Trans Texas Corridor Meeting in Denton

DentonDemocrats] Trans Texas Corridor Meeting in Denton
Tuesday night I attended the Denton meeting concerning the Trans Texas
Corridor to hand out fliers by Hank Gilbert, candidate for Agriculture
Commissioner, opposing the toll road, and calendar cards for Fred Head,
candidate for Comptroller. There was an important message for
Democrats
to learn from that meeting: the Republicans are just as angry about
the
road as the Democrats. (Gilbert was at a similar meeting 35 miles away
in Decatur.)

Much of the testimony here was given by some of the most influential
Republicans in Denton County, and all of it was negative. County
Commissioner Cynthia White is the incoming Chair for the NT Regional
Transportation Council, a group of elected officials from throughout
the
area who studied in depth how transportation in the area can be
improved.
Their alignment for recommended roads is much like the current I35E
and
I35W, only further to the east and west; she urged this route be
adopted.


She was followed by County Judge Mary Horn, who said that the North
Texas
Council of Governments also supports the NT RTC route, which saves
sixty
miles of freeway from being built since the TxDoT route goes so far to
the east. [This would, of course, save drivers 120 miles on a round
trip.] Horn pointed out that Carole Strayhorn, who was the first
speaker and gave a rip-roaring speech against the TTC, in her 2001
Performance Review of TxDOT said they should build more toll roads and
use more private companies to build and operate them.

Later, Charles Emery, an TRC member from Lewisville, expressed his
concerns about the route. Jack Miller, former Denton Mayor, repeated
that the TRC plan was well thought out and that governmental bodies
should work together on planning; their recommendations should be taken
"very seriusly." Several of these speakers, and Brian Mitchell?
Bishel?
suggested we instead upgrade I35 and other current roads. As plans
stand, there will be very few exits or cross-overs, thus cutting off
access from area cities, some of which may be split apart. Paying toll
to cross on these overpasses has even been suggested. This will ruin
the
farms the TxDoT route goes through; it will also cause serious problems
for volunteer fire departments and similar entities.

John Paul Eddy, UNT Professor Emeritus and former member of Denton
County's Transportaion Committee, pointed out that we need more limited
access highways and more rail lines, "but it must be done with a Texas
approach, not a foreign approach." He wants no outsourcing; Texas
should get the money. In addition, the environmental and agricultural
impact of the TTC is unknown.

Tom Collins, with the Christian Network, went so far as to point out
that
Spain was fascist in the past and this is an example of industrial and
military interests conducting public policy as in fascism. The
hearings
don't ask "if or when, but where we should place this plan." Going
even
further, John Campbell referred to a March 23, 2000, meeting in Waco of
Bush, Fox of Mexico, and Martin of Canada which a web site,
www.humaneventsonline.com, refers to as "fundamentlly an agreement to
erase our borders with Mexico and Canada," and "to establish a North
American Union" by 2010 without Congressional assent. Richard
Wilkinson
of Ponder pointed out that we helped bring on very low prices for crops
in Mexico, causing the U.S. to be flooded by Mexican workers. This
will
cause them to flood communities along the road even more.

Kevin James, who spent 16 years with the Environmental Health Agency,
urged everyone to find a copy of the "Executive Summary" leading to the
recommendations. Among items not evaluated, says the Summary, are "air
quality, river basins, land values, wet lands, wild life . . ." since
these cannot be easily quantified. On p.43 the interim effects of
"degradation of surface and subsurface waters" are said not to be
evaluated. His own summary: "Not an environmental impact study; this
is
a traffic study." James has begun growing wine grapes in Cooke County,
one of four counties (including also Montague, Fannin and Grayson)
designated by the Agriculture Dept. as uniquely suited to viniculture.
He pointed out the area includes some of the last stands of post oaks
from the Eastern Cross Timers--and we're "going to put a drag strip
through it?" And what is Oklahoma doing about extending the road?
Anything?

Other good points were made by Steve Stone, a Denton Real Estate
broker,
who "loves development" but believes this is "being driven down our
throats" and we will lose too much tax base; Chlo Stern, who also
desires a Texas contractor and believes that the "Lord gave us the land
to be used, not abused;" and Richard Muir of Sanger, who will lose old
family land on either the eastern (preferred) or western route and
fears
the payment for it after having lost some land to Lake Ray Roberts.

Shirley Spellerberg of Corinth, a power in the local Republican Party,
served on the Republican Platform Committee. They were very opposed
and
urged repeal of HB3588, since the road will cost $180 billion, remove
146
acres per mile of the richest farmland in the state (584,000 acres
total)
from the tax base, put the government-seized property in competition
with
private business, and increase pollution. The 200' utility zone,
carrying essential services such as telephone, electricity, cable, gas
pipes, etc., will become a "prime target for terrorists."

Chris Bell has put out two excellent statements on the topic, available
at and
. We must
publicize his views, but we must also enlist the support of
Republicans.
In Gainesville the night before more people were turned away than the
allowed seating of 455 persons, and there will be another meeting there
Friday night for those who couldn't get in the first time. Hank
Gilbert
told me of the long-time Republican Precinct Chair there who says he
will
do a fund-raiser for Gilbert and vote for him--anything to fight the
Trans Texas Corridor.

Edra Bogle, Denton

07/18/2006 Jerry Earwood