Texas legislators in 2003 passed HB 3588, and voters approved two constitutional amendments enabling all of its provisions to go into force. Texas now requires all limited-access highway projects to be reviewed for toll feasibility, and if toll financing cannot cover their full costs, the law permits a mix of state and private capital. Toll projects can be carried out directly by toll agencies or via PPPs. [Annual Privatization Report 2004, edited by Geoffrey F. Segal, a project of Reason Foundation, the world leader in privatization.] http://www.reason.org/apr2004/anpr2004.pdf.

Cintra-Zachry, a Spanish-American joint venture, was chosen in late 2004 by TxDOT to develop the Oklahoma-to-Mexico [Gainesville to Laredo] section of the Trans-Texas Corridor System under a Comprehensive Development Agreement. It has already committed $6 billion to the construction of TTC-35. Cintra-Zachry has also been granted a design-build contract to develop a freight rail line that will share the same right-of-way. Cintra-Zachry would own the rail system and charge usage fees to any freight line that used its rails. The project will add another $5 billion to C-Z’s commitment. Construction is expected to begin in 2 to 3 years. [May 1, 2006 from Texas Contractor at Reed/ACP Construction Data] www.acppubs.com/article/CA6328607.html

"If you aggressively invite the private sector to be your partner, you can’t tell them where to build the road." ~ Texas Transportation Commissioner Ric Williamson. Cintra-Zachry is to pay the state a $1.2 billion concession fee for the right to collect tolls for 50 years. The Dallas portion could be built by 2015. Responding to about 100 North Texas elected officials and business leaders, the Commission refused to pressure Cintra-Zachry to build the TTC-35 closer to Dallas-Fort Worth. But C-Z says the most profitable path for a toll road would steer clear of the Metroplex. [Excerpts from May 25, 2006 Ft. Worth Star-Telegram article by Gordon Dickson]

Last week, former Bush Budget Director Mitch Daniels, now Governor of Indiana, returned to Washington DC to tout the virtues of his 75-year lease of the Indiana Toll Road to foreign consortiums. Congress Transportation Committee member, Rep. Peter DeFazio asked some tough questions of Indiana's Governor regarding the wisdom of Daniels' moves to privatize and toll more and more roads of the USA to foreign consortiums. [May 30, 2006 by John L. Smith, Director of COUNT US! http://www.i69tour.org]