More toll roads in Texas

hrdman2luv · Apr 24, 2011

Texas likely to expand authority to lease highways to developers
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AUSTIN -- Lawmakers expect to expand the state's authority to lease out highways to developers -- often foreign companies -- for up to 52 years, despite lingering opposition from some Texans.
A handful of bills on the subject could have huge implications for Dallas-Fort Worth, where some of the first such development deals in the U.S. were signed for projects like the $2.5 billion North Tarrant Express, which will overhaul Northeast Loop 820 and Texas 121/183 in Northeast Tarrant County. Now, Metroplex officials want to expand that project to include Interstate 35W in Fort Worth.
Developers have also been awarded the $2.7 billion project known as LBJ Express -- the construction of toll lanes under Interstate 635 in Dallas. It's a trend that worries residents who object to corporations controlling roads and keeping the tolls from them.
"Here in a session where we have a committee on state sovereignty talking about how we're going to throw off the federal government and exercise state rights, we're at the same time losing our sovereignty over public infrastructure, handing over highways to foreign contractors and handing Texas back to Spain," said Terri Hall, founder of Texans Uniting for Reform and Freedom.
Hall's group rose to prominence several years ago as Texans rejected Gov. Rick Perry's plan to build a $178 billion toll road network known as the Trans Texas Corridor.
But among lawmakers, the vitriolic opposition to privatization that dominated previous sessions seems to have calmed.
Immersed in attempts to fix the state's budget crisis, elected leaders say that they realize that where local support is broad, it's appropriate to allow the Texas Department of Transportation to turn over projects to outsiders in the form of comprehensive development agreements.
"We're going to get some authorization for CDAs," Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst told the Star-Telegram this week. "Texas has done CDAs, and by and large these have been well-received." Other candidates for development: Interstate 35E in Denton County and Texas 183 in Irving.
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There's more to this story here.

drvrtech77 · Apr 24, 2011

This bs needs to stop!!! These hwys are paid for by taxpayer $$$! These idiot politicians keep whining about the economy, well idiots as long as you people keep taxing us to death no one is going to have any $$ to live off of! Apparently the job requirements to be a politician these days are as follow: stupid, ignorance, complete lack of any intelligence!

hrdman2luv · Apr 24, 2011

Texas has a huge majority of Republican politicians. Including a republican govenor.....

Ukumfe · Apr 24, 2011

hrdman2luv said: ↑

Texas has a huge majority of Republican politicians. Including a republican govenor.....
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Stupid doesn't discriminate. Anyone can be stupid.

hrdman2luv · Apr 24, 2011

Ukumfe said: ↑

Stupid doesn't discriminate. Anyone can be stupid.
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After what both parties have done to this country, and our great state of Texas, I think it's rather stupid to vote for anyone of those two parties...

I don't see my third party vote as wasted.. Considering what they have done.. It's almost refreshing to know I'm not voting for more corruption, waste and sell outs.

48Packard · Apr 24, 2011

hrdman2luv said: ↑

It's almost refreshing to know I'm not voting for more corruption, waste and sell outs.
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I agree about the two major parties being chock full of nothings. But if you believe any third-party candidate will be holier-than-thou when it comes to the above problems, you're delusional. They'll have to continue to make deals to get anything done, and around and around and around we go once again...

hrdman2luv · Apr 24, 2011

48Packard said: ↑

I agree about the two major parties being chock full of nothings. But if you believe any third-party candidate will be holier-than-thou when it comes to the above problems, you're delusional. They'll have to continue to make deals to get anything done, and around and around and around we go once again...
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As delusional as anyone that thinks anyone of the two major parties are going to actually solve any of the problems they've created?

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