Residents Grill TxDOT About Trans-Texas Corridor

January 25, 2008

KPRC-TV 2, Houston

More than 600 people packed a Fort Bend County convention center Thursday night to get answers to questions about the proposed Trans-Texas Corridor, KPRC Local 2 reported.

The meeting at the Rosenberg Civic and Texas Department of Transportation's chance to answer some tough questions about the 600-mile roadway project.

"Why do Texas citizens need that?" asked one woman.

TxDOT officials said the state needs the expansion to keep up with the growing population.

"I have worked hard to pay that piece of property off. I am in the recommended proposed route and have been for a number of years. This will wipe me out. How is it in my best interest?" asked Dee Bond, of East Bernard in Wharton County. "Let me rephrase that -- I'm in 99 out of 100 of the proposed routes and the possibilities. I am not the only one that will be affected and be wiped out and have to start over. "

TxDOT officials said the maps are not final. The exact route is still unknown, but it will affect landowners.

Gary Trietsch with TxDOT said, "We're going to try to minimize the taking. But, at end of the day, we've got to be honest with folks and some people will be impacted."

Public hearings on the project start next month. The state estimates it could be three to five years before it starts buying property.