Numerous citizens are expressing satisfaction about the recent
news about TTC-69 to the effect that "it's over, we won". I find
that conclusion very disturbing because it is a very dangerous
mirage to buy into.
Yes, the Texas Transportation
Commissioners and TxDOT bigwigs have 'told us' that Waller
County and its neighbors Austin, Grimes, and Walker Counties are
no longer being considered as a western TTC-69 loop around
Houston. And they have said that "wherever possible" they will
follow the existing footprint and right of way of US 59 for the
600+ mileTrans-Texas Corridor 69 as it is developed from Laredo
through East Texas to points on the Arkansas and Louisiana
borders.
What they did not remind you of include the following
established facts:
- House Bill 3588 remains law with the same design
features & intent to auction off our public transportation
assets to global consortiums for toll revenues.
- The governor's appointees on the Texas Transportation
Commission remain loyal to his transportation policies which
include numerous TTC projects and the intent to assess other
state roadways as toll road viable "commodities".
- CDAs or public-private partnerships with 50 year
secretive contract terms remain the "financing tool of
choice" with the Transportation Commissioners and TxDOT.
- The moratorium that prevents TxDOT from signing CDA
contracts expires with the end of the 2009 session.
- The TTC-35 and TTC-69 continue to go forward with a
TTC-69 $5 million design contract
awarded by TxDOT on Jun 26, 2008 to
Zachry & ACS (Actividades de Construcción y Servicios, S.A),
Dragados, UBS, SICE, and Steer Davies Gleave.
- The eminent domain realities leave all Texas property
owners helpless to control their properties or receive any
particular assessed value for them in condemnation.
- No amendment exists to trigger an override session to
overturn the governor's vetoes with veto-proof legislative
majorities.
- Reforms of the Texas Transportation Commission & TxDOT
and restrictions on Trans-Texas Corridors & state toll roads
will only happen if OUR legislators make
changes in the laws in the 81st Session of the legislature
beginning on January 13, 2009.
Now, does that sound as if we should declare victory and
ignore the realities? In a word... NO, unless we want to lose
the ground we have worked for. But it does suggest that we ALL
have some important work to do to influence our
legislators to protect our public transportation
assets and shape transportation policy for the people
of Texas.
Martha Estes mestes@att.net
