Robinson officials eagerly eyeing Trans-Texas Corridor route

January 22, 2008

By David Doerr, Tribune-Herald staff writer

Robinson officials don’t know just where the Trans-Texas Corridor twin to Interstate 35 would be located, but they know it would be close and want to take advantage of it if they can.

Today, Robinson city, school and economic development officials will have a meeting to discuss the controversial toll road project pushed by Gov. Rick Perry to relieve traffic along the busy I-35 corridor.

A 10-mile-wide study area flanking Waco to the east could put the new corridor path crossing U.S. Highway 77 in southeast Robinson. That means it has the potential to become a hub for businesses at the interchange, Robinson City Manager Dick Fletcher said.

“Highway 77, in all likelihood, would be one of the access ramps onto the corridor because the major highways will have access to it,” he said. “So Highway 77 and (U.S.) Highway 84 to the north (in Bellmead) would be intersecting points with it and have access. If an access point is in our community, that could be a very big thing.”

The proposed Trans-Texas Corridor, a network of intrastate toll roads, railroads and utility easements, would stretch about 600 miles between Laredo and the Oklahoma state line. Some Central Texas farmers and property owners object to the project out of fear their land could be taken to build the corridor.

The meeting, beginning at 7 p.m. at Robinson City Hall, 111 W. Lyndale Drive, marks the first time for Robinson city, school and economic development officials to gather and discuss the corridor’s possible impact, Fletcher said.

No presentations on the corridor are expected by Texas Department of Transportation officials.

However, transportation officials are taking applications for those who would like to participate in new state and local advisory committees being formed to provide input regarding specific routes and overall project development. Applications must be submitted by Feb. 8.

For more information about applying for a place on a committee and for an application, visit: www.dot.state.tx.us/news/002-2008.htm.