Trans-Texas Corridor Opponents Urge Lawmakers: “Don’t Tag Texas”

By Thom White

AUSTIN, Tex. March 25, 2007 -- Thousands from across the state attended a March 2 parade and rally protesting construction of the Trans-Texas Corridor (TTC), and many state legislators are now listening to Texans’ complaints.

Hank Gilbert, a rancher and businessman from Troup, estimated over 3,000 people attended the “Don’t Tag Texas” rally that he helped organize with Judith McGeary of Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance.

“Don’t Tag Texas” participants also voiced opposition to the National Animal Identification System (NAIS), a federal program attempting to register all livestock and poultry in the U.S. with RFID microchips. Jimmie Vaughan, former guitarist for the Fabulous Thunderbirds, provided some musical inspiration for the occasion with his brand new song, “Don’t Want No Shackles on Me,” which deals with the Big Brother blues. The song talks about invasive RFIDs and the crowd joined in on the chorus: “Shame on Big Brother -- Always trying to track and trace me.”

Reps. Lois Kolkhurst, Garnet Coleman and Nathan Macias spoke at the “Don’t Tag Texas” rally, showing genuine support in the legislature to investigate the people’s concerns about the TTC.

The day before the rally, Sen. John Carona, chairman of the Senate Transportation (and Homeland Security) Committee, held a hearing to allow the public to speak on the Trans-Texas Corridor and other issues. Sen. Carona estimates that 1,000 people showed up for the hearing and that the “overwhelming majority were against the TTC.” The Ft. Worth Weekly reported that Sen. Carona, “has introduced ten bills that together would severely curtail private business’s interest in building toll roads.”

Linda Curtis of Independent Texans says the legislature is finally seeing that, “Texans from across the socio-economic, racial, political, and geographic spectrum are sick and tired of political corruption ... [and] will not sit by while this administration (from Perry on down) prepares to bleed this state dry for the profit of a private corporation -- Spanish, Australian, or otherwise.”

The Austin American-Statesman (3/18/07) reported “A majority of House and Senate members have signed onto legislation that would put a two-year moratorium on private-public toll partnerships, a direct shot at the Trans-Texas Corridor.”

The 2-year moratorium on the TTC appears to have some of the strongest support, but on March 21, Sen. Carona was quoted saying he would not bring the bill up for a vote in the Transportation committee, much to the ire of toll road opponents. Sen. Carona was one of the first high-profile state politicians to publicly oppose TxDOT’s behavior and toll road plans, but now it is unclear on what side of the issue he stands.

Pro-toll bureaucrat Grady W. Smithey, Jr., of Duncanville, wrote in the Dallas Morning News that “a legislative moratorium on comprehensive development agreements would be catastrophic for the Dallas-Ft. Worth area.” He painted an apocalyptic view of the Metroplex’s future if roads remain being paid for with the gas tax. Toll road opponents’ actions may “condemn the next generation to a future of traffic-choked roads, fewer economic opportunities, increased air pollution and a diminished quality of life.”

Terri Hall of the San Antonio Toll Party says the fight is still not won for TTC opponents. “TxDOT continues to operate in complete denial of the reality of the situation. The governor’s Business Council’s own report ... says that toll roads are not necessary. The sky will not fall if we don’t build the TTC.”

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Some key bills being considered in the
Texas House and Senate in 2007 with their respective co-sponsors:

HB 154 (Joe Pickett, D-El Paso) relates to the abolition of the Texas Transportation Comm-ission and the creation of a Commissioner of Transportation as an elected statutory state officer accountable by public election.

HB 719 (David Leibowitz, D-Helotes) relates to limiting public-private partnerships on state highways.

HB 2772 (Lois Kolkhurst, R-Brenham) would put a two-year moratorium on public-private partnerships.

SB 149 (John Carona, D-Dallas) would prohibit non-compete clauses in tolling agreements.

SB 718 (Steve Ogden, R-Bryan): Would require TxDOT to explore placing the TTC along established highway routes.

SB 1267 (Robert Nichols, R-Jacksonville), a companion bill to HB 2772, would put a two-year moratorium on private entity toll projects and create a legislative study committee to analyze these projects.

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