Wharton County residents again say 'no' to TTC

Dozens turn out for Rosenberg meeting to express concerns to state

January 26, 2008

By BARRY HALVORSON, Wharton Journal-Spectator

ROSENBERG - Wharton County's opponents to the Trans-Texas Corridor made up a majority of the audience at Thursday night's Texas Department of Transportation townhall meeting at the Rosenberg Civic Center.

Both Wharton County Judge John Murrile and Precinct 2 Commissioner Chris King reported more than half of the audience came from Wharton County.

King added most of the county was represented, able to identify residents from El Campo, Glen Flora, Egypt, Spanish Camp, East Bernard and Wharton at the session.

In his personal presentation to TxDOT representatives at the meeting, King used that strength of numbers to clarify a point.

"I heard one of the TxDOT commissioners had reported Wharton and Victoria counties had no problem with the I-69/TTC project," King said.

"I asked all of the residents of Wharton County attending to stand up. And then I asked anyone who supported the TTC to sit and no one did."

While the meeting started at 6:30 p.m., King said there were so many signed up to speak that he wasn't able to have his say until 10:15 p.m., leaving shortly after with the meeting still in session.

"I think the problem was they didn't structure it enough," he said. "While it allowed for some people to have more extended exchanges with the TxDOT representatives, it meant a lot of people didn't get a chance to speak at all. A number of people eventually gave up and went home and I'm not sure if the problem was incidental or intentional."

Even with the delays, Murrile and King said the general mood of the crowd was positive.

The judge said most of the people appreciated having the opportunity to directly express their concerns to the TxDOT representatives.

King described the tone of the meeting as being "temperate" with people understanding officials were there because of the earlier public protests.

According to TxDOT's preliminary environmental study results, the preferred I-69/TTC corridor would be north of Lake Texana and extend northeast, parallel to U.S. 59 and pass west of El Campo and Wharton and then turn north towards I-10 passing west of Wallis and east of Sealy and San Felipe.

Earlier announcements had placed the proposed route in the footprint of U.S. 59.

"Having a 1,200 foot wide corridor through it would destroy the fabric of Wharton County and destroy much of our agriculture industry," King said. "And the way they have done things has created a great deal of mistrust. I specifically asked if the investors or TxDOT would make the fi- nal route decisions, knowing it is less expensive to build new than trying to expand existing highway lanes.

"The officials said TxDOT would have the final say so I got that on the record. I also told them that because of the level of suspicion, in this region the 'DOT' has changed in meaning for local residents to 'Devoid of Trust.'"

King added local residents have to remain vigilant and active in watch-dogging the project.

"The bottom line is that if not for the public outcry during the last legislative session, the legislature reacted negatively to the project. They came back this time ready to listen only because the citizens forced it. But there still is no comfort zone."

In February, TxDOT will begin a series of public hearings to specifically address the I-69/TTC Draft Environmental Impact Statement. Each of the hearings will start with an open house at 5 p.m. with the official hearing starting at 6:30 p.m. Local meetings include Feb. 11 in Wharton, Feb. 21 in El Campo and Feb. 25 in East Bernard and Rosenberg.