Bill adds exemptions to proposed toll-road delay

05/15/2007

EL PASO TIMES

AUSTIN -- Hoping to avoid a veto override fight and a special legislative session, the Texas Senate unanimously approved a proposal Monday that aims to address the governor's concerns with a sweeping transportation bill.

The bill is similar to one lawmakers sent Gov. Rick Perry last week, with more exemptions to the two-year moratorium on most new privately financed toll road projects.

Among the newly exempted projects is the development of the Interstate 69 corridor in the Rio Grande Valley. South Texas officials had loudly protested the original bill, saying it could derail a project that is vital to the region's development.

The compromise bill would still tighten controls on comprehensive development agreements, used in contracts for private-public road building. But the agreements could last up to 50 years, instead of the 40 years included in the original legislation.

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