Lufkin mayor supports I-69 — if it follows current U.S. 59

The Lufkin Daily News ^ | April 12, 2008 | Brittony Lund

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Sorry, my bad. Links from article with the CORRECT HTML supplied and posted to the RIGHT ping list:

ttc.keeptexasmoving.com/comments_questions/comments_i69.aspx

ttc.keeptexasmoving.com/projects/i69/deis_overview.aspx

[ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas]

>>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.

[Paleo Conservative]

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.

[ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas]

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.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT

[wolfcreek]

“Are the rights of land owners along the path of proposed transportation rights of way the only thing that matter to you?”

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!

[wolfcreek]

QUE!

[wolfcreek]

It's NOT necessary to sell your livelihood, your ass and your soul to participate in the global economy.

[ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas]

>>It's NOT necessary to sell your livelihood, your ass and your soul to participate in the global economy.<<

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?

Bill Gates: "The fact is the United States is 5 percent of the world's people. At some point we are going to have 5 percent of the world's influence and that's OK," he said.

No, that's not OK, Bill. The USA is a special place and the world needs us.

[Paleo Conservative]

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.

[wolfcreek]

“What’s absurd about the size of the TTC project?”

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?

[Paleo Conservative]

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

Quite a bit of it will be in west Texas

">

Are you a native Texan?

5th generation.

[wolfcreek]

The reason the I-35 corridor and eastward is growing will be it's ultimate downfall. Availability of water to support such large increases in population will slow the *anticipated* growth.

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.