Posted on 04/30/2009 6:43:35 AM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
The proposed toll road along US 290 East discriminates against low-income and minority populations in Austin, according to a complaint filed with the Federal Highway Administration.
Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA), the leading provider of legal aid in Texas, in conjunction with the SOS Alliance and the Center on Race, Poverty and the Environment, filed the complaint on behalf of three Travis County residents and the Bluebonnet Neighborhood Association.
Filed against the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority (CTRMA), and the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO), the complaint argues that the toll road project violates Title VI of the Civil Rights Act by having a disproportionate impact on the low-income and minority communities that surround and use the highway.
"The toll road will create a class distinction between those who are and are not able to use it," said TRLA attorney D'Ann Johnson. "Low-income residents will be forced to either use congested frontage roads or spend an unreasonable amount of their income on tolls."
According to the complaint, the project would impose economic hardships, increase health and safety risks and increase traffic in the neighboring communities. The complaint also argues that previous reviews of the toll road project have underestimated the impact it will have on neighboring communities and low-income residents who currently use U.S. 290 East for their commute.
Added Johnson, "The impacts of this toll road will not be felt equally among Austin residents. Specific communities are being forced to bear the weight of this burden and won't reap its benefits."
A copy of the complaint can be found at http://budurl.com/tollroadcomplaint.
They want to put tolls back in CT , but only in border areas maybe we should cry discrimination.
/sarc
1. If only rich white people can afford to travel on this road, isn't it a good thing it is more dangerous?
2. If it increases traffic in these communities, does that not help the economy?
This complaint seems to throw a bunch of contradictory statements out there hoping one will somehow stick.
I agree let's privatize the county airports first.
Well, I guess these low income people could always move to a state where there is an income tax with which to build roads. In those states they can be exempt from paying taxes and get everyone who has to pay the tax to pay their share also. But when funds are raised based on use or consumption, you usually can’t get those nifty exemptions. Cry me a river.
America. Yeah, right, yadayadayada.
Why not just eliminate money? That will stop it!
“Low-income residents will be forced to either use congested frontage roads or spend an unreasonable amount of their income on tolls.”
Welcome to my world!!!!!
I avoid 183 toll and MOPAC toll like the plague.....
That's the one thing I like about using the toll roads.
There’s a simple answer to this problem.
Tax the rich.
. So far, I have paid 50 cents in tolls, and that's only because I was in the wrong lane at the wrong time, and had to enter the toll road.
I don't have a problem if they are handy for other folks--but as long as there is another road that gets me to the same place, I'm happy.
Of course if I had to go to work every day during rush hour, I'm sure I'd have a far different attitude.
Did anybody get stuck in traffic the other day when Plugs Biden was in town. They make such a circus out of getting those "important big people" around.
Stick the guy in a plain ole beige SUV and no one would ever notice him. Good grief! It looked like his police escort consisted of every cop in Austin and the surrounding counties.
The proposed toll road along US 290 East discriminates against low-income and minority populations in Austin, according to a complaint filed with the Federal Highway Administration. ... "The toll road will create a class distinction between those who are and are not able to use it," said TRLA attorney D'Ann Johnson. "Low-income residents will be forced to either use congested frontage roads or spend an unreasonable amount of their income on tolls."
Then Gas Taxes discriminates
License Plates (tags) discriminates
Then Cigarette Taxes discriminates
Then Liquor Taxes discriminates
Mandatory Car Insurance discriminates
Car payments discriminates
Auto maintenance costs discriminates
Apartment Rent discriminates
Home Owners Insurance discriminates
And House payments discriminates.
OOPs scratch that. They're already want free houses.
It all goes back to illegals. Kick them out and we won't have to constantly build new roads.
I agree, and oppose them because it is an illegal usage of imminent domain.
To exercise the power of eminent domain, the government must prove that the four elements set forth in the Fifth Amendment are present: (1) private property (2) must be taken (3) for public use (4) and with just compensation. These elements have been interpreted broadly.
Number three, it is not for public usage if it is closed to the total public.
I can't believe they have an online news site.
Elgin is pretty simple.
I think a civil rights theme song is in order - maybe “We Shall Overpass”
It’s an added expense for the drug dealers as they ship their wares from Mexico....
Whining from the liberals in east Austin again. There are more toll roads from the NW section of Travis / Williamson county area than on the east side.
Our gasoline taxes are supposed to pay for the roads-—
AMEN!!!!
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