Anti-TTC speakers offer alternatives
By BARRY HALVORSON news@leader-news.com

Contributed Art Humongous The massive scale of the proposed Trans-Texas Corridor is shown in this artist's rendering of the controversial highway plan championed by Gov. Rick Perry.

While the attending public's consensus during Monday night's public hearing was the I-69/Trans-Texas Corridor should not get a go-ahead, alternatives did receive universal backing.

Some of those attending the hearing held in the Wharton High School Auditorium said the preferred option should be to take no action at all while others acknowledged the need to improve the state's transportation system. That group included county resident Edward Campbell, who recommended upgrading existing roadways like U.S. Highways 59, 281 and 77.

"We don't need new roads," he said. "It will hurt the watershed, have a negative economic impact, create more congestion in Harris County and the residents of the Gulf Coast will be trapped by a wall of highway. But I don't believe this project will be stopped by just the will of the people."

He concluded his presentation by saying the most effective way to fund highway improvements and expansion was to place tolls on cargo and goods being transported than to create toll roads.

Egypt area resident Cameron Duncan also favored a more conservative approach in his three minutes to speak. One of the owners of the Duncan Ranch, he said the property contained a lot of history and was in the path of the preferred draft environmental impact statement corridor being discussed during the meeting.

But Duncan added it wasn't just his family's property he was concerned with.

"I think it represents an imminent threat to land owners," he said. "The TTC will fracture Wharton County into two halves, cannibalize our existing roads, expose us to pollution and hazardous materials. The state should only build what is reasonable. And until the public has more input in the decision making process, nothing can be considered reasonable."

A high percentage of those at the public hearing were members of the Glen Flora- Spanish Camp Historical Society and emphasized the history of the area. They were also critical of the Texas Department of Transportation for not doing more research as part of the draft study.

During a video presentation prior to the start of the public commentary, it was pointed out such research would be part of the Tier 2 environmental study, a point TxDOT Environmental Consultant Lori Cole pointed out during the open house that proceeded the hearing.

"We've been taking an overhead look at things using existing resources," she said. "What's on the ground will be detailed in the next tier study. A lot of people have been giving us information in pieces and we're looking at getting down to the truth. The public hearing process is a fact-finding mission for us."

TxDOT Yoakum District Engineer Lonnie J. Gregorcyk was also at the meeting. The Yoakum District includes Wharton County.

"A lot of what we're hearing is that people want us to maximize the use of existing right of way, have eminent domain concerns and want to minimize the impact the project has on historical sites," he said during the open house.

"Right now we are just looking at a planning area and before we come up with any exact route, there is still a lot of work to do. Right now the hard thing is trying to convey to people that we are interested in what they have to say and that no specific route has been selected or will be selected until the funds exist to actually consider construction."

Gregorcyk added he tries to encourage the public to educate itself on the topics while also pointing out the current Tier 1 study will not be completed until sometime late this year or early next year.

The opposition to the TTC at the meeting was well organized and vocal about their concerns, passing out anti-TTC stickers as well has having their own table in the foyer area.

People can submit comments or questions online at www.keeptexasmoving.com or mailed to I-69/TTC at P.O. Box 14428, Austin, Texas, 78761.

All comments must be received by March 19.

There will be two more local public hearings: El Campo Civic Center on Feb. 21 and East Bernard at Riverside Hall on Feb. 25.

More information on the meetings or meeting locations can be found on the Internet at www.keeptexasmoving.com.