Challenging the Wisdom of the Trans Texas Corridor.

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  Issues & Concerns

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Issues & Concerns: Questionable Assumptions

Issues & Concerns: Comprehensive Development Agreements

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Issues & Concerns: Public Finance

Issues & Concerns: Local Business Impact

Issues & Concerns: Private Property Rights

Issues & Concerns: Tourism Industry

Issues & Concerns: Misplaced Transportation Spending

 

Public Finance

Local financial losses and costs.

Today's Interstate Highway system was built to provide access to the hundreds of communities along their path. Those communities in turn provide services, especially emergency services, necessary for the highway at no cost to the state. Local taxpayers fund the fire and emergency medical services that serve long stretches of the highway. The only appreciable exception to local support is the Highway Patrol. Even then significant law enforcement support is provided to the DPS by city and county officers.

This level of support seems appropriate since each of these communities directly benefit from the highway. Their gas stations, tow services, restaurants, motels, and stores provide traveler services. The local economy is enhanced and the trade is often a good one.

The TTC however will take away the highway frontage and easy access and offer traveler services provided by state concession operators. What local communities will benefit from those expenditures? NONE.

Depending on the placement of the TTC and access points, local agencies will likely find it difficult and more costly to provide emergency services. When they do the local taxpayers will have the pleasure of contributing their money to support a state revenue generator.

Private profiteering is not in public interest

Serious concerns are being raised about allowing the private sector to capture excess toll revenues as private profit when the revenues generated could otherwise be used for public transportation purposes. [NW Financial Group Report, 11/01/2006]

State Senator Jon Lindsay complained in the Houston Chronicle newspaper that the Texas Department of Transportation is now accepting toll road proposals based on which offers the most money to the state. He says, "Great for the state; bad for the users. Although the private group has to pay large amounts to the state, they don't care because they can pretty much charge what they want to the users." [State's Game? Highway extortion, 01/06/2007]

Toll roads represent double taxation.

"Motorists already pay for highways at the gasoline pump, vehicle registration counter, and at auto supply retailers. They should not have to pay for highways again when they exercise their right to travel on them." [proposition 15, house briefing paper]

Too much money!

We simply can't afford a $184 BILLION Dollar project. It doesn't matter whether it is tolls, fees, or taxes - If they create the debt (public or private), we the citizens of Texas will ultimately pay the tab whatever you call it. Urban centers will pay even more just so they can address their own problems and connect their highways to the Corridor.

"Based on an estimated cost of $31.4 million per centerline mile, the 4,000-mile corridor would cost $125.5 billion, not including right of way and miscellaneous costs. Factoring in right of way at $11.7 billion to $38 billion and miscellaneous costs at $8 billion to $20 billion, the estimated total cost for the Trans Texas Corridor would range from $145.2 billion to $183.5 billion." [plan] (2000 dollars)

 

Report: Then there were two... Indiana Toll Road vs. Chicago Skyway: Analytical Review  of Two Public/Private Partnerships, A Story of Courage and Lost Opportunity (11/01/06) [NW Financial Group]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
       

This Page Last Updated: Monday January 08, 2007

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