Posted on 04/27/2007 2:06:17 AM PDT by Man50D
The Federal Highway Administration has threatened Texas with the loss of federal highway funds if the state continues with its legislative plan for a two-year funding moratorium on construction of the Trans-Texas Corridor.
In the 4-page letter, FHWA Chief Counsel James D. Ray advises Michael Behrens, executive director of the Texas Department of Transportation, some of the pending legislative proposals, if signed into law, "could affect the State’s eligibility for receiving Federal-aid highway funds."
Ray praises Texas for being "the nation's leader in developing new transportation facilities through public private partnerships."
But the letter expresses concern that the Texas Legislature is nearing passage of a two-year moratorium blocking planned Trans-Texas Corridor toll-road projects.
"We do not see the benefit of a moratorium if the State has already committed to legislation for a continuation of the program," Ray wrote, adding, "If Texas looses (sic) the initiative it now has, private funds now flowing to Texas will go elsewhere."
"We stand ready to work with Texas officials to ensure continued compliance with all of the applicable Federal laws and regulations. We wish to make sure that Texas can continue to receive the full benefits available under the Federal-aid Highway Program," he concluded.
David Stall, co-founder of the website CorridorWatch.org, alerted WND the federal agency was preparing the letter.
During a Wednesday morning teleconference, James Ray, chief counsel and acting deputy director of the FHWA, reportedly told the Trans-Texas Corridor Citizens Advisory Committee that the federal agency was preparing a letter to place the Texas Department of Transportation on notice that the proposed action by the Texas Legislature would jeopardize access to federal highway funds.
The Trans-Texas Corridor Citizens Advisory Committee is a group of citizens organized by the state transportation department to offer advice on projects concerning the Trans-Texas Corridor.
The federal agency did not respond to WND requests for comment, but Stall had an opinion.
"As you might guess, we greatly object to federal interference in state affairs and the attempt to influence public policy at the state level," Stall told WND via e-mail.
Stall told WND that Ray's letter was prompted by a request from Texas Rep. Mike Krusee, Williamson County, who sent a note to the FHWA asking for an opinion specifically on HB1892, the House version of the moratorium.
Krusee, a Republican, is a long-time supporter of the TTC toll-road project. In November 2006, he was re-elected with barely 50 percent of the vote in a campaign in which his TTC support was contested.
WND has reported previously that two different bills have passed the Texas House and Senate, and both are aimed at imposing a two-year moratorium on all public-private partnerships that would involve construction of new toll roads financed and operated by private foreign investment groups.
The large margins by which the moratorium bills have been approved suggest the legislature has the votes to override an anticipated veto by Gov. Rick Perry.
The two-year moratorium would be nice, if nothing else, just to have more time to make sure it is the right thing to do and is being done with the best interests. I am not necessarily against Gov. Goodhair’s plans, but not enough information has been provided for a well informed decision.
Perhaps the majority of Texas legislators, unlike many states, have the ability to smell a rat. I do not believe I like the idea of a foreign company owing a highway in this country. The government actually does have some things it should do, besides their number one job of definding the nation and its citizens.
The “trans” part, of course, means from Mexico through Americas heartland and is problably an integral part of the “unification” of the continent.
A little black mail to support the globalist agenda.
An outrage...
Trans-Texas Corridor PING!
Looks as if the foreign investors are spreading some of their bribe money around within the federal agencies and administration as well as within Texas.
For what it’s worth, from a CorridorWatch newsletter:
New Threat to TTC Moratorium?
CorridorWatch is offended by what appears to be an effort by the Federal Highway Administration to Thwart the Public and Legislative Will of Texas.
Representative Krusee has invited the Federal Highway Administration to offer opinion on HB1892.
CorridorWatch has just learned that in response to a request for opinion asked for by Rep. Krusee the Federal Highway Administration / DOT will deliver two letters to TxDOT’s Executive Director today or tomorrow.
The first of two letters is described as a notice that current actions of the legislature may jeopardize access to federal funds. Specifically that provisions of legislation under consideration will run afoul of federal regulations tied to federal highway aid dollars.
TxDOT, in objecting to HB1892, suggests that passage of HB1892 might stop all Harris County projects and could even take federal funds away. CorridorWatch says, “baloney!”
The second letter is described as notice to TxDOT that allowing the NTTA to bid on SH121 may violate federal procurement regulations designed to ensure fair and open competition. They suggest allowing NTTA to offer a bid after the process has closed to other bidders is at issue. The opinion was expressed that for the NTTA to participate the process should be start over.
The NTTA however isn’t just another private bidder, they are a political subdivision of the state. As such the state should always have the ability to reject all bids and perform the work itself.
What is the effect of FHWA objections?
It appears that this is just another smoke screen and does not present the roadblock that FHWA and TxDOT would like for it to be.
The subject bills already require TxDOT to ensure that counties comply with any covenant, condition, restriction, or limitation that affects state highway right of way, including those of the federal government.
CorridorWatch.org is offended at this effort by the FWHA to join TxDOT in an attempt to thwart the public and legislative will of Texas.
CorridorWatch believes that the FWHA should work with the state to achieve compliance, not threaten the legislature. CorridorWatch does not believe that TxDOT and the FHWA should dictate public policy.
Why is the federal govt pushing a single north American country?
MONEY MONEY MONEY MONEY.
BTTT
bump.
I just don’t understand this country anymore.
“...FHWA Chief Counsel James D. Ray advises Michael Behrens, executive director of the Texas Department of Transportation, some of the pending legislative proposals, if signed into law, “could affect the State’s eligibility for receiving Federal-aid highway funds.”
This statement raises the simple question of who the hell is running this country? Some fat-butt bureaucrat or the people through their elected representatives?
How do we, the people, fire this bureaucrat slob?
The article's main subject matter was that the Senate Trans Committee approved SB 1929(the comprehensive trans bill) and sent it to the Senate. Carona was not confident that the bill would progress.
The Committee stripped out that part of the bill that transfered authority from TxDOT to the Regional Mobility Authorities. The justification for this was that the Committee didn't want 24 Mini-TxDOTs.
This action confirms what several commentators have said. The Lege's objections to toll roads is actually about the Lege losing the "power of the purse".
I would love to have his phone number and email address for a little Fridy freeping.
“The Lege’s objections to toll roads is actually about the Lege losing the “power of the purse”.
Or just maybe some of them would like to be re-elected and don’t want to further alienate Texans.
So let me get this straight...Now that we’ve placed a 2 year moratorium on the continued development of the TTC, the Feds now are wiggling in here threatening us with witholding Federal funds for other highway projects in Texas??? If the TTC doesn’t proceed???
Fabulous...
“If Texas looses (sic) the initiative it now has, private funds now flowing to Texas will go elsewhere.”
WHAT private funds???
Operating a road is not one of them, unless there's a level of corruption, fraud, and waste that you find acceptable.
Uh, the $16 billion that C-Z’s putting-up?
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