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Follow TURFIf you are concerned about transportation policy in Texas, we encourage you to review the open letter below, and if you agree with the concerns expressed, please sign on.
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AN OPEN LETTER TO GOVERNOR RICK PERRY
(CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE OPEN LETTER)
May 2, 2011Texas Governor Rick Perry
State Insurance Building
1100 San Jacinto
Austin, Texas 78701
Cc:
Texas Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst
Texas House Speaker Joe Straus
Senate Transportation Chair Tommy Williams
House Transportation Chair Larry Phillips
Honorable Members of the Texas Senate
Honorable Members of the Texas House
Governor Perry:
Given its rapid growth and favorable business climate, there is no doubt that Texas will have a need for additional highway construction in the coming years. In recent years, total state outlays for new highway construction projects in Texas have been averaging approximately 4.5 billion dollars per year.[1] Economic projections indicate that significant road construction will be needed in coming years.
In its taxpayer-funded, public lobbying campaigns, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) argues[2] that there is only one real option available to Texas for addressing the disparity between our current funding levels and those required for future highway construction--namely, the building of "toll roads."[3] By "toll roads," TxDOT apparently means, in practice, a network of corporate toll roads funded with "innovative financing schemes," largely secured, financed and underwritten by taxpayers, but controlled by--and for the benefit of--private, for-profit corporations.[4] Based on your own public statements,[5] it appears that you agree with the TxDOT Commissioners.[6]
We acknowledge, of course...