Protesters rally in Austin against Trans-Texas Corridor

[struggle4progress]

May 3, 2005
The massive Texas highway project known as the Trans-Texas Corridor met lots of opposition down in Austin Tuesday. Protestors say the corridor would cost Texans too much and wouldn't solve traffic congestion.

The Trans-Texas Corridor is supposed to help congested highways like I-35, but Tuesday, hundreds of protestors traveled to Austin to try to stop the massive highway project.

The Corridor is Governor Perry's solution to crowded highways, but protestors from all across the state gathered at the capitol to push for a bill that would delay action on the project. Protestors say the Trans Texas Corridor is full of problems. They say it would take away people's private property to build a highway and then charge them to drive on it. <snip>

http://www.kcentv.com/news/c-article.php?cid=1&nid=6952


Highlights Tuesday from the Texas Legislature
05/03/2005
Associated Press

Angry farmers and ranchers spoke out against a highway plan Tuesday during a fiery rally at the Texas Capitol.

Rural land owners traveled to Austin with their sights set on stopping Gov. Rick Perry's Trans-Texas Corridor, a huge road project the land owners say will gobble up their property.

"One, two, three, four. We don't want this corridor!" the yellow-clad crowd shouted, amid other chants and jeers. Many held signs blasting the Trans-Texas Corridor.

Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn — one of Perry's potential Republican opponents in 2006 — joined the rally and called Perry's associates "land-grabbing highway henchmen." <snip>

http://www.dentonrc.com/sharedcontent/APStories/stories/D89S08AG1.html


Ranchers, farmers oppose Perry's transport corridor
5/3/2005 4:32 PM
By: Associated Press

About 250 farmers and ranchers rallied at the Capitol Tuesday against Gov. Rick Perry's Trans Texas Corridor. <snip>

An aide to Perry watched the rally and told reporters that corridor road projects are receiving local input. <snip>

http://www.news8austin.com/content/your_news/default.asp?ArID=136565

[Nevernose]

1. Jesus, are they actually building this thing?

I haven't lived in Texas in years, but I read about this highway behemoth a few years ago in Texas Monthly. Something like 18 lanes (nine each way) with pipelines running down the center, connecting Austin, Houston, and Dallas (and Austin used to be such a sleepy little place...)?