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.

The 7 good guys are

7 CAMPO members voted against this Toll plan, so give them credit for not caving in:


Daryl Slusher (Austin City Council)
Terry Keel (state rep)
Todd Baxter (state rep)
Elliott Naishtat (state rep)
Eddit Rodrigquez (state rep)
Gerald Daugherty (County Commissioner)
(plus one other name I didn't catch)

Notably supporters that failed us:

Mayor Will Wynn (Austin)
Danny Thomas (Austin)
Brewster McCracken (Austin)
Judge Sam Bisco (Travis County)
Karen Sonleitner (Travis county comm)
Mayor Dwight Thompson (Westlake)


And, let me tell you, Brewster McCracken sold us out, but somehow managed to partner with Karen Sonleightner to keep Highway 360 OFF the Toll Plan, at least until local HOA's could participate in the planning!

And Dawna Dukes bailed out, too. She thinks Title VI (Civil Rights and minority protections) were needed and she's worried that East Austin doesn't have to pay more than their share of Tolls, but she was happy dump on the rest of us!


Well, folks, all but two of these CAMPO members are elected officials. Lets make sure that they are reminded of this mess, when their time comes up! I'll be here to remind you, too.

''Remember the CAMPO''

''Remember the CAMPO!'' should be the rallying cry for defeating the individuals that voted to approve this toll plan.

By the way, Jack Stick, State Representative, was the other one that voted against the toll plan.

Thanks to you and your sidekick

I know you mean well Russ. But I think you and your friends have cost us the chance to keep the new MoPAC bridge over William Cannon toll free.

If we focused on that one issue we could have prevailed, just like the people who focused on 360 stopped that from becoming a toll road.

But you guys opposed all the toll roads, which wasn't going to happen, and paid for vitriolic, badly reasoned newspaper ads and mail pieces, that were counterproductive.

I'm glad you didn't call Governor Perry Governor Peabrain until after the vote since most of the votes on your side were from Republicans, three of who are members of his ''cross-eyed'' legislature.

I'd also appreciate it if you guys who are always railing against secrecy could post exactly who contributed the money that paid for those expensive ads. I have no doubt that you were being used by people who have no interest whatsoever in helping Circle C homeowners.

Royal