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State Transportation Officials Affirm Toll Road Policy
The Texas Transportation Commission adopted an order Thursday governing toll road projects and the controversial Trans-Texas Corridor.
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(May 29, 2008)--Transportation Commission Chair Deirdre Delisi, the daughter-in-law of veteran State Rep. Dianne White Delisi, R-Temple, led her first meeting Thursday and expressed a desire to build public trust in the transportation agency.
The commissioners adopted an order governing toll projects and the Trans-Texas Corridor.
They also set out to improve citizen and legislative access to Texas Department of Transportation's financial data.
The commission unanimously agreed that all Texas highways will be owned by the state, not private developers, the state may buy back the interest of a private road developer, only expansions to existing highways will be tolled and existing free lanes won't be reduced, and "non-compete clauses" will be banned, meaning no state contract will limit improvements to nearby existing roads.
Transportation Chair Delisi's political ties to Gov. Rick Perry drew criticism when he appointed her.
She said Thursday the commission’s vote is a reflection of comments received from Texas motorists, lawmakers and members of advisory committees.
"Texans deserve a clear, straightforward explanation of what we are doing to solve our transportation challenges and how we are doing it,” she said.
The commission also affirmed that the Texas Department of Transportation will always consider the use of existing rights of way that meet the purpose and needs of projects when conducting environmental studies and will plan “to the extent practical” facilities so landowners’ property isn’t dissected.
"As we work to develop important projects like a parallel corridor to I-35 and the long-awaited I-69, we will work toward meeting our goals with these important principles in mind," Delisi said.
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Latest Comments
Texas does not need the Texas Terrorist Corridor, nor do we need to pay more to drive on Texas roads, if you want to pay to drive we already pay enough at the pump. Gov Perry needs to get a grip and realize that this is Texas, not California or New York and we want to keep it that way. We do need to take a lesson from the toll road construction that was already constructed and get TXDOT to build the roads faster; how long does it take to improve I-35? this has been going on for over a decade, Toll Road 45 took a couple of years and was early for completion, do the same for the public roads and don't sell out to some South American company, and put the money back into our economy.
I wouldn't put a lot of trust in her yet. One part of the article is still disturbing: "only expansions to existing highways will be tolled". That still means that a 4th lane on each side through Waco could still be a toll lane. There still is no commitment to increasing the lanes between Waco and Hillsboro without making them toll lanes either. The new 130 toll bypass around Austin has done little to remove congestion from I-35 and at over $5 to use 130, that is very pricey. I don't trust anyone with TXDOT until I see actions in place of words. If TXDOT wants to build new Interstates as toll roads, that is fine, but they should never add tolls to new lanes on existing highways. BTW, she is from Temple so she is already biased against Waco as well.
Looks promising. They have already started the expansion of I-35 south of Highway 6. Looking forward to 3 years of construction for 3 lanes in both directions to Lorena.
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