Trans-Texas Corridor focus of public meetings

By JULIET BRISKIN | Staff writer

Oct. 7, 2004 - The largest, most extensive engineering project ever proposed for Texas continues to move steadily through a series of planning and development stages that began in 2002. The proposed Trans-Texas Corridor (TTC) is a transportation network comprised of passenger vehicle lanes, truck lanes, high-speed railway tracks for passengers, freight and commuter trains, and dedicated utility zones.

Most recently, the plan has entered the environmental study phase for its proposed Oklahoma-Mexico element (TTC-35) which extends approximately 800 miles from the Texas/Oklahoma border, just north of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, to the Texas/Mexico border.

In an effort to educate the public about TTC-35 and the environmental study, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has announced a series of public meetings that will be held throughout the entire 800-mile proposed corridor.

"The structure of the meetings is more of an open-house format that will allow for more interaction with project staff and TxDOT representatives," explained Gabriela Garcia, a TxDOT spokesperson. "This type of meeting will also give us a better opportunity to engage the public in dialogue and answer any questions that we can."

According to Garcia, TxDOT will present corridor location alternatives for each segment of the TTC-35 route and invite the public to register their comments on the proposal and its alternatives.

"Because of the open-house format, the public will have the opportunity to make comments at their convenience between 5 and 8 p.m.," said Garcia. "We need to hear from the public on what they think, or what their concerns are regarding the TTC-35 and the proposed alternatives. The purpose of these meetings is to get their input and engage the public in discussions about this issue."

Garcia continued by detailing the various methods by which the public can register their comment. "Each meeting will have a court reporter available to take comments down for the record or they can write down their comments and drop it into a comment box that will be at each meeting," she said. "If they want to take some time to digest the information, they are welcome to e-mail us or mail in their comments; but we must have them by Dec. 3."

TxDOT will also provide written materials at each meeting that visitors can take with them to review at a later date. Garcia emphasized that all the information is also available on their website at www.transtx.com.

"We don't have all the answers to all the questions yet," she explained. "But through these meetings and our analysis of all the issues we will be able to eventually address all the concerns surrounding this issue."

Doors will open for meetings between 5 and 8 p.m.

• Corpus Christi, Oct. 19, TxDOT Regional Training Center Building 2, 1701 S. Padre Island Dr.
• Kingsville, Oct. 20. TAMU-K Student Union Rm 221 A&B, 700 University Blvd.
• Beeville, Oct. 21, A.C. Jones High School Cafeteria, 1902 N. Adam.
• Hebbronville, Oct. 25, VFW Post 2011, 200 Old Cemetery Rd.
• Laredo, Oct. 26, TAMIU Western Hemispheric Trade Center Room 111, 5201 University Blvd.
• Edinburg, Oct. 27, UT Pan-Am Campus Ballroom,1201 W. University Dr.
• San Benito, Oct. 28, Berta Cabaza Middle School, 2901 Shafer Rd.
• San Antonio, Nov. 3, VIA Terry Eskridge Community Room, 1021 San Pedro.
• Seguin, Nov. 4, Sequin-Guadalupe County Coliseum, 810 S. Guadalupe St.
• Floresville, Nov. 8, Wilson County Show Barn, 435 State Highway 97 East.
• Dilley, Nov. 9, Dilley ISD School Cafeteria, 200 Block of W. Harriman.
• Shiner, Nov. 16, Shiner High School Cafeteria, 216 W. 13th St.
• Yorktown, Nov. 17, Yorktown High School Cafeteria, 338 W. Main.
• George West, Nov. 18, George West High School Cafetorium, 913 Houston St.

A complete listing of public meetings in the state is online at www.dot.state.tx.us/ttc/publicmtglocs.pdf.