Monday, June 19, 2006

North Texas legislators waver in their support of Trans-Texas Corridor

FUEL FOR THOUGHT

A road project for which the Lege tolls

6/19/06

By Gordon Dickson
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Copyright 2006

North Texas legislators may be teetering in their support for the Texas Department of Transportation's plan to build a statewide web of toll roads.

State Sen. Kim Brimer, R-Fort Worth, threatened last week to pull his support for the proposed Trans-Texas Corridor toll-road system unless the agency finds a way to make the project fit better into the Metroplex's regional plan. Area leaders say they want a new outer loop around Dallas-Fort Worth, but the private team Cintra Zachry wants to bypass the area instead.

Brimer reminded Transportation Commission Chairman Ric Williamson of Weatherford of the opposition to Trans-Texas in less congested areas.

"What recourse does the Metroplex have except to join the rural folks in seeing that it doesn't happen?"

Williamson and Assistant Director Amadeo Saenz attempted to soothe nerves, saying there's plenty of time in the next year to change the route, as part of a federal environmental study.

State Sen. Florence Shapiro, R-Plano, jumped on Williamson for not inviting the North Texas Tollway Authority, which already runs toll roads in the Dallas area, to help build Trans-Texas.

© 2006 Fort Worth Star-Telegram: www.dfw.com

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