Barr a choice choice for Tollway Authority

May 16, 2008

Editorial, Star-Telegram

Kenneth Barr has an impressive background on transportation issues.

He has worked many years with elected officials and civic leaders in North Central Texas on an array of regional concerns. As mayor of Fort Worth from 1996 to 2003, he had a reputation for bringing people together to reach consensus on difficult issues.

All those pluses make Barr an outstanding choice as a new appointee to the North Texas Tollway Authority board, which has taken an expanded role in building new toll roads in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, including the Southwest Parkway in Fort Worth. As mayor, Barr was heavily involved in successful efforts to improve the parkway's design.

He is a former chairman of the Fort Worth Transportation Authority, the transportation committee of the U.S. Conference of Mayors and an advisory committee to the Texas Department of Transportation on the Trans-Texas Corridor.

Barr, 65, the former owner of a family printing business, is a consultant to various companies on government and community relations. He's also a partner with Fort Worth developer Tom Struhs in building new homes in near-southeast Fort Worth.

Barr will replace Bill Meadows, who has been named by Gov. Rick Perry to the Texas Transportation Commission. The Tarrant County Commissioners Court's selection of Barr for the NTTA board should ensure continued strong representation for Fort Worth and Tarrant County.