800+ Pack Town Hall To Oppose TTC-69

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KHOU NEWS - Residents are speaking out about a controversial highway that would cut right through the state.

The state plans to build a 4,000-mile network of super-highway toll roads. In Hempstead on Tuesday, many residents said that road could cost them their property.

Odis Styers owns hundreds of acres north, east and west of town. But the traffic that now travels through on State Highway 290 could interrupt his peace.
Also online

Copy of proposed route of Trans-Texas Corridor (pdf)

Keep Texas Moving Web site, including schedule of upcoming public meetings

TURF, Trans-Texas Corridor opposition group Web site

Citizens for a Better Waller County

A TxDOT super highway could soon plow through the middle of his property.

"They are talking about going through prime ranch country, prime farm country and that's limited," said Styers. "I'm in the cattle business and that would put me out of business."

The I-69 Trans Texas Corridor would run from Mexico to Texarkana. Exactly how it will get from Point A to Point B is still up in the air. But a proposed map shows the area the state is now studying.

It's wide swath of Texas land cutting through Waller County.

"We are looking at a new system to provide us for the next generation of jobs and congestion," said TxDOT spokesman Norm Wigington. "If we do not do anything that means that there will be congestion. We know that people are coming here in great numbers."

But business owners already here, don't want to see their town split down the middle.

"It's going to be like a huge river that's only going to have a bridge every now and then," said property owner Matthew Menke. "And it's going to isolate certain areas. And where they decide to lay it. We are going to be at their mercy."

TxDOT officials said the highway won't be different from any other roadway that would be built through a community.

"State law requires TxDOT to build crossings for all state and federal highways and to maintain as many local road crossings as possible," said spokesman Chris Lippincott. "We are required to work with local officials to identify all roads of significance and create crossings for them."

Property owners have been asking questions, but, "It doesn't seem like you can find answers from the state reps or the senate," said Styers.

And so a lot of people who live in this quiet country and starting to make some noise.

Tuesday night, they packed in for a public hearing on the Trans-Texas Corridor. Most gave state officials more than just an earful.

Property owners worry the state will shortchange them on any land it buys, even as TxDOT insists fair market value will be observed.

The Trans-Texas Corridor would eventually include rail lines, toll ways for vehicles, utility lines for water, power and even data transfer.

Opponents, including the Waller County Commissioners Court, say that is a mistake.

Opponents have spent years protesting the proposed network of roads between Mexico and Texas.

They argue the total cost of $125 billion is really to help big business and not the small towns where they live.

"The citizens here are not going to bear the burden so Wal-Mart can get their cargo into the U.S. cheaper and faster," said Trey Duhon, one of the estimated 800 who packed into the meeting Tuesday night in Hempstead.

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Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• HOUSTON
• TRANS
• TEXAS
• CORRIDOR
• ttc
• ttc69
• ttc-69
• hempstead
• txdot
• toll
• roads
• tax
• land
• grab
• wal-mart
• perry
• waller
• county

[Jeff000000000000000]

Lock and load, TX, lock and load. TX has the support of many other Americans to protect our freedom. liberty, and soverignty.

[danitexas]

This is a travesty... blood will shed before it is allowed to be built.

[CZRXCZR]

Im a Californian and you Texans have to do whatever it takes to stop this shit! You will have the support of CA. The TTC is a result of good ole' NAFTA. By the way, the funding for this is coming from Spain.

[ScrewdUPClickV2]

ya great .. lets just take us-59 thats already been payed for .. add some new asphault and call it a new toll road ,, yes thats texas for u

[refresh967]

yeah i heard california's economy is going to h*** cuz instead of using there ports there using mexico ports

[refresh967]

sorry for you cuz if the nau happens and they see your comment you gonna be in jail. but i probaly wont happen

[DrewDawg50]

If the people of Texas don't want the road, it won't happen. Texans just have make all road workers and equipment disappear. Eventually people will just stop taking the work because it'll be too risky.

[karlam325]

It's time stop "GIVING AWAY" America.

I don't know of one single TEXAN that thinks the TTC is good.

GEORGE BUSH IS NO TEXAN - CARPETBAGGER

WINDSHIELD COWBOY....

Can you imagine driving on a highway in the U.S. that is policed by Mexico and owned by SPAIN? We (U.S. citizens) cannot allow this to happen!

[pork4allah]

We Texans DO NOT WANT THE Trans Texas Corridor. You can take your NAU and SPP deals and shove it up your rear end or better yet up CFR David Rockefeller's rear end. President Bush is a TRAITOR and in violation of the Logan Act. We Texans want nothing to do with any of Bush's hidden agenda and secret societies. We will fight your NWO efforts because you bring chains to our FREEDOM.

[karlam325]

It's VITAL to lining the pockets of self-serving individuals.

FOLLOW THE MONEY..............

[karlam325]

bush, perry and every other politician has sold us out.

McCain is a cookie cutter version.

VOTE EVERYONE OUT.