No Taxpayer Dollars?

One obvious reason that a lot of people might object to the Trans-Texas Corridor is because of its immense costs. The estimated cost of the 4,000 miles of roadway is around $183 billion. That's quite a chunk of change. And, since this is a government project, there's no reason to believe that budget won't increase ... considerably. If you complain about the dollars behind this plan, you'll be met with this response, "The toll road is privately funded, and no state funds will be used in its construction."

Ok, but what about all the planning and PR that goes into a project that is opposed by so many. Environmental studies, public meetings, time spent by state employees working on designs and proposals, junkets to other areas where toll roads are a way of life and numerous other activities all contribute to the cost of this project. That's all taxpayer money. There is overwhelming opposition from the citizens of Texas, and yet the project continues. State employees spend time, paid by us the taxpayers, to work on the design and proposals. YES, taxpayer dollars are being spent on this project and in large amounts.

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The proposal on the table fron Cintra-Zachary to build the TTC-35 segment has been on the table for some time now. A year ago, the Attorney General of Texas ruled that TxDOT and Cintra must make the full contents of this development proposal available to the public. They have made most of it public, but they refuse to reveal the parts of the proposal that deal with financing the project. Hmmm ... why do you think that is? Could it be that if taxpayers and our legislators were to see these details they would be sharply criticized and put the project in jeapardy? Could it be that this myth of no taxpayer dollars spent might be proven just such, a myth? Does the government really want us to believe that a company will take on such an ambitious and expensive project without some assurance from the state for bailout or favorable financing?

TxDOT and Cintra are raising their noses to the taxpayers and citizens of Texas. They are saying that they know what is best for us, regardless of what we think or say. They are above the transparency of government and believe in secrecy and back room agreements. They have initiated a legal battle to keep the details of the agreement secret and out of the public eye where actual discussion and analysis can be done. Bottom line ... the citizens of Texas DO NOT MATTER TO TxDOT, Cintra, or the Governor of this state.

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