Posted on 04/13/2008 5:44:54 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
Despite the uproar over the state's proposal to build Trans-Texas Corridor 69 through East Texas, Lufkin's mayor says he supports the highway — as long as it follows the path of the current U.S. Highway 59.
The Trans Texas Corridor/I-69 project is a statewide network of transportation routes in Texas that will incorporate existing and new highways, railways and utility right-of-ways. Anyone wishing to comment on the proposed road can go online to www.keeptexasmoving.com. TxDOT has expanded its public comment period for TTC-69 to Friday, April 18.
Gov. Rick Perry appointed Gorden, along with 17 other Texans, to an I-69 Corridor Advisory Committee. The committee meets for the first time in Austin the week after next.
"This is an opportunity for Lufkin to have a say in the allocation of significant resources that will impact our part of the state for many generations," said Mayor Jack Gorden. "It's going to take a while longer, but I believe the Texas Legislature and the governor's office realize that up through this part of the state, it needs to stick to the existing 59 route. And that's going to speed up the process."
The committee members will advise TxDOT on I-69 Corridor plans. Gorden and others on the committee will study and prepare reports on the impact of an I-69 corridor on the economy, politics, society and population. They will also report on the use of existing, new and upgraded facilities; road and rail solutions; and financing options, according to a press release.
"Our goal is to enhance the public dialogue and meaningfully involve more Texans in transportation decisions," Texas Transportation Commission Chair Hope Andrade stated in a press release. "These committees will have an important seat at the table as we work together to shape the future of transportation in our state."
Gorden said he supports the move toward expanding existing highways.
"We need to try not to mistreat the landowners," Gorden said, "but we desperately need the highway. This part of Texas has more people living at or below the poverty level than any other part of Texas other than the valley. The north-south interstate coming through here will do as much to raise the standard of living for people in this area than any other project."
Huh, not a dang one in IL...strange for this socialist state.
Looks like they couldn’t cross the state line........ Very strange....
Then you know to avoid the notorious speed traps in the small towns just northeast of Houston.
Houston is becoming one, too -- the mayor is hard-up for fine money and grinding on the police for fines.
The mayor of Laredo may or may not realize that if I-69 simply replaces US 59, the effect will be to toll one of the major routes serving his town, the one that leads to the East Coast, and transfer it to private, foreign ownership.
Missouri, too.
BTTT
I don't know about the rest of the country but, in Texas, the N/S interstates have divided communities social/economically. The *other side of the tracks* if you will.
Then you know to avoid the notorious speed traps in the small towns just northeast of Houston.
I used to travel that route fairly frequently some 30-35 years ago. Driving up through those piney woods, especially at night was a real treat.
And YES I remember those speed traps. When I first moved down there I got nailed twice the same night on a drive back to Chi-town in my car that still had IL plates. The first time, just north of Cleveland, the cop was really nice and did me the favor of just writing a "warning" ticket. Somewhat further up the road, between Lufkin and 'doches, I got nailed again. Again, the cop was very nice, as he told me he was sorry, but there were no such things a "warning" tickets in Texas. I damn near whupped out the one I had in my pocket to prove him wrong ... but decided against it.
I was hauled into the courthouse in Nacogdoches about midnight and they dialed up a JP at home to give me a trial by telephone. After being escorted to an all-night convenience store to buy a money order for $50 + $2 tax (they would not accept cash), I was released.
Gotta wonder if this fool has even seen the proposals. There will be very few exit and entrances. on this foreign tollway. Perhaps he would be better off encouraging local entrepreneurship than getting behind this unwanted boondoggle.
You have to wonder if some of the local opposition to the proposed I-69 is not predicated on the fact that a toll road would pretty well cut revenue from all those speed traps. In the future, to travel from Houston to Northeast Texas, you will pay either Boss Hogg on the old road or George Soros on the toll road for the privilege.
http://ttc.keeptexasmoving.com/comments_questions/comments_i69.aspx
Illegal drugs get shipped pretty efficiently on existing tranportation systems. Foreign trucks should be required to meet US standards to drive on all US highways. The design of the TTC should make roads safer, because trucks will be separated from cars on their own right of way. It is impossible to build roads without the use of eminent domain. The use of Eminent domain requires paying land owners the fair market value of their property. It isn't "forfeiture".
“It isn’t “forfeiture”.”
It is if the person/family doesn’t want to sell. It is if they have to drive 50 miles to access their property.
You want imports...buy them over the NET.
Do you think that all the rights of ways for the roads you use were entirely obtained voluntarily? Do you really think a multi-billion dollar highway should have to be diverted 5, 10, 20, 50, or 100 miles out of the way at a cost of $10 millon a mile or more, just because one land owner in the optimal path of a highway doesn’t want to sell? Are the rights of land owners along the path of proposed transportation rights of way the only thing that matter to you? The state and federal government have always had the right of eminent domain for good reasons.
I’m glad they chose the route they did in Indiana. The area it runs through is isolated without any good roads to get there. It will help the economy for the people who live there. One of the reasons they chose this route is because it runs near Crane Naval Base.
ttc.keeptexasmoving.com/comments_questions/comments_i69.aspx
And that way, they'll somehow get to the user's address over the internet???
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