Posted on 11/15/2008 5:23:53 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
A San Antonio lawmaker filed a bill that would repeal the establishment and operation of the Trans-Texas Corridor. It’s not the first time he’s done so.
In the 2007 legislative session, Rep. David Leibowitz filed an identical bill, but it languished in the House Transportation Committee without a hearing.
Leibowitz spokesman Rob Borja said the legislation may have a better fate the second time around. At least four of the nine committee members will change this session, including the chairman.
“Probably most important is there will be a new chairman, because the old chairman Mike Krusee wouldn’t let any bills that were sort of anti-toll road or anti-Trans-Texas Corridor even get a hearing,” Borja said.
If signed into law, H.B. 11 would make the corridor a non-entity, taking it off the state statute, Borja said.
Leibowitz, a harsh critic of the TTC, filed the bill Monday, the first day lawmakers could file legislation for the 2009 session, which begins Jan. 13.
Ralph Sheffield, newly elected state representative for District 55 which includes most of Bell County, said he would not comment without seeing the bill but remained steadfast in his opposition to the TTC.
“I am totally opposed to the corridor,” Sheffield said from Austin on Thursday morning. “We’ll fight for everyone’s property rights in regards to that. I haven’t changed my stance on that. We need to solve our transportation needs, but that’s (TTC) not the right process.”
State Sen. Troy Fraser, R-Horseshoe Bay, also represents Bell County at the state capitol. He couldn’t be reached Thursday, but opposed the TTC in previous statements. He supports improving the state’s current highway system rather than building the corridor.
A commission of elected city and school officials from Bell and Milam County is fighting the corridor by confronting TxDOT on environmental issues. Mae Smith, president of the Eastern Central Texas Sub-regional Planning Commission, said her group would continue to demand transparency from TxDOT regarding the environmental impact study now under way.
When the study is complete, a TxDOT official said they will make it public from 30 to 45 days before sending it to the Federal Highway Administration for an up or down vote on whether to build the corridor.
If the Federal Highway Administration approves building the corridor, then a phase two study will commence, which determines the final site.
In reply to your question to another poster soliciting ideas for handling increasing south-north traffic across Texas, here’s what I think:
It’s crazy to keep funneling virtually all north-south traffic through Dallas-Fort Worth, thus causing congestion, increased pollution, and the capacity nightmare we face.
We need to disperse traffic, not condense it. There is no reason (other than to appease the DFW business lobby) to force everyone who wants to get from south Texas to Oklahoma to drive through the metroplex.
We need to widen existing routes, four-lane controlled acess highways criss-crossing the state. This approach would not only decrease congestion and clean up Dallas air, it would also bring business and prosperity to smaller cities in other parts of the state.
It would be good for all of us.
From Houston to Paris, tying into the Indian Nation Turnpike at Hugo, OK.
Del Rio to Midland to Lubbock to Amarillo and north.
Laredo and Corpus to San Antonio to Stephenville to Wichita Falls and tie into I-44 at the Oklahoma border.
Or Laredo to Junction to Abilene and northward.
Look at a Texas map. It’s obvious what needs to be done. But common sense hasn’t had a hand in recent transportation planning in Texas. It’s all about money, not the common good.
Hope I’ve given you some realistic suggestions. I wish someone with influence would listen.
By the way — I’m native-born sixth generation Texan, virulently opposed to the TTC.
“Look at a Texas map”
It’s not necessary for me to look at a Texas map. I lived in Midland for ten years and during that period drove virtually every road in west Texas, the Trans Pacos, Big Bend and many up in the Pan Handle. All of your ideas have merit. The only one that would probably not be politicaly possible is the one that would intringe on the Fort Davis, Alpine area as this area is turning into an enclave for artsy, craftsy types looking for some solitude and thereby don’t want their karma disturbed. Personally, I sort of like that area the way it is too.
But, like it or not, additional highway capacity is going to be built somewhere. My vote is to build the additional capacity along I-35, either the TTC plan or some other version. Heck, this corridor is already trashed up so why trash up other parts of this great state by building another north/south corridor?
Btw, guess you have senority on TxMa and me by one generation :)
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