Like I said, one new road in unpopulated areas of W.Texas would be more
Quite a bit of it will be in west Texas
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Are you a native Texan?
5th generation.
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."
ttc.keeptexasmoving.com/comments_questions/comments_i69.aspx
>>Foreign trucks should be required to meet US standards to drive on all US highways.<<
The US Congress voted to stop allowing a NAFTA-related Mexican truck program, because the DOT ignored safety requirements, but US DOT ignores congress. Unfortunately, what “should be” is irrelevant to those who see the US not as a sovereign nation, but as a colony subservient to international control. I think trade is a good thing, but projects that look like NAU infrastructure need more airing out.
The sneakiness of the TTC project (reminds me of the amnesty bill last year) worries me and many other Texans. The 2004 Texas Republican Party platform calls for the the repeal of the TTC. My 2008 county Republican convention voted to have a voter referendum on repealing the TTC legislation.
Care to speculate on whether illegal aliens would be working on the TTC (if it goes forward)? I’ll take a wild guess and say yes.
Texas has the 4 fastest growing metro areas in the US. The need for surface transportation between those cities and across the state isn’t going to be met by mererly incremntally expanding the existing highways. I-35 can’t be expanded to more than 3 lanes each direction without either really expensive elevated lanes from south of San Antonio all the way to Hillsboro or acquiring lots of expensive rights of way on already developed land next to the existing I-35 right of way. It’s cheaper to build a whole new highway on a new undeveloped right of way than trying to expand the existing highway beyond 3 lanes each direction. The TTC also has rights of way for high speed freight rail adjacent to the highway right of way that will be completely double tracked and grade separated from one state border to the other. This will allow much greater use of rail to transport goods within Texas and relieve some of the burden on our highways.
And why should foreign workers and investors get the contracts?
I am not opposed to better highways, but I don’t like the sneaky way they are trying to proceed.
BTTT
To the extent of these projects, the terms, participants, their absurd size and locations, YES. Will of the people and all that. Just because the Neo-Liberals want it doesn't make it pertinent. If it were one road through unpopulated portions of West Texas, there might be more acceptance. Taking away valuable farm and ranch land from the folks who originally settled Texas will never fly. COME AND TAKE IT!
QUE!
It seems to me that some politicians and business people are willing to sell this country to the highest bidder. Even some FReepers seem convinced that US citizens are not fit to hold a job.
A farmer could make more money this by selling his land, but how will he feed his kids next year?
No, that's not OK, Bill. The USA is a special place and the world needs us.
What’s absurd about the size of the TTC project? In 50 years, the population of Texas will be about 50 million people. Having room for multiple modes of transportation in each corridor decreases the need to disrupt multiple sets of land owners for each type of transportation. Texas has the 4 fastest growing metro areas in the country, and three of them are located on one Interstate highway. Taking 30 years to upgrade one Interstate by 50% isn’t going to cut it. It’s cheaper to build new higways on entirely new right of way than to try to upgrade exising ones to the capacities that will be needed.
4000 miles of new road and the paving over of some 500,000 acres.
Like I said, one new road in unpopulated areas of W.Texas would be more palatable and take care of your insatiable thirst for Chinese crap. BTW: (and I ask this of everyone) Are you a native Texan?
Like I said, one new road in unpopulated areas of W.Texas would be more
Quite a bit of it will be in west Texas
">
Are you a native Texan?
5th generation.
The LCRA is selling water from the Highland lakes at a rapid pace even though just 2 summers ago, some neighborhoods were having to ship water in.
We don't need more people, we need more sustainable conditions for the folks that are here. Paving over thousands of acres for new roads can only exacerbate the water situation and damage the overall environment.
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