popular we enlarged the design and silk-screened them on durable white vinyl stock for outdoor use.
We are giving away thousands of the NEW 3-1/2 inch round weatherproof stickers with removable adhesive backs. These red, white and black stickers feature the red circle and diagonal slash over large black TTC letters so that you can tell the world (and your elected officials) that you are not a fan of the Trans Texas Corridor. If you want to see what they look like visit www.CorridorWatch.org.
Our only request is that if we give you a FREE sticker that you put it on the back window of your car or truck where it can help spread the word that the Trans Texas Corridor is a flawed project. Tell Everyone You Know, so they can get their own free stickers. We want to see them everywhere!
HOW TO GET YOUR FREE STICKERS - - -
Mail a self-address first-class stamped envelope to:
CorridorWatch.org
Free Sticker Offer
Fayetteville, TX 78940-5468
Each envelope received will be filled with two stickers and returned by U.S. Mail. (If you would like four stickers, please send us two stamped envelopes) We will mail as quickly as possible, but please allow 2 weeks for delivery.
No Donation Necessary!
These stickers are yours at absolutely no cost (except for your own envelope and first-class postage). Of course any donation that you might include with your envelope would be greatly appreciated. Donations make it possible for CorridorWatch.org to maintain its website, attend meetings, and speak before groups all across Texas. Without your generous donations CorridorWatch.org would not be able to provide thousands of free flyers and handouts to support our mission of increasing public awareness and understanding of the impact that the Trans Texas Corridor will have on Texas
Trans-Texas Corridor PING!
BTTT
"...a marriage of Spanish and Texas interests."
Spanish interests? Not Mexican interests? Is this because the private sector company is Spanish owned? Even if so it should not be labeled as "Spanish" by those that want to promote the damn thing.
bump.
Another Democrat msm shill trying to pump up the flagging Bell campaign by telling Kinky to get out. Nice try, chichita.
I think that being headquartered in Madrid, and being a privately held subsidiary of a company that is traded on the Madrid Stock Exchange, makes Cintra a Spanish company.
A little off the subject but Perry has come up with another zinger. Raising the sales tax a half a cent to lower property taxes. Are We really sure he's not a Dim?
Link?
Check the Austin American Statesman website. I read it this morning.
Hmmmmm?
I tried to find the link but, they want me to become a member. NO WAY IN HELL. Yes, I do read that Liberal Rag daily just seeing what the other side's thinking. Rush reads the NYT daily for the same reason.
Would you rather have a tax option that leaves you free to avoid paying some of it by buying less stuff, or do you want the option where you have to effectively pay government rent on your own property, or else they fine you, evict you, jail you, or however it goes in Texas?
It seem Perry is leaning toward the first option to raise revenue, and away from the second option.
Call it whatever you want, it's slightly reducing one tax and adding a tax that will be a greater amount of money for the year. Personally, I don't mind paying my PT as is. I know what it's going to be at the first of the year and it's paid in monthly installments. What I don't like is adding taxes to everything I buy and tolling me for the right to drive on existing roadways.
New Future Texas motto: "We're Texas and We're Paved Over"
Thanks for the ping!
I'm neutral. This project, however, rivals the Erie Canal and the Union Pacific in importance. The first made New York the Empire State; the latter helped span the continent. The financial picture of neither is exactly pretty. Each made a lot of money for a very few people, and a little money for a lot.
You're welcome.
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