Trans Texas Corridor Debate

KCEN-TV ^ | February 18, 2007 | KCEN-TV

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

In the past weeks we have been looking at the historic and needs perspective of the Trans Texas Corridor.

Lets examine if the project is enough to help with traffic and examine economic growth.

In 2007 there are 80 thousand vehicles that travel along 35 in Waco everyday.

The TTC-35 project would leave I-35 as it is for the most part, but would add this 12 lane superhighway with a commuter train just east of 35.

Opponnents say look at the cost.

Linda Stall with Corridor Watch says, "This is a huge project. 184 billion dollars, it's a 50 year agreement, 50 years. That is a long time."

Governor Rick Perry, who is pushing the supports the plan says the completed Corridor could potentially bring 434-thousand jobs to the state and another 2.2 million from the development it would stimulate.

With new highways there is a strong possibilty that new homes and communities would more than likely pop up.

Corridor watch co-founder linda stall asks, are we ready for the growth.

Stall says, "You encourage all this growth, how do we support all that, how do we educate those children that move into those homes, how do we provide medical care."

TxDOT has said it has not determined the amount of land that would be needed because the exact path has not been chosen.

Tx-DOT Executive Director Michael Behrens says, "We're looking for enough land to take care of todays needs but also of the future needs so we have enough for expansion."

Expansion can't be done along 35 because of business along the interstate

Behren says it would take too much money to relocate all of them.

so what about immenint domain?

That is usually an issue that landowners want to talk about.

That will be what we talk about in our final part four next Saturday.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Trans-Texas Corridor PING!

[wizecrakker]

This is a huge project. 184 billion dollars

Baahahaha!
That's what they SAY it's gonna cost.

I'd say final costs will be closer to 5X that, and I'm being optimistic.

[kinoxi]

The next to nothing that I know about this causes me to oppose it.

[TexasCajun]

We gotta have a bigger, better highway to move all the incoming illegal immigrants further north!!

[E.G.C.]

BTTT

[Ben Ficklin]

The $184 billion is mis-info.

The original projections to build out the entire TTC system over 50 years was $184 billion. Of course the cost of building the scaled back version of TTC 35, that the article is discussing, is much much less.

As for your contention that there will be sizable cost overuns, past experiences with private investors building roads show that they come in ahead of schedule and under budget.

[Ben Ficklin]

Thanks for posting that article. When I read it this morning, I wondered if it would make it to FR.

There has been much speculation as to why the number of border crossers has dropped. The drug cartels' involvement makes perfect sense.

[wolfcreek]

"Stall says, "You encourage all this growth, how do we support all that, how do we educate those children that move into those homes, how do we provide medical care."



She's got a point. The Texas Leg. and Gov. Good hair seem to be having trouble funding all of those issues. My question: WHERE WILL THE **WATER** FOR THESE NUBIES TO DRINK, CLEAN and RECREATE COME FROM?




"TxDOT has said it has not determined the amount of land that would be needed because the exact path has not been chosen."


TxDOT is full of crap, they know exactly how much they will need. It won't vary much along the projected path.

[Admin Moderator]

The Dallas Morning News is on the excerpt/link only list. Your post has to be removed.

Updated FR Excerpt and Link Only or Deny Posting List due to Copyright Complaints

[Jedidah]

The spelling in that article is appalling.

[Ben Ficklin]

Have a look at the 2007 State water plan

[TXnMA]

See Boston's "Big Dig". And note the quality...

[Ben Ficklin]

I've yet to see the connection between the two states?

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

bump.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Indeed. Texas, AFAIK, does not have crappy concrete problems like the Big Dig does. I drove I-40 through Texas in 2005, and the concrete stretches were quite nice, without any noticeable wear and tear like on I-75 in Michigan.

[wolfcreek]

"Have a look at the 2007 State water plan"


Lake Buchanan and Lake Travis, the two largest sources of water for S. Central Texas, are at historically low levels. Inflow into these lakes this past year, were the least since their construction in 1942. The rapidly growing communities of Ceder Park, Leander, Lake Way, Jonestown, and Lago Vista, along with the rest of the Austin metro area, depend on these water sources. 10s of thousands of new homes and businesses have been built in the last several yrs., putting additional strain on water supplies. Authorities at the LCRA have stated, mandatory water restrictions will likely go into effect this summer unless there is a change in the weather or people voluntarily cut back on usage. This has been common throughout the history of Texas. If the LOONY climate scientist are ever partially correct about future warming, these conditions are likely to worsen. unfortunately, in Texas, politics often overshadow common sense.

[Ben Ficklin]

First you ask about the future water supply. I give you that info and then you change the subject to Texas' climate, as if it is a revelation that no one else knew about.

[wolfcreek]

"as if it is a revelation that no one else knew about.'


The Texas climate is one of the reasons We don't need to double the pop. We're already approaching an unsustainable level. What I said bares repeating time and time again because people like you and the pols in this state damn sure aren't listening.