"A controversy over toll lanes and toll roads in Bexar County has now become a Federal fight."
Toll Road Fight Goes to Federal Court
10/22/07
Reported by: Ryan O'Donnell
WOAI.com (NBC)
Copyright 2007
On Monday afternoon, TURF attorneys filed another one with the Federal Government, hoping the courts make changes in how toll roads are decided.
On Monday afternoon, TURF attorneys filed another one with the Federal Government, hoping the courts make changes in how toll roads are decided.
A controversy over toll lanes and toll roads in Bexar County has now become a Federal fight.
Texans Uniting for Reform and Freedom, also known as 'TURF,' has filed a second lawsuit. They're trying to stop construction on anything you'd have to pay to drive on.
One lawsuit against the state is already pending. On Monday afternoon, TURF attorneys filed another one with the Federal Government, hoping the courts make changes in how toll roads are decided.
They want to put the power back in the hands of the people.
"We believe that it violates the fundamental rights of citizens and voters to equal protection of the law and freedom of speech," said TURF Attorney David Van Os.
David Van Os and the Texans Uniting for Reform and Freedom are outraged the group of non-elected board members for San Antonio and Bexar County are able to make million dollar transportation decisions using taxpayer money without the consent of the taxpayer.
"The people are fed up with our out of control abusive government," said TURF Director Terri Hall.
The issue is toll roads, and the idea is to give drivers an option: wait in traffic or pay 17 cents per mile to avoid it. But it would turn public highway lanes into toll roads.
"We're going to see less and less people at the restaurants because people are going to say, 'No, let's go bar-be-cue today because we're not going to pay five or six dollars in order to get to the restaurant,'" said MPO Board Member David Leibowitz.
TURF filed a lawsuit on Monday with the Federal Courts demanding a policy change forcing the board to listen, seek, and respond to what's in the best interest of the public.
"It needs to be cured," said County Commissioner Tommy Adkisson. "It would have been cured short of a lawsuit because there is not the willpower on the board, the willpower to do that, it doesn't exist on this current board."
Members of the MPO Board met on Monday to discuss toll rates for the first time. They plan to meet again December 4th.
According to TURF, the entire toll road project can't move forward without the MPO Board's approval.
© 2007 Clear Channel Broadcasting, Inc: www.woai.com
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10/22/07
Reported by: Ryan O'Donnell
WOAI.com (NBC)
Copyright 2007
On Monday afternoon, TURF attorneys filed another one with the Federal Government, hoping the courts make changes in how toll roads are decided.
On Monday afternoon, TURF attorneys filed another one with the Federal Government, hoping the courts make changes in how toll roads are decided.
A controversy over toll lanes and toll roads in Bexar County has now become a Federal fight.
Texans Uniting for Reform and Freedom, also known as 'TURF,' has filed a second lawsuit. They're trying to stop construction on anything you'd have to pay to drive on.
One lawsuit against the state is already pending. On Monday afternoon, TURF attorneys filed another one with the Federal Government, hoping the courts make changes in how toll roads are decided.
They want to put the power back in the hands of the people.
"We believe that it violates the fundamental rights of citizens and voters to equal protection of the law and freedom of speech," said TURF Attorney David Van Os.
David Van Os and the Texans Uniting for Reform and Freedom are outraged the group of non-elected board members for San Antonio and Bexar County are able to make million dollar transportation decisions using taxpayer money without the consent of the taxpayer.
"The people are fed up with our out of control abusive government," said TURF Director Terri Hall.
The issue is toll roads, and the idea is to give drivers an option: wait in traffic or pay 17 cents per mile to avoid it. But it would turn public highway lanes into toll roads.
"We're going to see less and less people at the restaurants because people are going to say, 'No, let's go bar-be-cue today because we're not going to pay five or six dollars in order to get to the restaurant,'" said MPO Board Member David Leibowitz.
TURF filed a lawsuit on Monday with the Federal Courts demanding a policy change forcing the board to listen, seek, and respond to what's in the best interest of the public.
"It needs to be cured," said County Commissioner Tommy Adkisson. "It would have been cured short of a lawsuit because there is not the willpower on the board, the willpower to do that, it doesn't exist on this current board."
Members of the MPO Board met on Monday to discuss toll rates for the first time. They plan to meet again December 4th.
According to TURF, the entire toll road project can't move forward without the MPO Board's approval.
© 2007 Clear Channel Broadcasting, Inc:
To search TTC News Archives click
To view the Trans-Texas Corridor Blog click
posted by Porkus Maximus Tex: at Monday, October 22, 2007
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