Transportation Commission Attacks ROTCC

Texas Transportation Commission Chairman Ric Williamson
reacts to the
River of Trade Corridor Coalition
at the
November 18, 2004 Transportation Commission Meeting

During Discussion Item (#8), "Status report on the evaluation of detailed proposals relating to the Trans-Texas Corridor 35 project (TTC-35)" Chairman Williamson took the opportunity to express his displeasure with Dallas City Councilwoman Sandy Greyson, David Dean, Dean International and anyone else who participates in the River of Trade Corridor Coalition. [citation]

With a line of questioning that smacked of a witch hunt, Williamson wanted to know who was behind the River of Trade Corridor Coalition and what other members had joined that effort. Williamson belittled community concerns about protecting their investments, businesses and industries along the existing IH-35 corridor. He summed up their concern as being about their gas stations and at cross purposes with the Commission and TxDOT. [citation]

Williamson directed TxDOT staff that they were not to provide any further assistance to Dean International or any organization that associates with Dean International (including the River of Trade Corridor Coalition, High Speed Rail, and TEX-21) without first checking for his approval. [citation]

At the close of the TTC-35 discussion Williamson reinforced his lack of patience with group who oppose the TxDOT TTC-35 plan. He listed a few 'arguments' he considered legitimate and distinguished them from others he considered deliberate misinformation or deliberate opposition to advance some unidentified individual's political agenda. Williamson continued to express his lack of patience for those groups he described as "ad hoc, spur of the moment, last minute" that "spring up for no reason other than, got to find a way to make a buck and scare people." [citation]

Hear Williamson's Remarks #3 254KB - MP3 - 2:10

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