Laredo TxDOT hearing draws 5 speakers

Of the five people who spoke Tuesday evening during the Texas Department of Public Safety's public hearing for Interstate 69/Trans Texas Corridor environmental impact statement, most expressed concern with how much land the proposed project would require. The purpose of the public hearing, held at Texas A&M International University, was to allow public input in the project's Stage I environmental impact statement, which will be submitted to the Federal Highway Administration, said project director Dieter Billek.

The I-69/TTC project will connect Texarkana to South Texas with roadways and rail lines and result in an expanded transportation corridor parallel to a large section of Interstate 35 in Texas.  

Attendees saw a brief presentation on the proposed project and were given an opportunity to ask TxDOT representatives questions before the public hearing. During the hearing, TxDOT employees were not allowed to respond to questions.

Participants were allowed to make written statements, give statements to a court reporter or speak publicly.

Clarence Earles, whose family owns a ranch near Zapata, said that he was concerned with the corridor's footprint. The department estimates that the project may require a right of way as wide as 1,200 feet. Earles said he worried the project would take excessive land from property owners.

Ranchers whose land is bisected by roadways may find accessing their property difficult, Earles said later.

"Hopefully, these comments, they'll take them to heart," Earles said afterward. "But I don't think it's going to stop the project."

The department is holding more than 40 public hearings throughout the state like the one in Laredo, Billek said.

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