Corridor foes speak out at East Bernard hearing
By BARRY HALVORSON news@leader-news.com

EAST BERNARD - The frustration of Wharton County residents with the proposed I- 69/Trans-Texas Corridor project continues to grow, based on the testimony offered Monday at Riverside Hall.

During the third and final public hearing in Wharton County on the DEIS - Draft Environmental Impact Statement- speakers were asked to limit comments to three minutes but many chose to exceed that allotted time to make their points.

Several asked why the public hearings were being held with so many local residents in opposition and questioned how the Texas Department of Transportation could afford the cost when many local projects have been postponed due to lack of available funding.

Two of the most vocal opponents of the project were Precinct 2 Commissioner Chris King and El Campo area farmer Cedric Popp. Both men said they felt regardless of what was actually said, state officials would try and twist the words of the people.

"I'm not here to talk to TxDOT, I'm here to talk to you (the audience)," Popp said. "TxDOT is trying real hard to hear you say you support the TTC by saying you support improved transportation. I'm also uncomfortable with the 'no action' option. They are trying to use it to pit us against our urban neighbors."

King was even more emphatic with concerns about how his words will be used.

"Trust is out the window on this issue," he said. "All you've given us is lies, more lies and statistics. We're used to thinking of TxDOT as being the people that designed and built our roads. Now it is seen as being the 'Engineers of Misinformation.'"

State Rep. John Zerwas attended the meeting and said he objected strongly to the purpose and need descriptions in the proposal.

"I am not in favor of the Trans-Texas Corridor," he said. "It is intended to promote international and intrastate trade and those are federal issues. Texas roads should be for Texas people."

He added he objected to the make up of the steering committees, saying theory should be abolished and redeveloped through the Texas Congress.

Congressman Ron Paul was represented by staffer Debra Medina at the meeting. She said Paul was "getting frustrated with the waste of tax dollars" represented by the public hearings, and questions concerning local support "have been asked and answered, asked and answered, asked and answered and the answer is 'No.'"

She reminded the assembly Paul has sponsored House Resolution 5191 that would prohibit the use of federal funds for the TTC.

El Campo resident Michael Beard added that by destroying the local farm economy, the TTC would ruin the economic vitality of the entire region.

"You take away the farm land, forest land and wildlife habitat," he said.

"The best thing you can do as individuals is to make sure your commissioners court adopts a resolution opposing the TTC."

He said Wharton County commissioners would consider such a resolution at their March 10 meeting and urged people to arrive early in a show of support.