Hundreds Attend Trans-Texas Corridor Public Hearing And Voice
Concerns
February 4, 2008
by Jessica
Cervantez,
KTRE
Residents
from all
over Shelby
County,
including
Tenaha,
Timpson, and
several
smaller
communities
attended Monday
night's I-69/Trans-Texas
Corridor
public
hearing.
Dozens
opposed the
proposed
corridor.
Their
reasons,
anything
from
affecting
where they
live to the
history of
their
community.
Helen
Billingsley,
from the
Huber
community,
said, "We've
had land in
our family
for at least
150 years
and we'd
like to pass
it along to
our
grandchildren.
We don't
want a
highway to
take up that
land, we
don't want
to see the
cemetery
destroyed
where our
ancestors
are buried.
We want to
keep the
tranquility
of deep East
Texas."
She says the
proposed
route would
go right
through her
Huber
community.
Residents
from another
small
community,
Silas, also
oppose the
corridor.
Bob Crump,
of the Silas
community,
said, "We
will have to
move.
It will get
one of my
places and
come really
close to our
house. Our
little farm
to market
road will be
completely
wiped out."
Sam Dillon,
also of the
Silas
community,
said, "It
will be at
least ten
years. We
don't have
to worry
about it
right now."
Texas
Department
of
Transportation officials
say
everything
is in
preliminary
stages. In
fact, it
could be a
50-year
project. Monday's
meeting was
to show the
narrowed
study area
and to get
residents'
comments.
Kathi White,
with Tx-Dot,
said, "At
this point,
we have a
recommended
corridor
proposal,
but nothing
set in
stone."
But for some
residents it
hits too
close to
home. And,
they're
concerned it
would change
their lives
as they know
it.
Robert
Ramsey, who
lives in
Shelby
County,
said, "In
our point in
life, the
idea of
picking up
and moving
at the age
of 70 or 75
and not
having a
place to go,
and leaving
a place we
love very
much is very
disturbing."
This is just
one of 47
public
hearing Tx-DOT
plans to
conduct
around
Texas.
With
population
growth, the
corridor
would
relieve road
congestion.
If you would
like to
submit
comments
about the
Trans-Texas
Corridor you
can mail
comments to
I-69/TTC
P.O. Box
14428
Austin, TX
78761
or visit
www.keeptexasmoving.com