Despite an overwhelming public opposition to the CTRMA Moblity Plan for Austin (making our exiting roads into Toll Road), CAMPO voted 17 to 6 in favor of adopting the Toll Road plan last night.
That means that the MOPAC bridge over William Cannon Drive will cost you 50-75 cents everytime you cost that 1 mile section of MOPAC, starting next year (2005).
We LOST our fight last night.
You can read it in the newspaper - the newspaper that ENDORSED this plan on Saturday!
It's a complex issue, but the simple truth is out - the CTRMA can now convert any road into a Toll road, they can set the toll rates, they can waive them, they can discount them, but no matter where you drive, unless you are I-35, a Toll is in your future.
This is the absolute worst thing that could happen to Texas roads, and it will spread to El Paso, Houston, and Dallas like the flue.
What we heard last night, was that TxDOT has failed to address the Texas Transportation issues and that they only thing they think about or do anything about, is building roads.
Not bike trails, not Mass Transit, not commuter rail - highways. And we don't elect those people - they are appointed (as are CTRMA people).
The confict of interests are everywhere, the contruction companies are drooling and have almost no risk in building new Toll roads. And, if we haven't learned anything from the graft and corruption, if not utter disappointment from Toll Roads in the North East of California, Texas has just taken a giant step backwards. This is Austin bashing at it's worst and you can thank our Governor PeaBrain and his cross-eyed Texas legislature for Messin' with Texas!
The fight is on now, but since we didn't cut them off a the pass, it's going to be a very long and hard political and legal battle to reclaim the roads that Tax payers already own and paid for.
If you think school finance is a big deal, this Texas Toll road fever is going really open your eyes and it will hurt you, everytime you get in your car.
I propose that we name a toll gate after each and every one of the infamous 17 CAMPO members who just ruined your way of life.
Starting with the Bob Daigh Toll Booth from hell.
That means that the MOPAC bridge over William Cannon Drive will cost you 50-75 cents everytime you cost that 1 mile section of MOPAC, starting next year (2005).
We LOST our fight last night.
You can read it in the newspaper - the newspaper that ENDORSED this plan on Saturday!
It's a complex issue, but the simple truth is out - the CTRMA can now convert any road into a Toll road, they can set the toll rates, they can waive them, they can discount them, but no matter where you drive, unless you are I-35, a Toll is in your future.
This is the absolute worst thing that could happen to Texas roads, and it will spread to El Paso, Houston, and Dallas like the flue.
What we heard last night, was that TxDOT has failed to address the Texas Transportation issues and that they only thing they think about or do anything about, is building roads.
Not bike trails, not Mass Transit, not commuter rail - highways. And we don't elect those people - they are appointed (as are CTRMA people).
The confict of interests are everywhere, the contruction companies are drooling and have almost no risk in building new Toll roads. And, if we haven't learned anything from the graft and corruption, if not utter disappointment from Toll Roads in the North East of California, Texas has just taken a giant step backwards. This is Austin bashing at it's worst and you can thank our Governor PeaBrain and his cross-eyed Texas legislature for Messin' with Texas!
The fight is on now, but since we didn't cut them off a the pass, it's going to be a very long and hard political and legal battle to reclaim the roads that Tax payers already own and paid for.
If you think school finance is a big deal, this Texas Toll road fever is going really open your eyes and it will hurt you, everytime you get in your car.
I propose that we name a toll gate after each and every one of the infamous 17 CAMPO members who just ruined your way of life.
Starting with the Bob Daigh Toll Booth from hell.