BIKE: Top TxDOT official comes close to admitting the truth!

[Roger Baker]

As you can see below, even TxDOT head Ric Williamson now admits that 
opposition to toll roads over the Edwards Aquifer is a legitimate 
concern. And also he admits we have a point when we predict that the 
toll road bonds will default due to the future cost of oil. And also 
that Perry's Trans-texas Corridor Plan is too big to really build.  -- 
Roger

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David Stall's Corridorwatch website   http://corridorwatch.org/   is 
great at exposing the many sins of TxDOT. (TxDOT is now trying to 
greatly accelerate the pace of roadbuilding using the newly granted 
powers attained under HB 3588, promoted by the road contractor lobby 
who get billions in business each year from TxDOT).

http://corridorwatch.org/ttc/cw-rotcc.htm   (the following is at the 
end of this page)



"MR. WILLIAMSON: Phillip and Steve and Amadeo, and for all those who 
watch,  I don't want to confuse my direct words about these groups.

It is legitimate to say I'm opposed to building a highway in green 
space, because it takes taxable land off the tax rolls;, that's a 
legitimate argument, and a discussion and a debate we should have. It's 
legitimate to say I don't want to build any more highways over the 
Edwards Aquifer because I believe runoff is damaging the recharge; 
that's a legitimate argument and an argument and a debate Texans should 
have.

It's a legitimate argument to say I believe the price of oil and gas 
will drive us away from the internal combustion machine in the next 20 
years, you'll never pay the debt off, don't make the decision; that's a 
legitimate argument to have.

This governor and the legislature and this commission, we are not 
fearful of having legitimate discussions, debate and arguments about 
decisions that have to be made. And as I've said many times before, 
we've actually learned some things from some of the anti-corridor 
folks. And we've gone back and kind of re-thought how big the corridor 
needs to be, and maybe it's not going to be as big as we once thought.

I distinguish, Steve, that from deliberate misinformation, deliberate 
opposition to advance someone else's political agenda and keep them 
protected. That's completely different and there's no room for that in 
this. We have some important and difficult decisions that have to be 
made about the future of this state. Their arguments should be about 
things that are truly in the realm of public policy.

And that's what I want all three of you to convey to those folks. I 
don't have any patience for ad hoc, spur of the moment, last minute 
groups that spring up for no reason other than we've got to find a way 
to make a buck and scare people. I don't have any patience for that, 
and I don't have any patience for people who participate in that."
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