TSCRA Praises TxDOT Decision On Trans-Texas Corridor
CattleNetwork
FORT WORTH, Texas, June 11, 2008—“This is great news for landowners,” said Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association President Jon Means of Van Horn in response to the Texas Department of Transportation’s (TxDOT) announcement that it would use existing highways to build a large part of the Interstate 69/Trans-Texas Corridor.
“TSCRA appreciates the agency’s decision to not build the toll roads through rural lands that would threaten the private property rights of many of our members,” he said.
TxDOT’s Executive Director Amadeo Saenz made the announcement Tuesday, citing intense public opposition to the possibility that the original plan to build the superhighway, a part of the network of toll roads that would run from East Texas to the border with Mexico, could run through private lands. Saenz said he would recommend to the Texas Transportation Commission, which sets policy for TxDOT, that only existing highways be considered for the route.
TSCRA First Vice President Dave Scott of Richmond attended the briefing provided by the Governor’s office ahead of the announcement. “The decision not to bring the route west of Houston brings many of my ranching neighbors and me great relief as the original plan would have affected rural property and small towns in our area. Unfortunately, as the population of Texas grows, more pressure is going to be applied to us. It’ll be a constant battle to fight eminent domain and protect our property rights,” noted Scott.
Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association is a 131-year-old trade organization whose 15,000 members manage approximately 4 million head of cattle on 51.5 million acres of range and pasture land, primarily in Texas and Oklahoma. TSCRA provides law enforcement services, livestock inspection, legislative and regulatory advocacy and education opportunities for its members.