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Huntsville Hosts Trans Texas Corridor Talks Save Email Print
Posted: 3:44 PM Mar 3, 2008
Last Updated: 3:44 PM Mar 3, 2008
Reporter: Steve Fullhart
Email Address: fullhart@kbtx.com

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State transportation leaders held the latest in a string of town hall meetings Wednesday night, as residents came to Huntsville to voice their opinions on the Trans Texas Corridor.

Hundreds of residents from the surrounding area were mostly against the major roadway, each wearing TTC stickers with a circle around it and a line through it.

"We need to fix the existing problems in our country between the countries and peoples, and fix our existing roadways before take on this huge project," said resident Colleen Harris.

The state's transportation leaders pushed forward their years-old agenda: that existing infrastructure won't handle the growth of the state's population, and the cars they drive in on.

But years old are the concerns of citizens, the possibility of tolls on the roads, those trade routes becoming drug routes, and the land grabs that could take prime property.

"I am for the no build options of this plan," said Trinity County resident Gary Smith. "I don't like what it's going to do for our land. It's the destruction of rural Texas."

Brazos County leaders, on the other hand, have made a major push for the road. The mayors of both Bryan and College Station made the trek to Huntsville to speak in favor of bringing the TTC to B/CS on the region's existing major roads.

"The Brazos Valley regional proposal is a combination of many voices, all saying the same thing: if it's going to be built, then build it where the people want it so it will do the most good for the people," College Station Mayor Ben White told the gathering.

If approved, TTC would be built in stages over the course of five decades and run from the Texas-Arkansas-Louisiana border to Laredo. Rail service as part of the interstate is also being considered.

While TxDOT would oversee the project and dictate the terms for which the road could be built and used, it is possible that the contracted builders of the road could enforce tolls.

Because of an overflow crowd, many who showed up to the meeting in Huntsville weren't able to get into the auditorium to listen to the discussion. TxDOT officials said they would return to Huntsville in order to make sure all who wanted to discuss the road could.

The department says they need input from citizens before proceeding with the project.

One recommended route would take the TTC towards Houston, though the other shown by TxDOT takes the highway through Walker and Grimes Counties, then south.

More Stories
TTC Protest Held in Austin

Comments on TTC Due Wednesday

Brazos County Gets to Talk TTC

Grimes County Says "No Thank You" to I-69

Official Opposition to TTC Comes from Walker County

More Anti-Corridor Talk in Huntsville

Another Toll Road Meeting in Walker County

Huntsville to Host Second Corridor Hearing

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Posted by: D. Location: College Station on Jan 25, 2008 at 08:03 AM
When TXDOT returns to Huntsville, I hope the residents in attendance will remember their manners and leave their cowboy hats in the pickup.

Posted by: Sharon Reeder Location: Bryan, Texas on Jan 24, 2008 at 06:14 PM
Go to infowars.com...click on search...Google TTC in the second box and there you have the ugly truth about NAFTA and anything else you might want to know. I have been listening to Alex talk about this for years. Alex is from Austin, Texas. He has a multitude of other news and websites and a live program. Good luck!

Posted by: tracy Location: plantersville on Jan 24, 2008 at 01:35 PM
to the poster below, Kyle, I really don't think you would look at it that way if your land was in the path

Posted by: Jeanette Location: Huntsville on Jan 24, 2008 at 10:03 AM
I heard on tv last night about the cost of this project. Keep in mind, this cost is today's projection based upon current market value, etc. With this being done in stages, by the time one stage gets completed, and they move on to the next phase, the one completed will be outdated. And with it taking a NUMBER of YEARS to complete, the original estimated cost will be 50 times what it is currently estimated at. This project is, as I see it, a waste of time and money. Money that could be better spent modifying and improving current road conditions and correcting mistakes in current road designs.

Posted by: Kyle Location: Bryan on Jan 24, 2008 at 07:33 AM
Some of the comments and behavior of the people at this meeting were really childish. For some reason the TTC brings out the worst in people. It's just a highway, not some plot to merge the US, Canada, and Mexico like many Internet sites suggest.

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