County residents prepare for anti-TTC Austin march
By SHANNON CRABTREE scrabtree@leader-news.com

If ultimately approved by the state, the Trans-Texas Corridor would be a multi-lane toll transportation channel encompassing autos, trucks, rail and even utility lines.

Wharton County residents are expected to be among the Texans marching on Austin April 5 to oppose Trans-Texas Corridor plans.

The Stop The TTC & Tolls Across Texas event, rallied by Texans Uniting for Reform & Freedom or TURF, is set for shortly after noon Saturday, April 5.

Taiton and Crescent area farmer Fred Vacek will be among the local residents making the trip.

"The people are the only ones who can possibly stop this deal and this is the only way we can do it," Vacek said. "This is a real bad deal. The people don't understand what is going on."

The TTC proposal along with other NAFTA plans will allow for transport of materials along a private roadway from Mexico to Canada.

The TTC would encompass 10 lanes of traffic, six rail lines along with communications and pipeline infrastructure. It would span some 4,000 miles across the state, and would limit vehicle access to toll booths scattered along its length.

That toll road, Vacek said, would be carrying nuclear waste from the north through Texas to Mexico as well as foreign goods out of Mexico through Texas to the rest of the nation and Canada.

And the state won't get any of the toll proceeds from the road either, he added.

He and his wife are making the trip Saturday, but don't know how many other Wharton County residents will be traveling.

For Vacek, the fight against the TTC is a personal one.

With current mapping "it would go through my farm and right through my living room," he said. "And I'm just one of 45 homes right here in Taiton. The U.S. needs the news media very, very bad (to spread the word)."

Farmers and ranchers participating are urged to bring tractors, horses and cattle to the rally which will proceed from Hwy. 343 down Congress Avenue to the south Capital steps.

Vacek said he'd be traveling by pickup because of the distance.

A variety of speakers are anticipated to address the crowd including U.S. Rep. Ron Paul who's 14th District includes Wharton County.

TURF is a non-profit organization opposing toll roads, the TTC and privatization of roadway. For more information on the organization visit www. texasturf.org.