Discussion from Texas Environmental Grantmakers Group with Corridor Watch founder David Stall, April 16, 2005 [www.texasegg.org/discussions/transportation.php] gives concerns with project prior to amended legislation under HB 2702 which passed in May, 2005.

We support independent compounding pharmacies, health practitioners with a whole-person, balance-the-body approach, and local health-food, nutrition, and feed/garden stores that maintain high, trustworthy standards, and provide organic and natural products, as well as valuable knowledge and information.

Centralized, big-business farming has brought us the unhealthy practices of fish farming, industrial pig farms, industrial chicken houses, cattle feedlots, industrial "organic" dairies with no pasture, the watering down of "organic" standards, and the specter of the National Animal Identification System.

Truly CORRIDORS, these massive transportation projects are designed to export pollution problems, through-travel, through-freight, and utility distribution to the rural areas. Urban congestion is basically local and will be relieved by only 10%, according to trucking industry information, as gleaned by Chris Hammel, president of the Blackland Coalition.

Such massive concentrations of multi-modal transportation facilities will restrict freedom of movement across North Texas and the state in general, dividing Texas more than uniting it. Even with current, hard-fought amendments, the Corridors are limited access and 4 times wider than major, multi-lane interstate highways. Crossing a Corridor will require bridges up to a quarter mile in length. Accessing a Corridor will require many to drive for miles. Farmers, livestock, and wildlife will face unprecedented new boundaries.

Other issues involve property rights, water rights, toll rates, destruction of historic lands, homes, farms, and cemeteries, foreign ownership, 50-year to 70-year agreements with private/foreign groups, over-development in areas like Gainesville, and a devaluing of rural property in the region of a Corridor.

Governor Perry’s statement at signing of CDA with Cintra Group in May 2005: "Three years ago next month, I presented the most visionary transportation plans this state has ever seen. Not only will the proposal presented by Cintra move the Trans-Texas Corridor from concept to reality, it likely will forever change the way we build roads in Texas."

Cintra-Zachry proposes developing the first phase of the corridor through a CDA. The method of project delivery not only leverages the strength of the Cintra-Zachry team, it allows the final project to be delivered with enhanced speed. The first phase of Cintra's proposal calls for developing $6 billion in new roadways roughly paralleling IH-35 by 2010. [See May 2005 article in Texas Construction]

From Crossroads of the Americas Plan: Texas needs to move quickly in developing the corridor segments that will generate the highest toll level—revenue that will enable TxDOT to extend the corridor into every section of the state.

At a June 13 Cooke County meeting, Rep. Rick Hardcastle related that he used to say that "we wouldn’t see TTC in our lifetime." But, he explained, he has since realized that the TTC is moving much faster than he thought. "It’s moved a long way in the last 4 years."

This is an issue that will profoundly affect the present and future of every Texan, urban or rural, and that of future generations, and will require on-going vigilance, scrutiny, and appropriate opposition.

If you’re interesting in protecting property rights, consider joining the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association. (You don’t have to own any cows.)