Wednesday, February 06, 2008

"Don't fall into unconditional love with the lawmakers over this sudden swing against TxDOT. They still need constant watching."

Traffic...Toll Roads Threat Keeps Some From Buying Beyond Loop 1604

2/6/08

Larry Nolan Stewart
San Antonio Real Estate news
Copyright 2008

What do toll roads and real estate have in common? Nothing? Something? Plenty?

As if things were not tough enough, selling your home in some areas around San Antonio can be complicated by the growing unpopularity of driving north on U. S. Highway 281 or west on IH-10.

There are many who claim that over development and under planning have created a traffic mess that turns many buyers in other directions. By the time house hunters navigate to Stone Oak and points beyond, for a simple house hunt they envision their investment of many hours of time and dollars on fuel just to go to and from work in the city.

Time conscious real estate professionals are not wild about the drive either. As a drive to the Texas Hill Country turns into a drive into the 'paved over' Texas Hill Country the song of the hills grows weak to some buyers.

The trip to Boerne is about the same. When you get there you reach a nice small town that is being turned into little San Antonio. The traffic jams are a revenue builder for law enforcement as frustrated drivers finally get a stretch of open road and put the hammer down! The rearview mirror turns red and the blood pressure goes up when a host of DPS, county sheriffs and others lay in wait for the hapless motorists that finally see an end to stop and go traffic.

This is not to say don't go. My comments are simply a reflection of what I see and hear. Buyers are discovering China Grove and Lavernia to the east and Wilson County down around Floresville. There is life in the other than north directions. Inside Loop 410 is looking better to many.

Buyers seeking the country life would do well to assess the situation and make certain that the trade off is one they can be happy with.

TxDOT and many local politicians have been "dictating" toll roads as 'THE' solution rather than 'A' solution.

Activists like Terry Hall the San Antonio Toll Party, R. G. Griffing, a.k.a. 'Dr. Dan the Scandal Man' at his San Antonio Lightning online newspaper, and our local talk radio hosts have created so much media attention to TxDOT and Governor Rick Perry's toll road agenda, a few Texas Senators have made scathing critical comments to and about TxDOT.

We should remember that we did not hear much from the senators when the toll roads fight was young.

Could it be that their wrath is real or is it a case of checking to see which way the wind is blowing after the above local champions for honesty did the senators jobs for them?

Don't fall into unconditional love with the lawmakers over this sudden swing against TxDOT. They still need constant watching. Let them know that you expect changes.


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