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Wolff: Transportation Gridlock Could Halt Recovery
Wolff pushes highways, children's hospital in State of the County
By Jim Forsyth
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff told his annual State of the County speech this afternoon that the county has emerged from the recession and will begin adding jobs this year, but he warned that one thing that can derail the economy and the area’s economic recovery is gridlock on the highways," 1200 WOAI news reports. Wolff spoke to a packed house of more than 600 people at the AT&T Center, in a 'rock and roll' themed speech which was focused on the message 'Bexar County Rocks." But Wolff warned that Bexar County won't rock if it can't roll down the highway, and he said the options available for paying for new highways are not desirable.
"Raise the statewide fuel tax by 10 cents, which would generate $1.5 billion a year, but cost motorists only $50 a year," Wolff said. 'Index the fuel tax. Give local governments the option to submit to voters a local 10 cent fuel tax that would raise $1.2 billion over 25 years, and could be used to build our highways, transit, and arterial roads."
Wolff said toll roads remain 'a last option.' He also stressed the effort to develop a streetcar system downtown, as well as a passenger rail system from San Antonio to Georgetown north of Austin, and he said efforts must be made to discourage urban sprawl.
"Policies to encourage downtown and central city residential and commercial development will complement the issue of streetcars," Wolff said. Wolff also pushed again for the construction of a $300 million to $400 million stand alone children's hospital, and he blasted the four local hospital systems for not being willing to participate in the project.
Wolff said the county will not require a tax increase to balance its' budget due to cuts made over the past two years, and he praised several projects underway, including the $1 billion University Hospital expansion, the construction of the performing arts center, and the extension of the Mission Reach of the Riverwalk. Printed from: http://radio.woai.com