HB1892 Passes with HB2772 Language

A two-year moratorium on private toll roads that won preliminary approval in the House on Tuesday would put the brakes on eight near-term projects in the state, including the Trans-Texas Corridor, a superhighway that a private firm received a contract for earlier this year...... more

HB1892 will require the state to create a commission to study the effects of private equity toll roads and present findings to the state next year but would not affect projects planned by regional mobility authorities. The bill also exempts all projects that fall within the boundaries of the four-county North Texas Tollway Authority in Dallas-Fortworth.

SB 1267 Voted Out of Committee

This from corridorwatch.org:

The Senate Transportation and Homeland Security Committee voted today to send Senate Bill 1267 to the full Senate.

SB1267 is no longer held up in committee. Within days of Lt. Governor David Dewhurst directing Chairman Carona to move SB1267 out of committee, it has been done.

By unanimous vote the Transportation and Homeland Security Committee voted today to send a slightly modified SB1267 to the full Senate. Given up were managed lanes added to existing highways as well as the ban on any deal if it is approved by the County Commissioner's Court.

Lt. Governor Dewhurst Key to Movement.

Your efforts to let the Lt. Governor know how important this issue is to Texans played a big part in getting the bill moving again. But it's not over yet. Dewhurst has told Carona that he will delay the Senate vote to give the Chairman time to broker a compromise.

Accordingly, we need to make sure that the bill gets voted on in time to overcome the promised veto. The only person standing in the way of that vote today is Lt. Governor Dewhurst.

We still need your Representative's support.

Isn't incredible that House Transportation Chair Mike Krusee alone stands between more than 70% of the House members, including a majority on his own committee, that want to see HB2772 passed?

Once again we need to make sure that everyone of our Representatives knows that we still demand action on House Bill 2772.

We Keep Moving Closer - Stay Tuned.

This week there has been positive movement towards achieving a 30-month hold on many bad CDA deals, including TTC-35. At the same time lots of arm twisting and questionable negotiations are taking place behind the scenes in an effort to stop progress.

CorridorWatch will continue to monitor and report on both the action and inaction.

David & Linda Stall, Co-founders

CorridorWatch.org

All 3 Texas Parties Oppose the TTC

So why are we still having this debate?

It's time for our representatives to step up and support HB2772 and SB1267.

2006 TX Republican Party Platform
Page-10. "Tran-Texas Corridor - Because there are issues of confiscation of private land, state and national sovereignty and other similar concerns, we urge the repeal of the Trans-Texas Corridor legislation,”

Page-24. "Tolls on Existing Roads - We oppose tolls charged for traversing previously toll free roadways and disallow continued tolls except for maintenance on existing toll roads already paid for."


2006 Texas Democratic Party Platform
Page 21. "We oppose the proposed Trans-Texas Corridor, a proposal that is little more than an attempt to transfer ownership of a strip down the middle of the state to a foreign corporation with close ties to the Governor, which could have a potentially devastating effect on rural areas, property owners and communities."


2006 Texas Libertarian Party Platform
"3. TOLL ROADS Libertarians oppose the Trans Texas Corridor Act, a costly boondoggle intended to benefit land developers through the abuse of eminent domain and the power of highway monopoly. Further, we support legislation that would forbid tolls on any highway right of way which was obtained with tax dollars or through the use of eminent domain or condemnation."

Contacted My State Reps about HB2772 / SB1267

As you probably know by now, there are 2 identical bills by the TX House (HB2772) and Senate (SB1267) that would from a legislative committee to study the implications of comprehensive development agreements (CDA) used to give control of roads to private entities.

My House Rep, Mike Krusee, has not signed on yet so I sent him this message. It's short and to the point. Feel free to copy and edit if you need to contact your REPs.

Dear Representative Mike Krusee,

Subject: Support HB 2772

I live in House District 52 and I ask you to represent my family by supporting HB 2772. We have read, completely understand and completely support the content of the bill including public hearings and a legislative committee to study the implications of comprehensive development agreements.

Thank you,

DON'T KNOW WHO YOUR REPs ARE? Look it up here