Thursday, February 10, 2005

Speed Bump?

Speed bump for highway

Staff and Wire Reports
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Copyright 2005

Farmers oppose it, metro area officials are upset about it and now state lawmakers have their own concerns about the Trans -Texas Corridor , Gov. Rick Perry's $184 billion plan to build megahighways around the state.

While the Legislature would seem unlikely to put the brakes on Perry's ambitious transportation plan, lawmakers appear willing to start tinkering with policies regarding tolls, eminent domain and just how wide the corridor will be.

"Change brings about cause for concern," said state Sen. Todd Staples, R-Palestine, chairman of the Senate Committee on Transportation and Homeland Security.

The committee heard invited testimony from state Transportation Commissioner Robert Nichols, the Texas Farm Bureau and other groups affected by the plan that could include concrete and rail corridors snaking around the state and stretching as wide as 1,200 feet in some areas, with enough room for cars, trucks, trains, pipelines and utility cables.

-- Compiled from staff and wire reports

Fort Worth Star-Telegram: www.dfw.com

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