Brazos Garden
Brazos Lakes
Brazos Village
Bridlewood Estates
Canyon Gate at The Brazos
Greatwood
Tara
River Park Shopping Center
Greatwood Auto Repair
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fights Grand Parkway expansion 08:06 AM CST on Wednesday, February 20, 2008 By Alex Sanz / 11 News FORT BEND COUNTY -- "Stop" is a word you hear often, but for those fighting the Grand Parkway expansion, it's an acronym. One side says what's happening is progress. The other side says make progress, but don't make it near their suburban homes. The Grand Parkway expansion is an extention of Highway 99. It's expected to become a more than 180 mile stretch of road and will cross seven counties. Many call it the answer to a growing southeast Texas population. But the group Stop Tolls on Parkway, has created a video that they say shows the expansion close to homes, which they say would lower property values. STOP also says the air will become dangerous to breathe, because of the number of trucks that would use the highway to get to and from the ports of Houston, Galveston and Freeport. "I think it’ll change our lives completely," resident Pamela Cortes said. "I mean dealing with the additional traffic that doesn’t even belong here is gonna be frustrating. We’ve already talked about the noise and the air pollution, and how it’s going to belt us in for all these neighbors." Opponents of the plan will gather Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at the River Pointe Church in Richmond. Top | View Video |
| Feb. 21, 2008,
9:50AM Candidates unanimous in Grand Parkway opposition at town hall meeting Many residents surprised to hear about potential local control over project By ZEN T. C. ZHENG Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle If Fort Bend voters base their decisions about county and state candidates on their stances on the Grand Parkway, they'll have a tough call after remarks made by many office seekers at Wednesday's town hall meeting on the issue. All of the incumbents and challengers present made the same pledge to fight along with the residents a state proposal to extend Grand Parkway south from U.S. 59 near Greatwood as a toll road. The meeting, which drew about 180 residents, was organized by a grassroots group dubbed "Stop Tolls On Parkway Coalition," or S.T.O.P., and hosted by River Pointe Church near the Greatwood and River Park subdivisions east of Richmond. Gary Jacobs, a coalition member, said organizers had anticipated twice as big a crowd had there not been a heavy downpour. Among the candidates at the event were Fort Bend County Precinct 1 Commissioner Tom Stavinoha and his Republican primary opponents Bill Dostal and Greg Ordeneaux; that office's Democratic candidates Gerald Anderson, Rodrigo Carreon, Richard Morrison, Marty Rocha and Sharon Wallingford; Sheriff Milton Wright and his opponent Bill Teague; Precinct 1 Constable A.J. Dorr and his opponent James Murray; District 22 Rep. Dora Olivo, D-Rosenberg, and her Democratic challenger Ron Reynolds and Republican candidate Steve Host; District 26 Rep. Charlie Howard, R-Sugar Land, and his challenger Paula Stansell. The three-minute-per-person presentation was filled with campaign slogans, but the officeseekers' objections to the state plan was assuring to many neighbors of the subdivisions in the path of the proposed project. "I feel like we have accomplished our goal we set out tonight," said Paul Turner, a Greatwood resident and a coalition member who moderated the forum. "I heard unanimous opposition to the project." The proposed expansion of Grand Parkway as a toll road through the southern part of the county has stirred strong opposition among residents who say the project would cause some owners to lose their properties and businesses, bring in traffic and noise, and devastate their communities, environment and quality of life with elevated roadways and overpasses. A dramatic moment came when Morrison said "There is a clear contrast my candidacy is offering" as opposed to Stavinoha. "To vote for me you get a chance to vote for the new way," Morrison said, adding while repeatedly pointing at Stavinoha "instead of for the old way. ... If you want the toll road to go through the heart of our community, then please cast your vote for him. If you want Grand Parkway to be built and Chick-fil-A and Bank of America (at the intersection of the Grand Parkway and U.S. 59) to be destroyed, please cast your vote for him." Stavinoha had no immediate response. Some residents said they were heartened to hear Howard's revelation that local authorities and residents have some control over whether they want future toll roads to be built in Fort Bend. Senate Bill 792, passed last year by the Texas Legislature, requires an agreement between the state and a county for theconstruction of toll roads in the county, Howard said. A county's participation often takes the form of a bond election, which depends on voters' blessing. That idea was echoed by Ordeneaux. "If we the people want a bond election and pay for the road with county taxes, I believe we can call that bond election. Whether it would be a toll road or a free road, I believe voters can have a choice," Ordeneaux said. Lynn Franklin, one of the coalition founders, said county officials have dodged their responsibility and repeatedly told residents during Commissioners Court meetings that the county has no control over the Grand Parkway project. "It was refreshing to know that there is local control," said Turner. "Many people feel that there is not much we can do and that this is a done deal — that's how (the Texas Department of Transportation) presented it." However, Geri Wells, a First Colony resident, expressed her skepticism. "It's very hard to trust what we were hearing. They all sounded great because we have an election. The same promises had been made to us in the past. But there has always been a lack of transparency around this issue," she said. zen.zheng@chron.com Top | Source |
Candidate forum focuses more on Grand Parkway Thursday, February 21, 2008 2:31 PM CST Just about every candidate at a town hall meeting at River Pointe
Church in Richmond voiced opposition to the proposed toll road on
Texas 99. The event began with a meet-and-greet in the church's lobby, followed by candidate introductions in the church auditorium. Some candidates spent many of their allotted minutes talking about their candidacy or subjects unrelated to the toll road, specifically Segment C of the Grand Parkway. The segment of the roadway would, according to STOP's Web site, run 26 miles from U.S. 59 along Crabb River Road, then south and east over to Texas 288, through Fort Bend and Brazoria counties. One candidate, county Precinct 1 commissioner challenger Richard Morrison, attacked current Commissioner Tom Stavinoha. But most candidates stuck to the evening's topic of the viability of the toll road.
Co-moderator Lynn Franklin said it wasn't realistic for people in residential areas affected by the road to give up and just sell their houses. “Where are you going to go? There's a segment (of the road) wherever you go in Houston,” she said. Franklin encouraged people to speak out against the concept, which would be built in the next few years. STOP members and toll road opponents say they're against the proposed road for numerous reasons, including quality of life issues, traffic, environmental concerns and the effect on their property. Sheriff Milton Wright, who shared the dais with several other candidates, including challenger Billy Frank Teague, was the first to speak Wednesday. “A sheriff doesn't do very much about building, engineering or designing roads,” he said. “We take care of it after it gets here.” “As sheriff, I would probably not have much of a voice with TxDOT (Texas Department of Transportation) and county officials,” Teague said. “But I will listen to every word that you as the citizens of this county would ask me for help, and I will relay that word. I guess I'm old school - I'm thinking majority rules.” Stavinoha spoke about the growth in the county. “We're growing by 20,000 to 25,000 people a year, and we've been doing that for the past 10 to 15 years,” he said. “We're going to continue with that growth - 7,000 to 8,000 houses a year. Growth is going to happen. It's difficult to stop it. I see the benefits of growth.” He talked about the accessibility of hospitals and shopping opportunities and available employment in Fort Bend County as attributes for area residents. But with the Grand Parkway project, he said he was against building the road now. Instead, he supports funding the Texas 36 project here. Like some other candidates, he said blame for road woes in Texas lie with the state, explaining that TxDOT is “broke” and that the state has refused to raise the gasoline tax since 1991. “That's why toll roads have become so popular now,” he said, pointing out that TxDOT makes money from toll roads and doesn't have to maintain them. Other candidates for county commissioner Precinct 1 said they were opposed to the road. Gerald Anderson said he was against it because of how it would affect properties and values. Rodrigo Carreon was opposed to it because the toll project is a form of double taxation. Bill Dostal said the road was not designed as a tollway, and he said voters should have final say in how it operates. Sharon Wallingford said TxDOT does have money in its coffers to pay for road construction. In keeping with the anti-TxDOT theme of the night, Republican state representative candidate Steve Host said TxDOT has been given too much power, explaining that government oversight needs to be closer to the people so they can have more say-so in decisions. Democratic Rep. Dora Olivo said the proposed toll road would be a “serious intrusion” into area neighborhoods and communities. After all of the candidates spoke, co-moderator Paul Turner read some audience questions to the group before ending the meeting. “I'd like to think our night was very successful, and any
time we can get our public involved and our officials in a discussion,
it's productive,” Turner said afterward. “Regardless
of your view or your opinion, I think it's productive.” Top
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| Precinct
1 commissioner candidates quizzed on toll roads SESHADRI KUMAR 20.FEB.08 Three Republican candidates seeking party nomination for Fort Bend County’s Precinct 1 Commissioner seat faced questions on toll roads and the Trans-Texas Corridor at a candidate forum last week. Incumbent Tom Stavinoha is facing two rivals in this race, Richmond City Commissioner Bill Dostal, and former Fort Bend Toll Road Authority member, Greg Ordeneaux. The Fort Bend Spirit of Freedom Republican Women’s Club hosted the forum on Feb. 15 at the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce. If voters favored and approved a new toll road it should be built, Dostal said. But, roads already planned to be a free road should not be converted into toll roads, he said. Dostal said he opposed the proposed TTC or I-69. “We already have it in U.S. 59. We are in the process of widening it. Why can’t we use the existing road? W e have got I-69,” he said. Stavinoha said he supported toll roads which are self-sustaining. Compared to the Grand Parkway, he felt Highway 36 needs to be improved and built as a toll road. The county is looking at some future toll projects, including a bridge across the Brazos River, Stavinoha said. The Trans-Texas Corridor is “the biggest blunder that TxDOT made,” he said. The state has agreed to give the counties more control on the alignment of TTC, Stavinoha said. After widespread opposition, “They have backed away from many original proposals,” Stavinoha said. Ordeneaux said “TTC is dead.” He is not in favor of toll roads and the county should first find better ways to control expenditures, Ordeneaux said. Instead of building new roads, “We need to look at reducing traffic,” he said. “We should move data instead of people,” Ordeneaux said as a solution to reducing traffic and taking cars off the road. What is the important issue facing Precinct 1? Safety and security topped Ordeneaux’s list. “Water is critical and the county needs to get involved,” he said. Stavinoha cited growth as the major problem facing the county. “More than half the people moving into the county are moving into the unincorporated areas of the county. They want security and service. We are one of the few counties providing emergency medical services and libraries. Tackling growth is a big issue,” he said. Water is a critical issue, according to Dostal. Recycling water in detention ponds for irrigation and desalination of sea water along the coast could be a life-saver, he said. The cost of converting surface water to potable water will lead to an exodus of people from the county, Dostal said. The winner in this race will face a Democratic nominee in November. Five Democrats are in the race seeking party nomination for Precinct 1 commissioner In the Precinct 1 Constable Race incumbent A.J. Dorr faces James Murray, a Fort Bend County deputy sheriff. Asked if the constable’s job required full time or could it be a part-time, Murray said it is a full time job and the constable should be active in the community. Murray suggested that the constable should team with other agencies like the sheriff’s office and adult probation and keep an eye on sex-offenders living in the area. Dorr called it a misconception to think that the constable’s job is a part-time job. “We are licensed peace officers and our primary jobs is to serve civil and criminal warrants,” Dorr said. Deputies, like everybody else, do extra security job. “I approve them. I don’t let my deputies work outside Fort Bend County,” he said. What changes, if any, are needed in the constable’s office, was the second question. “I would like to see a lot more cooperation among all agencies in Fort Bend,” Dorr said. “We need to discuss problems in all areas. We should help everybody. We have to work together to combat crime,” he said. Murray said constable’s deputies should actively record offense reports and take reports while working. Answering a question on paid contract security job with subdivisions, Murray did not elaborate on why the contract job is done, but added that the constable’s office is working for the people. Dorr said, “Subdivisions ask us and we don’t ask them to hire us. Homeowners Association does it for extra security,” he said. Primary law enforcement rests with the sheriff’s office. “We do patrol, crime prevention, ensure that traffic laws are observed in school zones,” Dorr said regarding contract job with subdivisions. Other local candidates who participated in the forum were Gary Janssen and Mary Ward, who are seeking Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace, Place 1. The candidates for Justice, Texas First Court of Appeals, Place 3, Ed Hubbard and incumbent Justice Sam Nuchia and candidates for Texas Fourteenth Court of Appeals, Place 6, incumbent Justice William Boyce and James Holland also participated in the forum. |
| Feb. 8, 2008, 10:43PM Money woes and a mistake put brakes on road work Several projects in the Houston area are affected By RAD SALLEE SHELVED PLANS Citing a funding crisis and a planning error, TxDOT has stopped work on various highway projects: • Katy Freeway frontage roads inside the Loop • Widening U.S. 59 from Splendora to Liberty County • Improvements throughout Lake Jackson Building Katy Freeway frontage roads inside the Loop, widening U.S. 59 past Splendora and various road improvements in Lake Jackson are among $276 million in area highway projects state officials have shelved, citing a funding crisis and a billion-dollar planning error. The projects in the Texas Department of Transportation's six-county Houston District were among $1.1 billion in road work statewide that had been scheduled for contracts but now are postponed. The sum represents about a fourth of all TxDOT construction contracts set for fiscal 2008, which ends Aug. 31. The postponed Houston District projects represent 14 percent of those statewide. On Tuesday, state Senate committees on Finance and Transportation and Homeland Security met jointly in Austin to question senior TxDOT officials about the funding problems. Some toll opponents view the alleged funding crisis as a ploy to promote toll roads, since the Texas Transportation Commission and Gov. Rick Perry, who appoints it, favor increased reliance on toll funding and private investment to build new roads. "We're out of money. I don't know what else to tell them," TxDOT spokesman Chris Lippincott said. "We're spending the money that we have available, and we intend to use the projected cash flow that we have, but more of it in future years will go to debt service and maintenance." Lippincott said the postponements stem from two causes: ongoing financial pressures and a contract planning error. The first, he said, are heightened by inflation, reductions in expected fuel tax revenue as people drive less and drive more efficient vehicles, the need to pay bondholders and a pressing need to rebuild deteriorating bridges and roads. The error, he said, occurred when personnel in the TxDOT office that oversees the letting of construction contracts "misread some information" that the agency's financial staff had provided. "The letting schedules were compiled and released in August using July cash flow projections," Lippincott said. "The projections were correct, but were improperly read by the letting office." Ongoing work was not affected, Lippincott said. The $1.1 billion in projects removed from the FY2008 schedule to offset the error have been postponed, not canceled, he said. But they will not automatically be reset for fiscal 2009. Lippincott said the order in which these and other projects on the books get built will be determined largely by planning bodies such as the Houston-Galveston Area Council. Smaller budgets Those planners are likely to face shrinking road budgets for the foreseeable future, he said, noting that TxDOT let $5.3 billion in construction contracts in fiscal 2004, then reduced that to $4.2 billion for FY2008 when the error was discovered, and finally to the current figure of $3.1 billion. "It's difficult to imagine it will be more than $3 billion in fiscal year 2009, but we will know more soon," Lippincott said. "If we continued at a pace of about $3 billion a year, we would be in the hole $3.6 billion at the end of 2015." In August, Texas Department of Transportation officials told TxDOT's Houston District office to remove $111 million in projects from its 2008 contract schedule, district spokesman Norm Wigington said. That work included: • Katy Freeway frontage roads and bridges between Washington Avenue and Taylor, $87 million. • Widening FM 2004 in Lake Jackson to a four-lane divided suburban street from Texas 288 to Business 288, $15 million. • Building an overpass at County 288 and Union Pacific tracks in Lake Jackson, $9 million. In response to the error, Lippincott said, the Houston district was told to remove another $165 million, including: • Overpasses and two-lane frontage roads on Texas 332 in Lake Jackson at This Way, Oak, Plantation, Dixie and Main, $84.6 million. • Widening of U.S. 59 from two to three lanes in each direction, with drainage and frontage road improvements, from FM 2920 at Splendora to the Liberty County line near Cleveland, $51.6 million. • Widening of Texas 35 to three lanes in each direction from Harris County line to FM 518, $27 million. • Landscaping along the rebuilt Katy Freeway from near Frostwood to near Bunker Hill, $346,000. Top | Source |
| Fort
Bend seeks role in Texas 99 development By ZEN T. C. ZHENG
After withdrawing in December a proposed resolution to oppose a state plan to extend Grand Parkway south from U.S. 59 near Greatwood as a toll road, Fort Bend County officials Tuesday passed a different declaration. The new resolution assigns the Harris County Toll Road Authority as the representative for Fort Bend County in negotiations with the Texas Department of Transportation and the Houston-Galveston Area Council to develop a plan for the Grand Parkway. Senate Bill 792 from the last Texas Legislature allows the state, Harris County and adjacent counties to collaborate on the creation of a plan to develop, construct and operate Grand Parkway, also known as Texas 99. County Judge Bob Hebert said the law allows local governments to have a say in the project. County officials decided to take an official stance on the issue with the resolution after residents have repeatedly expressed concerns about the proposed Grand Parkway expansion and criticized county leadership for not acting on their concerns relative to the road's extension.
A set of terms and conditions is attached to the resolution. A key condition is to hold off expanding the Grand Parkway as a toll road until officials project sufficient traffic and toll revenues to pay debt service, operation and maintenance costs of the expanded roadway. Hebert said he doesn't anticipate traffic volumes along a proposed Grand Parkway extension south of U.S. 59 any time soon to warrant the project. "Bridlewood people would be pleased with this resolution," said Precinct 1 County Commissioner Tom Stavinoha, referring to residents of the Bridlewood Estates subdivision, one of several area neighborhoods where residents have urged county officials to help address their concerns. The attached set of conditions also states that toll rates on the Grand Parkway cannot exceed the average toll rate per mile charged on other toll roads in the county in which the segment is built. If the county doesn't have other toll roads, the toll rates can't go over the highest average rate of an adjacent county. Also, each county should have the right to own the segment of Grand Parkway within its jurisdiction and a pro-rata share of the entire Grand Parkway based on the percentage of the roadway in its jurisdiction or purchase its segment or pro-rata share of the roadway. The set of conditions doesn't rule out the use of any funding methods.
In December, Stavinoha pulled his initially proposed resolution from the agenda after the other three commissioners criticized it as inadequate in addressing concerns of residents, especially those from the Bridlewood Estates subdivision. The state plan would extend the parkway 26 miles from U.S. 59 south generally along the Crabb River Road corridor, behind George Ranch and then east two miles north of Brazos Bend State Park, eventually connecting to Texas 288. Stavinoha's proposed resolution opposes overpasses at two locations, including an elevated interchange at the proposed parkway extension and U.S. 59 and an overpass at Sansbury and the parkway extension. The resolution cited concerns of neighborhoods along Crabb River Road and had no mention of other communities, including Bridlewood, along FM 762, which also would be affected by the project. zen.zheng@chron.com |
| Grand
Parkway resolution dumped By Stephen Palkot Wednesday, December 19, 2007 3:03 PM CST A resolution opposing two potential overpasses on the Grand Parkway was tabled Tuesday by the Fort Bend County commissioners, but a revised version will likely be introduced in February. Precinct 1 Commissioner Tom Stavinoha proposed the passage of the
non-binding resolution, which would have asked the Texas Department
of Transportation to reconsider two aspects of the controversial
Segment C portion of the regional Grand Parkway. Tuesday's vote got off to a bad start when none of the other commissioners would second Stavinoha's motion to adopt the measure. County Judge Bob Hebert finally stepped in with one, kicking off discussion. Precinct 4 Commissioner James Patterson said it “scared” him from a regional perspective to be telling TxDOT they oppose a road project over “visual and noise pollution,” as stated in the resolution. Also, he said he had reservations over “going up and down” the Grand Parkway and passing resolutions related to specific interchanges. Discussions are ongoing concerning how the route will affect Bridlewood Estates and some other neighborhoods, and Patterson suggested Stavinoha come back with a resolution encapsulating the different aspects currently being examined. “I would suggest you put together a resolution with all the things you want to accomplish,” Patterson said. Prior to Tuesday's vote, three county residents in open comments said they would like to see the concerns of Bridlewood addressed, and not just Greatwood. Bridlewood resident Curtis Warren said the current proposal for Segment C calls for the road to wrap around the development on three sides and to block what is now the neighborhood's front entrance. “I would like you to include Bridlewood in your resolution,” he said Stavinoha made the decision to pull his own agenda item from a vote, saying the only way he wanted the item to pass was unanimously. Top | Source |
| Fort
Bend holds off parkway resolution vote Dec. 18, 2007, 6:47PM Bridlewood residents want their concerns considered By ZEN T. C. ZHENG Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle Fort Bend County Commissioners Court Tuesday held off acting on a proposed resolution opposing part of a state plan to extend Grand Parkway south from U.S. 59 near Greatwood as a toll road. Commissioner Tom Stavinoha pulled his proposed resolution from the agenda after the other three commissioners criticized it as inadequate in addressing concerns of residents, especially those in Bridlewood Estates subdivision. Stavinoha said his resolution doesn't represent opposition to Grand Parkway construction altogether. He intends to submit a revised resolution by early February. Resident concerns About two dozen residents appeared to show their concerns that the Texas Department of Transportation's plan would devastate their quality of life due to potential acquisition of property and increased noise and air pollution. Bridlewood resident Curtis Warren brought a letter from his homeowners association asking officials to urge the state to plan the parkway route away from their neighborhood. Warren said the route as proposed wraps around his subdivision on three sides and affects the main entrance. "We are not going to stand idly by to let this project ruin our way of life and our property values," Warren said. "Why is TxDOT working on a road that is not needed, goes to nowhere and adversely affects many homeowners?" County Judge Bob Hebert said he is against the toll road idea with no projected traffic to guarantee toll revenues. However, he said the county "shouldn't tell the state how to run their business." Toll road plan The state plan would create a 26-mile extension — known as Segment C — from U.S. 59 to Texas 288, going south along the Crabb River Road corridor, behind George Ranch and then east two miles north of Brazos Bend State Park. Officials hope to begin construction in 2010 and have it completed in three years. Proposed resolution Stavinoha's proposed resolution opposes overpasses at two locations, including an an elevated interchange at the proposed parkway extension and U.S. 59 and an overpass at Sansbury and the parkway extension. The resolution conditionally opposed the elevated interchange at the proposed parkway extension and U.S. 59 until traffic congestion is found to justify the construction. It urges the state to study a proposed ground-level Sansbury crossing to allow right turns only to and from the parkway in lieu of the overpass. Bridlewood left out The proposed resolution cited concerns of residents of neighborhoods along Crabb River Road but made no mention of other communities, including Bridlewood, along FM 762, which also would be affected by the project. "I'm not sure if that was an oversight," said Warren. Commissioners Grady Prestage, Andy Meyers and James Patterson showed little interest in the resolution as proposed. "This is a half-baked cake," said Prestage. "These residents have come to give their input every week and they are passionate regarding their concerns. I feel we owe them." "It looks like you only worked on one piece of it," Patterson said to Stavinoha. George Foundation Meyers asked Stavinoha to continue to work with the George Foundation to help Bridlewood residents. The foundation in the past had agreed to donate 100 feet of right-of-way, which led to a redrawing of a stretch of the route that would have less impact on Bridlewood. However, neighbors say the tweaking did little to address their concerns and they want to work with George Foundation more on the issue. The homeowners association's letter stated that the foundation refused to meet with them. "I will find out what the foundation's concern is," said Stavinoha, adding that he would propose a revised resolution in late January or early February. zen.zheng@chron.com Top | Source |
| I-69/TTC
Public Hearing Sent: Tuesday, December 18, 2007 5:00 PM From February 4 to March 3, 2008, TxDOT will hold 46 public hearings,
which will specifically focus on the I-69/TTC Draft Environmental
Impact Statement. The format for these hearings is designed to gather
public comments solely on the document and maps, http://ttc.keeptexasmoving.com/pdfs/projects/i69/deis/summary.pdf.
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| Resolution
Criticizing Segment C Is Pulled To Avoid Being Voted Down by Bob Dunn, Dec 18, 2007, 02 46 PM A proposed Fort Bend County Commissioners Court resolution, opposing aspects of Segment C Grand Parkway construction, was pulled from the court’s meeting agenda on Tuesday after it appeared commissioners might vote it down. Proposed by Precinct 1 Commissioner Tom Stavinoha, the resolution’s first line described it as being “in opposition of the proposed Grand Parkway, Segment C construction” by the Texas Department of Transportation However, language in the body of the resolution said Commissioners Court “urges TxDOT not to construct” a proposed “elevated interchange flyover” on Segment C at the intersection of the Grand Parkway and U.S. 59 until a study has been done to “determine whether traffic congestion justifies the construction…” Stavinoha made a motion at Tuesday’s court meeting to adopt the resolution. However, none of the other commissioners seconded the motion, at which point County Judge Bob Hebert did so. Hebert said he doesn’t “believe it’s the court’s business to tell the state of Texas how to run the state’s business.” However, he later said he is concerned that TxDOT intends to build so-called Segment C as a toll facility “before there’s sufficient traffic to support it.” If that happens, he asked rhetorically, “who’s going to pay for it?” Segment C has literally become a political hot potato, as residents of Greatwood, Bridlewood Estates, Canyon Gate, Brazos Gardens and other residential communities near its path have expressed vocal and somewhat organized opposition to it. What he said he perceived as passive acceptance of Segment C by Stavinoha prompted Greatwood resident Richard Morrison to announce his candidacy for the Precinct 1 seat. Many Greatewood residents oppose what they say would be a visual and auditory nightmare in the form of a high, looping overpass rising above their homes. Residents of other neighborhoods are against the current alignment of the project, which they say will hamper access to their neighborhoods, greatly increase noise and lower their quality of life. “This is tax money that is being wasted” and could be put to better use accelerating the U.S. 59 expansion, Bridlewood Estates resident Curtis Warren said of Segment C, in comments at Tuesday’s court meeting. “It’s still a tollway to nowhere, excepting the pockets of developers,” a Canyon Gate resident told commissioners. Hebert said Tuesday he strongly supports eventually building the segment – proposed as a 26-mile four-lane controlled-access toll road with intermittent frontage roads from U.S. 59 to State Highway 288, through Fort Bend and Brazoria counties. But Hebert said he doesn’t support building the tolled segment until it’s demonstrable that sufficient traffic exists to support the roadway. Other commissioners were cool to Stavinoha’s proposed resolution, with both Precinct 4 Commissioner James Patterson and Precinct 3 Commissioner Andy Meyers saying he likely would have more of a chance of impacting plans for the project by meeting with TxDOT officials than by crafting non-binding resolutions. Precinct 2 Commissioner Grady Prestage called the resolution “a half-baked cake.” “For us to have a statement in here that (the Segment C interchange) may cause visual and noise pollution scares me,” Patterson said. “I would certainly hope you would continue to work with TxDOT,” Meyers told Stavinoha. “To me, a resolution is not going to be worth a darn if it passes on a 3-2 vote,” Stavinoha said. “I think we may have a resolution go down in flames,” Hebert replied. In the end, Stavinoha pulled his resolution before it came to a vote. He indicated legislative aides would re-work the document and “definitely call Grady” before bringing the resolution back to the court for a vote. Meyers noted that the Grand Parkway has been in planning since the 1990s, but was not originally proposed as a toll road. That happened, he indicated, after state officials “diverted 30% of the state gas tax” to purposes other than road maintenance and construction. Top | Source |
| Resolution
against elevated interchange being prepared by commissioners court By Cheryl Skinner Fort Bend County officials have been widely criticized by opponents of the TxDOT plan to build a toll road, which includes a proposed elevated interchange on U.S. 59 near Greatwood. Now, county officials who have repeatedly emphasized they have no say in the plan, are in the midst of drafting a resolution that will clarify their objection to the plan to build the elevated interchange “until traffic warrants it,” says Precinct 1 Commissioner Tom Stavinoha. There was no meeting this week, but Stavinoha said the resolution should be on the agenda within the next two weeks and he expects it will receive approval from the court members. “It is being worked on now and it basically just establishes that we are officially opposed to the project until such time as there is a need for it. I really don’t expect the project to happen, at least not for the next 20 years, but this way we are going on the record with our objection to it,” he explained. In September, TxDOT announced a plan to turn the Grand Parkway into a toll road. The idea was not new and has actually been on the drawing board in excess of 10 years. The Texas Department of Transportation and the Grand Parkway Association held several meetings to discuss a plan to extend Grand Parkway, for 26 miles from U.S. 59 to Texas 288. The idea is not well accepted by many of the residents and business owners that will be impacted by the changes, if they come to fruition. A number of meetings were hosted by a grass roots group to let officials know that a toll road and especially the elevated interchange would result in businesses being forced to close, the quality of life taking a plunge and drastically reduced property values. State officials claimed that the only way to launch such an expensive interchange would be by establishing a toll road. Residents countered, saying the current level of travel simply did not warrant a toll road. If submitted and approved, the tentative resolution will once and for all verify the county officials’ stance on the issue, Stavinoha believes. Top |
| Lawmakers
to study TxDOT's advertising 08:35 AM CST on Monday, December 3, 2007 Associated Press AUSTIN -- House Speaker Tom Craddick is asking lawmakers to review the Texas Department of Transportation’s multimillion dollar ad campaign promoting toll roads and the Trans-Texas Corridor. Craddick included a review of the Keep Texas Moving campaign on a list of topics that the House State Affairs Committee will study leading up to the 2009 legislative session. Craddick also asked the Appropriations Committee to review transportation spending over the past five years and study alternatives for funding future transportation needs. The transportation matters were among the “interim charges” that Craddick assigned last week. Transportation officials have defended the Keep Texas Moving campaign as a response to lawmakers’ demands for the agency to improve its communication with the public. Top | Source |
| THE GRAND
PARKWAY PUBLIC MEETINGS by John Bowen
A meeting was held on Wednesday, October 10, 2007 at the Williams Elementary School. The meeting was hosted by the coalition STOP “Stop Tolls on Parkway”. Purpose of the meeting was to give residents of the communities located in Segment C of the Grand Parkway the opportunity to hear how the toll road would affect their communities; and to hear questions fielded by members of the coalition with responses from representatives from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDot), and the Grand Parkway Association. This public meeting was a follow up to the meeting held at the George Ranch on August 30, 2007, conducted by TxDot and the Grand Parkway Association. At the August meeting, members of the audience, who signed up to speak, were allotted three minutes each without response from the hosting organizations. There was no question and answer period at that meeting. Coalition representatives from most the following communities gave presentations or presented a list of questions: Brazos Lakes Estates, Brazos Gardens, Bridlewood Estates, Canyon Gate at the Brazos, Greatwood, Stone River, and Tara. The business sector was represented by Mr. Quart Greaves, the Owner of the Chic-FIL-A Store in the Rive Park Center. Also present were local and state officials including Judge Hebert, Dora Olivo, Commissioner Tom Stavinoha, as well as representatives from a number of State Senators’ offices. The Grand Parkway was originally presented as a four lane divided highway forming a 180 mile loop around the greater metropolitan area of Harris County. The promotional spin was for scenic easements on either side of the highway, set-backs for green belt areas, intended to produce an aesthetically pleasing travel experience. In 1998, the Grand Parkway Association’s Newsletter stated “The Grand Parkway is a roadway that promotes fast and efficient travel by avoiding municipal and residential areas and by limiting access with minimal frontage roads.” At the August 30, 2007 meeting, the Grand Parkway Association publicly announced, for the first time, that the Grand Parkway, Segment C was approved to be constructed as a toll road with elevated overpasses at each intersection or water crossing with on and off ramps strategically placed for entrance and exit from the toll road. It was again confirmed that the Grand Parkway would be built with
an overpass over US 59 at the surface height of fifty some feet;
and, at a time yet to be determined, clover leaf exit and entrance
ramps approximately seventy-five feet high. It was also confirmed
that one of the ramps, as presently designed, would cause several
businesses including the CHIC-FIL-A, Bank of America, Whataburger,
the Mattress Store and possibly others businesses to be purchased
and destroyed. Many of the speakers spoke about the country living, the clean air, the quiet nights, the peace and safety they felt in their communities; the cause for their wanting to live there. They also expressed concerns for their property values; that they will diminish along with the quality of their neighborhoods if the toll road is built. Some spoke of health concerns which caused them to move to a cleaner healthier atmosphere. Environmental studies confirm that individuals with respiratory issues should live at least 500 to 1,000 feet from a major highway. All saw the toll road as an eye sore, a breeder of congestion, pollution, and a threat to the safety of the community. Mr. Quart Graves, owner of CHICK-FIL-A, gave an eloquent presentation noting how committed his store is to the community and how involved he and his employees are in community affairs. He noted that his Greatwood store has 50,000 customers a month that come through his doors. Through discussions with his business neighbors in the River Park Center, he confirmed that all those he talked to were against the building of the toll road; and, saw it as a real threat to their businesses if built. He also noted that loss of the fore mentioned stores would cost 140 employees their jobs. After each presentation was given, a representative from each community presented a list of questions they had garnered from residents in their community; with said questions presented to Mr. David Gornet, Executive Director of the Grand Parkway Association. Mr. Pat Henry from TxDot was also afforded the opportunity to address several questions, but he declined to do so. The main goals of the coalition were presented as: 1. Provide a 60 day comment period. (The official period was from
after the meeting on August 30th through September 13th). Mr. Gornet stated that the toll road plan was approved in 2003. When asked who the final approving authority was he was not certain, but thought it was Mr. Gary Trietsch of TxDot. He also declined to extend the comment period, accept the signed petitions from the residents, but did leave open discussion of the impact on the River Park Retail Center with the respective business owners. He confirmed that the State does not have funds to construct Segment C and will not have funds for at least 10 years. Since the County has not expressed a willingness to build the Parkway segment, he confirmed funding would have to come from the private sector. He did not rule out the possibility of foreign investors. He reaffirmed 2010 would be the starting date if funding is obtained, but did indicate that date could be postponed for a few additional years. The most impacting statement of the night came when someone asked Mr. Gornet “knowing what you know now, would you buy a house in this community?’ He responded “probably not”. Judge Hebert was asked if he was for the toll road. He noted that he could find any reason to build it at this time. He noted that the amount of traffic that might travel on the toll road, would not justify the $582 million cost for a long time. He stated that the County was more interested in the segment north of Segment C that would tie the Grand Parkway into the County’s toll road; and was not, interested in building Segment C... It should be noted that a majority of those who attended the meeting are against Segment C being built as a toll road. As noted by Jesse Cuellar, Brazos Lakes Estates, residents should contact their elected representatives and tell them they need their support; and remind them that an election is coming next year. It would appear only support from our elected officials and the potential lack of funding will detour the Grand Parkway Association and TxDot from fulfilling their objectives. Following the meeting on the 10th, a town hall meeting was held at the Dickinson school on Wednesday, October 17, 2007 for the Greatwood residents. The meeting was held to provide the Greatwood residents the opportunity to hear representatives from both sides of the toll road issue. A twenty minute speaking period was allotted each of the two speakers. Mr. David Gornet, Executive Director of the Grand Parkway Association gave a presentation that was similar to that given at the George Ranch on August 30th. His presentation was more refined and contained a listing of historical dates that were not provided on the previous meeting. His presentation included a description of the route the toll road would take and a physical description of the overpasses at US 59 and Sansbury Road and at the other areas south of the Canyon Gate Greatwood area. He gave a brief history of events which led to the decision to build the toll road and confirmed that the official commentary period had closed. He also confirmed that all that remains to be completed is the environmental study presently in a draft form. This study is scheduled for release the early part of next year. Mr. Quart Graves, Owner of the Greatwood and Richmond Rosenberg
CHIC-FIL-A Stores was selected to speak representing the STOP “Stop
Tolls on Parkway” Coalition to give a presentation on why
the toll road should not be built down Crabb River Road. Congress woman Dora Olivo briefly spoke to the residents and encouraged
them to join together and utilize the Coalition to answer their
many questions and help represent them in their efforts to make
their voices heard. She emphasized the need to trust your Coalition
representatives rather than try to work on an individual basis.
The STOP Coalition web site was given as www.stoptollroad.com. All
residents were encouraged to contact that site for more information.
Top |
| For Whom
the Road Tolls by John Bowen
The idea for the Grand Parkway was conceived in the 1960’s as a controlled access highway; and, has been included in regional planning studies since the 1980’s. The Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) formulated plans for all of the segments proposed for the Grand Parkway, with the intent of addressing existing and future traffic demands for the Houston regional area. The section of the Grand Parkway impacting the Greatwood area is referred to as Segment C. This segment begins just north of the US 59 and Grand Parkway intersection, proceeds through the southern Fort Bend County and northern Brazoria County ending at SH 288. The proposed route for Segment C can be seen by going to the Grand Parkway Association’s web site at Grandpkwy.com. In the web site, select the Segment tag and select Segment C. The Segment C site has a map where you can zoom in on the red overpasses. Zooming in on the overpasses allows you to see, in more detail, the access road configurations and the overpass and cloverleaf design where the Grand Parkway intersects US 59. There have been at least three public hearings on the Segment C portion of the Grand Parkway. The fist was held in August 1998 where the alternate routes were displayed. There were two proposed routes for Segment C. The first route took the Grand Parkway down or parallel with US 59; with Segment C going over US 59 around the now Williams Way overpass. The second route had Segment C going down Crabb River Road and over FM 762 with alternatives displayed for the area below the Bridlewood community. Original proposals displays showed the Grand Parkway as a surface road with the Crabb River Road proposal shown as a four lane divided highway flowing under US 59. The Environmental Impact Statement draft was published in May 2000, and a public hearing was held in November 2000. Displays at that meeting showed that the alternative route down US 59 to the William Way area had been eliminated; with the Crabb River Road shown as the proposed route. The Parkway down Crabb River Road had been altered with the Parkway curving to the right after the bayou between Greatwood and Tara; and going behind the Exxon strip center. This variation was necessary due to the discovery of a cemetery down Crabb River Road. The only representatives present at that meeting were the Designers. They were there to answer any questions concerning the proposed design Segment C; however, they would not address any questions outside the design issues. After that meeting and prior to the August 30, 2007 public meeting some modifications concerning the proposed direction of Segment C in the area beyond the Bridlewood area were made. These involved issues with the George Ranch, the Observatory, and the movement of Segment C some 2000 feet from the Brazos Estate community. A public hearing was held at the George Ranch on August 30, 2007, to discuss the proposal to build Segment C of the Grand Parkway as a privately funded toll road. Representatives from TxDot and the Grand Parkway Association addressed the approximately 300 residents in attendance. The presentation included issues dealing with funding of the project. Officials confirmed that State and Federal funds were not available; and would not be available for as much as ten to twenty years. Building the Grand Parkway as a privately funded toll road would allow Segment C to be built with a projected start up date in 2010; and, with completion sometime two to three years later. Two primary reasons were given for building Segment C; it needs to relieve traffic congestion and its use as an evacuation route for citizens living in the Gulf Coast area. A video of how Segment C would be built was shown to those in attendance. After the video, residents, who had signed up to speak, were given three minutes each to express their opinions on the toll road issue; as well as the routing of Segment C. With few exceptions, those who spoke voiced their objections to both the toll road and the route selected for Segment C. The proposed toll road for Segment C will be built as a four lane toll road with a major overpass at US 59 with a height of 120 feet above sea level or 70 feet at ground level. If you look at the Burger King sign on Crabb River Road you will get an idea of how high that overpass will be. Once completed the US 59 and Grand Parkway interchange will have eight on and off ramps equally as high as the toll road, with two of the ramps crossing over a segment of the business park located on the north side of US 59. The manager of Chic-Fil-A has confirmed that the Bank of America, his business, Whataburger and possibly other businesses on that side of US 59 could become part of the Grand Parkway easement. At the Sansbury Road, Greatwood entrance, another overpass will be constructed running from north of Sansbury Road elevated as it curves to the right over the bayou that flows between Greatwood and Tara. It would flow behind the Exxon Station strip center towards FM 762. This overpass will be readily seen by those living in the Village and Knoll areas. The overpass will be some 20 feet high with four elevated toll lanes and two lane ground level access roads on each side of the intersection. The access road on the Canyon Gate side will be passing close to Canyon Gate and will be built behind the current stand of trees. The trees currently along Crabb River Road on that side would be removed for the toll road lanes. A third overpass will take Segment C over FM 762 where it will turn left and diagonally intersect the main entrance of Bridlewood. A 2005 census listed the population in the Grand Parkway corridor
from highway 90E to SH 288 as 42,000 people. Of those 42,000 only
4,000 people lived in the area below Bridlewood to SH 288. Judge
Hebert in an article appearing in a recent addition of the Fort
Bend Section of the Houston Chronicle was quoted as saying “the
county has absolutely no control over it” meaning the approval
of the toll road. He further stated “it just doesn’t
make financial sense.’ ‘There is no toll revenue to
support a toll road.’ ‘There is no justifiable need
for the road.’ ‘I understand why folks are upset”.
The cost of Segment C has been estimated at 589 million dollars.
Judge Hebert has stated the county will be obligated by state law
to put up 10% of the state project within the county. It is unknown, at this time, if any additional public hearing will be held for Segment C. Approval for the toll road and for the Final Environmental Impact Report still remains. Questions about Segment C should be addressed to the Grand Parkway Association whose contact information can be found on the web site. Top |
| Oct. 11, 2007, 3:53PM Hundreds turn out to hear Grand Parkway plans By DUSTIN WENZEL Chronicle Correspondent More than 250 residents spilled into Manford Williams Elementary on Wednesday night to voice their concerns about plans to develop Segment C of the Grand Parkway into a four-lane tollway. Hosted by the coalition STOP, or Stop Tolls on Parkway, the meeting drew a standing-room only crowd with representatives from eight communities near the proposed highway, which will run from U.S. Hwy. 59 to U.S. Hwy. 288. ''This road is obviously built to accommodate the future residents in Fort Bend County. We are not being accommodated," said Ann Franson, a Brazos Lakes representative from STOP. ''We are just like the people that will come later and yet we have not been invited into the dialogue of this road.'' Current plans for Segment C show it to be a four-lane road with grassy medians and access ramps that begins with an overpass over U.S. Hwy. 59 connecting Segment D. It will continue along Crabb River Road until curving to the west at Rabbs Bayou before hugging the north and east edges of Bridlewood before traveling past the George Ranch and eventually connecting with U.S. Hwy. 288. STOP is asking for a 60-day comment period and the elimination of tolls on Segment C. The group also seeks the removal of the planned overpass on U.S. Hwy. 59 and access ramps near Bridlewood and Brazos Lakes subdivisions. Grand Parkway Association executive director David Gornet said he does not have the authority to extend the comment period and that the Texas Department of Transportation's Houston-area district engineer, Gary Trietsch, will make the final decision on the segment's route. Gorent said after a study team completes the final environmental impact statement, which is due before the end of the year, TxDOT will hold another public meeting. Construction on the segment will not start until at least 2010, he said. Need for road discussed Community representatives took turns grilling Gornet about how the segment's route was planned and the need for a tollway through a scarcely-populated area with little traffic. ''Prior to reaching Brazos Lake, there is farmland, people — open land,'' said Lynn Franklin, representing Canyon Gate at the Brazos. ''I guess were trying to operate on the 'Build it and they will come' theory.'' Franklin said she is concerned how much impact taxpayers have on a ''road that goes to nowhere'' and that the tollway will produce more traffic around their communities. Other residents openly complained about the view of a tollway outside their community and the potential increase in air and noise pollution in a rural area. ''If you look at the (proposed) fly-by (connecting U.S. Hwy. 59 to the Grand Parkway), its like a roller coaster - but its a roller coaster ride you dont want to get on,'' said Cheryl Rambaud, a five-year resident of Canyon Gate at the Brazos. ''From my vantage point instead of looking at the trees and the sky and my neighbors' two-story homes, I will be looking at the Jetsons' version of the roller coaster.'' Gornet later [responded on]explained why he believed elected officials favor Segment C and included it in the Houston-Galveston Area Council's 2025 transportation plan. ''The Grand Parkway possibly provides continued growth of our county. (Elected officials) have seen that it has been a benefit as you go south from (Interstate 10),'' he said. County judge opposes tollway Franklin wasn't the only audience member who questioned the need for the tollway. Fort Bend County Judge Bob Hebert said the county is against constructing the segment now, but added the county can't stop TxDOT from building a state highway. Hebert, though, wouldn't rule out the need for Segment C in the future. ''One of the principles of doing tollroads is that tollroads are devices of last resort,'' he said. ''You have to have cars to pay for it. Fort Bend County has no plans to make Segment C a tollroad. Theres no traffic out in Segment C. ''I agree with you folks, now is not the time to even be considering the subject. I'm not opposed to tollways. (But) Segment C is not needed at this time.'' Impact on businesses Quart Graves, the owner/operator of Chick-Fil-A Greatwood, represented various businesses in the River Park Shopping Center on the northeast corner of the Grand Parkway. He called the tollway's potential construction horrific and compared the tollways impact on businesses inside the center to Town and Country Mall, which eventually closed after construction to the Sam Houston Tollway limited access to the shopping center. Tentative plans call for the construction of direct connectors with U.S. Hwy. 59 directly over the edge of the shopping center. If construction proceeds, Graves said Chick-Fil-A, Mattress Firm, Bank of America and Whataburger would be forced to close. Other businesses on Crabb Road that lie in the segment's proposed right-of-way include Exxon, Burger King, The Z Icehouse and Greatwood Automotive. However, Gornet said, TxDOT will not take any action on businesses that sit in the right-of-way until it issues a record of decision to purchase the right-of-way. Regardless of the timetable, Graves said he will fight the proposal. ''The cement has barely dried on my business,'' Graves said. ''You all that proposed this plan, you have awakened a sleeping giant.'' For information on Segment C, visit www.grandpky.com. Story Source | Top http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nb/fortbend/news/5204876.html |
| TxDOT running
out of cash for new roads But NTTA payments expected to ease North Texas' financial burden 11:57 PM CDT on Thursday, September 27, 2007 By MICHAEL A. LINDENBERGER / The Dallas Morning News mlindenberger@dallasnews.com AUSTIN – Texas will soon run out of money to pay for new roads or bridges, state transportation officials said Thursday. Within three years, nearly all of the state's construction budget will be spent on maintenance and to pay debt incurred in building existing roads, top officials of the Texas Department of Transportation said. "The people of Texas need to understand that within a very short period of time, there will be no money for mobility projects," said Texas Transportation Commission member Ned Holmes of Houston. The impact will be less severe in North Texas, where local officials are counting on more than $3 billion in upfront payments from the North Texas Tollway Authority as part of its deal to build the State Highway 121 toll road. But even some of that money now will probably have to cover projects that had been envisioned as state-financed projects. Throughout Texas, funds for new roads will begin drying up almost immediately, officials said. Meanwhile, spending on maintenance – especially in Dallas, where the roads are in the state's worst shape – will be increased. State projects already under contract will not be affected. The inability to build new roads, or to widen existing ones, comes even as experts are warning that Texas' soaring population and booming economy have made traffic in its leading cities among the worst in the U.S. A national study released last week warned that traffic jams in Dallas grew faster over the past 25 years than in any other city in the country. "People and businesses are moving here because we're a low-tax, low-regulation and low-welfare state – and that is not going to change," commission chairman Ric Williamson said. "They are going to need roads and highways to be able to get around." Trouble is, Texas just can't afford to build them anymore, he said. During the next 60 days, local officials will be asked to scale back requests for state funds, said Amadeo Saenz, who was named TxDOT's new executive director late Thursday. "This will cause delays, and some projects will be canceled," Mr. Saenz said. Scarce funds, high costs Mr. Williamson says many factors are to blame for his department's inability to keep up with the demand for new roads. Federal funds are increasingly scarce, and highway construction costs have soared 62 percent in the past five years, he said. Meanwhile, the state's aging roads are increasingly in need of repair. "We don't want to see a Minnesota bridge collapse in Texas. In order to avoid that, we are going to have to take care of the assets we have," Mr. Williamson said. But commissioners saved their harshest criticism for decisions by the Texas Legislature. They said lawmakers spend the state gas-tax revenues on too many other needs, including more than $1 billion for the state police alone. But commissioners said the Legislature's moratorium last session on private-investments in toll projects has hurt the most. The decision cost the state billions of dollars in annual construction funds, said Mr. Williamson, who like the other commissioners was appointed by Gov. Rick Perry. Mr. Williamson said Mr. Perry asked the commission to find a way to pay for the state's growing transportation needs. Convincing private companies to pay money up front to operate toll concessions was that solution, he said. Terms too steep Lawmakers need no lecture on the severity of the state's transportation needs, suggested Steven Polunsky, a top aide to Sen. John Carona, R-Dallas, chairman of the Senate Transportation and Homeland Security Committee. "We agree absolutely that there is a financial crisis," Mr. Polunksy said. "And Senator Carona will support next session a multi-pronged approach to solve it." He wants to raise the gas tax and stop the diversion of revenues to pay for other needs, Mr. Polunsky said. But the private investment deals favored by the commission were too lopsided, he said, noting that some proposed leases would have kept the toll roads in private control for 75 years or longer. "The price that came with those private financing deals was too steep," Mr. Polunsky said. "Lawmakers found the terms unacceptable, both politically and from a business standpoint." Mr. Williamson said efforts to raise the gas tax are misplaced. The tax is inefficient because lawmakers divert too much of it to other needs, and he said it is too regressive, since poor people pay the same rate as rich ones. He did say he would probably support efforts to index the rate to inflation, if only because inflation is making it increasingly difficult for the department to simply maintain the roads it already has. The legislative moratorium nearly killed Dallas' transportation agenda, said Michael Morris, transportation director for the North Central Texas Council of Governments. "We took a lot of criticism back in the spring for working to make sure our projects were not going to be affected by the legislature's moratorium," Mr. Morris said. "But if we hadn't succeeded in that, we would be dead in the water, just like the rest of Texas is going to be." NTTA is not a private company, but it modeled its offer to pay $3.3 billion in return for operating the toll concessions on SH121 on the private companies' proposals. Without the latter, NTTA's deal would never have been so aggressive, Mr. Morris said. When state funds begin drying up over the next couple of years, it will be the NTTA's money, he said, that keeps construction projects moving forward in the Dallas area. Even that money, however, will run out over several years – and by then, if the state or federal governments haven't found new ways to pay for projects, North Texas will suffer like the rest of the state, Mr. Morris said. Relief in sight Some short-term relief could come as soon as next month, when Texas voters have a chance to approve a constitutional amendment that would authorize TxDOT to borrow up to $5 billion in one-time construction money. That issue is on the Nov. 6 ballot. But even if it passes, the money would only be a one-time infusion, warned James Bass, the department's chief financial officer. TxDOT has estimated the state has an $86 billion gap between construction needs and available funding. The $5 billion would help – but would also increase the state's annual debt payments for decades to come. Instead, Mr. Morris said, the state needs real solutions – and that means new revenue. "We're just shuffling the deck chairs around on the Titanic," he said. Story Source | Top |
| Grassroots
movement includes business reps and nine subdivisions By Cheryl Skinner A growing grassroots movement to get answers and solve potential problems related to the proposed toll road that would run from Fort Bend County to Brazoria County will have a website up and running by the end of the week. The whole idea is not only to protest the current toll proposal, but to provide suggestions on alternatives and to inform the public, says Pam Cortes, a Bridlewood subdivision resident and one of the organizers of a public forum tonight. Cortes says the meeting, the website and weekly meetings of representatives from nine subdivisions that would be impacted by the state’s plan to build a toll road and greatly expand the Grand Parkway, is a unified effort. Businesses in the path of the expansion are now involved as well. “We were very dissatisfied at the public forum hosted by officials. They held the agenda and the public was allowed to speak for three minutes but they didn’t have to answer our questions. The tables will be turned when we host the meeting and we control the agenda,” Cortes says. Since the August meeting hosted by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and the Grand Parkway Association, the neighborhoods have united and also businesses that could be out of business because of the plan having been altered. Cortes says representatives of the Grand Parkway Association, TxDOT, and the George Foundation, as well as county and state officials, have confirmed they will attend the meeting tonight. And, the organizers are ready. There will be a power point presentation and each neighborhood will be featured with the perceived problems this expansion will have on that particular area. The focus will be on getting the officials to fully explain the plan to build the toll way and the whys associated with the decision. “We will be asking the questions and hopefully we will be getting some answers. Silence is an answer too,” Cortes says. The questioning of the officials will not be an “attack” but a constructive give and take that includes proposals that residents feel will make an expansion of the parkway feasible. “We are going to offer alternatives that we can live with and that will have less impact on each of us,” Cortes explained. Cortes says a website that will provide updates and information should be up and running by the end of the week. The address is: www.stoptollroad.com. Story Source | Top |
| Grand Parkway
protest on tap for tonight Residents to host meeting discussing toll road opposition By Cheryl Skinner Citizens against plans to extend the Grand Parkway to Texas 288 as a toll road are hosting a meeting or community forum tonight at Williams Elementary School, 5111 FM 762 at 6:00 p.m. Precinct 1 Commissioner Tom Stavinoha says he will be at the meeting to try to reiterate the fact that while opponents are calling for county officials to halt the plans, the county actually has no control over what the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) does. “We supported Senate Bill 1892, which would have allowed counties to build in what is known as a public/private partnership, but the Governor vetoed the bill. The legislators passed Senate Bill 792, with votes from State Representatives Dora Oliva and Kyle Janek, and that bill took us totally out of the deal. The citizens can scream at us all they want to but our hands are tied,” Stavinoha said. At the end of August a public meeting was held at the George Ranch in Richmond by the Texas Department of Transportation and the Grand Parkway Association. Opponents of the plan said then that they were disgruntled because they could not directly ask questions of the officials hosting the meeting. The plan for Wednesday is to have officials respond to the questions from the audience. County Clerk Dianne Wilson is among those who is asking county officials to oppose TxDOT’s plan to build the expanded road in its current design. She says the plan calls for towering overpasses that were not revealed in the original design and will cause depreciation in property values and what she believes will be an exodus from the subdivisions that will be affected by the expansion. For over a decade, TxDOT officials have talked about the eventual plan to extend the Grand Parkway (Texas 99) 26 miles from U.S. 59 to Texas 288 in Brazoria County. Officials have said construction on the project could begin as early as 2010 and once construction begins, the project most likely would be completed within three years. In order for the project to be launched, state officials have said it must be tolled because funds to build highways are limited or non-existent. Stavinoha says the issue is complicated and the state appears to be desperate. He doesn’t think “their numbers add up” when it comes to toll fees. “They are broke and can’t build any more new roads unless they are tolled, but I think some of their plans are unfeasible because they usually charge 16 cents a mile for toll road and if their figures are correct, it would take 80 cents a mile to cover the costs. That isn’t cost effective and no one is going to pay that, so I guess they would have to raise the tolls on all roads to cover this,” he said. Citizens and business people who live in the path of this planned expansion want answers too and they hope the meetings will be attended by local and state officials who have been invited to participate. Story Source| Top |
SUNDAY,
SEPTEMBER 02, 2007 Residents oppose project planned in Fort Bend, Brazoria counties 9/2/07 By ZEN T. C. ZHENG Nearly 300 residents filled the Guy Lodge Hall of George Ranch in Richmond Thursday to urge state and local officials to abandon a proposal to extend Grand Parkway and turn it into a toll road. "No toll! No road! We moved here for the big Q — the quality of life," said Paul Davis, a Greatwood subdivision resident, at the public meeting. "Don't disturb the habitats of people and this community." Nearly a decade in the making, the idea by the Texas Department of Transportation and the Grand Parkway Association to extend Grand Parkway, for 26 miles from U.S. 59 to Texas 288, has stirred waves of opposition over the years from residents near the proposed route through south Fort Bend and north Brazoria counties. Jim Hunt, TxDOT's Fort Bend engineer, called growth a reality in the county and said his agency tries to "prepare for the future." "Fort Bend is growing regardless whether the road comes or not. Everyone has the right to own their land and develop their land," Hunt said. The proposed segment is part of the plan to build Grand Parkway, also known as Texas 99, a 185-mile highway through seven counties and encircling the Greater Houston region. The first segment built is a 19-mile stretch between U.S. 59 and Interstate 10. The segment under fire Thursday would extend the parkway from U.S. 59 south generally along the Crabb River Road corridor, behind George Ranch, and then east two miles north of Brazos Bend State Park, across Brazos River through the Darrington prison unit in Rosharon and connect to Texas 288. Officials hope to begin construction in 2010 and have it completed three years later. Officials have said tolling would be a viable way to get the highway built more quickly due to lack of government funding. They said the proposed extension would "relieve congestion," "improve mobility" and help with inland evacuation from the Gulf Coast during hurricanes. About two dozen residents who spoke Thursday disagreed. "We should all be angered, outraged and disgusted at our officials for this continued lie," said Jesse Cuellar, who lives in the Brazos Lakes subdivision. "This road is not about relieving traffic congestion; there is none. This road is not about a hurricane evacuation route; not many people used (FM) 762 during (Hurricane) Rita. They used Highway 36." Cuellar believes the toll road would lay the groundwork for a proposed Interstate 69, known as the NAFTA Highway that links Mexico to the Gulf Coast. The Texas Transportation Commission has proposed that the highway run along the route of the Grand Parkway. TxDOT has indicated that I-69, part of the Trans-Texas Corridor system, would included dedicated truck lanes and be used as an alternative hazardous material route. Local officials, such as County Commissioners Tom Stavinoha and James Patterson and Sugar Land Mayor David Wallace, are all proponents of the toll road project that they believe would help with the area's economic development. "This project would only benefit developers and members of the Commissioners Court who will get some political money," said opponent David Marrack at the meeting. Residents said the plan would create air, light and noise pollution and increase flooding, a concern echoed by Brandt Mannchen of the Houston Sierra Club. Martin Beres of Greatwood said the proposed route is 20 feet from his back fence, while a neighbor would lose his home to the project. Gary Jacobs of the Bridlewood subdivision said one of the two entrances of his neighborhood on FM 762 would be eliminated with the project, creating potential traffic hazards. Ken Khayal, owner of a business on Crabb River Road, said construction on U.S. 59 already has affected his business, which he said would be more affected by the Grand Parkway project. "You guys need to give us a break. The construction is killing us," he said. Dave Brittain, president of Greatwood homeowners association, urged a sound wall be built before construction begins. The Grand Parkway Association continues to seek written public comment on the proposal to extend the Grand Parkway as a toll road. Send comments postmarked by Sept. 13 to Grand Parkway Association, Attn: Segment C Comments, 4544 Post Oak Place, Suite 222, Houston, Texas 77027 or e-mail segmentccomments@grandpky.com zen.zheng@chron.com © 2007 Houston Chronicle: www.chron.com Story
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| Fort Bend Residents
Say Proposed Toll Road a Bad Idea Thursday, October 11, 2007 By: Jack Williams A proposed toll road that would extend the Grand Parkway from Highway 59 in Richmond all the way around to Highway 288 south of Pearland will probably happen within the next few years, but not without a big fight from residents in Fort Bend County. As Houston Public Radio's Jack Williams reports, some are calling the highway "a road to nowhere" that will devastate neighborhoods and businesses. Click to Listen Residents who have settled just west of the Brazos River and south of Highway 59, in growing communities like Greatwood and Canyon Gate, say they never had a clue a freeway-style toll road would someday cut through their neighborhoods. The planned roadway would link to a segment of the Grand Parkway just north of 59 and includes entrance and exit ramps and overpasses near homes and businesses. David Cuellar lives in Brazos Lakes and says this isn't what homeowners signed up for. "We would rather have it ground-level, with minimum overpasses, as it was stated in 2001. There was no opposition in 2001 when this map came out. In our section, it's rural land. They can move these roads another 3-5 miles to completely lessen the impact on our subdivisions." At least four businesses would be wiped-out by construction and residents worry overpasses 60 or 70 feet high would ruin their neighborhoods. Matt Kilboy, who has a house in Greatwood, was one of several hundred concerned residents at a meeting in Richmond earlier this week. He says the road basically goes nowhere as curves around into Brazoria County. "If you get two miles beyond the impacted areas the value portion that they bring farther out is farmland. They're basically connecting out to nowhere. If you go to Brazoria, you have miles and miles of toll road that we're paying for today that are not going to be utilized." But supporters of the highway say it's been planned as a toll road for a number of years and is part of a larger regional transportation plan that will serve as a spark for growth. The Grand Parkway Association's Executive Director David Gornet says better now than later, when even more homes and businesses would be affected. "If the decision can be made now and the route is nailed down, you stop development from occurring in the corridor. New development that does occur can be complementary to the knowledge of that's where the road is going to go. This is where access may or may not be and if you're looking for something and you want access, you can buy there. If you want to be away from it, you buy away from it." TX-DOT, which would build the $582 million roadway, says it doesn't have the money to do it without the toll component. Fort Bend County Judge Bob Hebert says he's not sure that makes much sense. "We can't even justify the next section up which is the most heavily trafficked segment of the Grand Parkway in existence as a full toll road, how can we do Segment C out in the undeveloped portion of the county." Officials say there's still room for modifications, but the road will still likely include on and off ramps, overpasses and eventually toll booths. Story Source | Top |
| Residents challenge
future plans for Grand Parkway By Don Munsch Friday, October 12, 2007 2:46 PM CDT
Quite a racket emanated from the school itself Wednesday, but the
din didn't come from boisterous children. Most of those attending the meeting were opposed to the concept. The meeting included a PowerPoint presentation and a brief question and answer period from the audience, in addition to exchanges between opponents and David Gornet, executive director of the Grand Parkway Association. Many residents are opposed to the toll road because of how it would affect residential areas, businesses and the environment. They have also questioned the need for the toll road, as they said the traffic doesn't merit the need for it. Supporters counter that argument by pointing out the road is needed to accommodate future growth, among other reasons. Greatwood resident Paul Turner was one of many attendees who had many questions about the project, reading his inquiries from a prepared list. Gornet answered most of the queries, including specifics about its construction and layout.
“State Bill 792 was passed this past session,” Gornet said. “It was a compromised bill between the executive branch and legislative branch that outlines the process where again local counties have first right of refusal on deciding whether or not to pursue a project as a toll facility. If the county - and it could be Harris County; very likely it would be Fort Bend County because we're in Fort Bend, but it could be Harris County - can negotiate with TxDOT, and if they come to an impasse, then TxDOT has opportunity to move forward and offer this out to private developers.” Gornet conceded the private developers could be a foreign toll company. “That process is ongoing right now,” he said, “and the ultimate decision is going to end up whether or not they can enter into an agreement.” He said the decision to build the Grand Parkway as a toll road was made by the Texas Transportation Commission. Gornet was asked why there was a “rush” to get the project started when TxDOT stated the need does not exist and the project would not be otherwise funded for at least 10 years. He said the process for the project actually began nine years ago, as scoping sessions were held, routes were developed, public meetings were conducted and analyzed and then recommended alternative and preferred alternative routes were created. After the Federal Environment Impact Statement is released, another public meeting will be held, he said. “It will show the Grand Parkway as a toll road in this Environmental Impact Statement because that is the way it was described in the current regional transportation plan (set forth by the Houston-Galveston Area Council), and for federal highways to approve the Environmental Impact Statement it must conform with that regional transportation plan,” Gornet said. When the Environmental Impact Statement is completed, he said, TxDOT will ask for a record of decision to be issued that will then allow the agency to begin acquiring rights of way. But whether the project is built immediately is subject to funding or identification of a toll partner, whether it's a Fort Bend County toll authority, TxDOT or a private entity. But the construction might not occur for another five years. The earliest it would occur is 2010, Gornet said. Gornet said people who want to voice opposition to the plan can contact the Texas Transportation Commission or TxDOT. Brazos Lakes Estates resident Anne Franson wanted to know who selected the path for Segment C. Gornet said the path was picked cooperatively between the Grand Parkway Association, TxDOT, Fort Bend County, residents and people who work in the area. “The road was in place; we didn't get to pick the path, we just got to negotiate a few feet,” Franson said. She complained that the path was too invasive and destructive. Gornet said the path was selected before the majority of those area subdivisions had started. “Bridlewood was started,” Gornet said. “Greatwood existed on the east side of Crabb River Road.” Gornet said the Canyon Gate at the Brazos developer set aside land for future right of way of Grand Parkway. “That's not true,” a man shouted, and a few others joined him in grumbling. Gornet explained the development of subdivisions and the toll road path. “I believe, though, that there have been two roads,” Franson said. “One that has been presented to the public, and one that the Grand Parkway intends to build.” The audience applauded. She said she others thought the roadway was to be a four-lane, scenic divided highway. “Again, she just said it - a divided rural highway. It will still be a divided rural highway,” Gornet said, receiving many jeers from the audience. He said the design features and dimensions will remain the same. Story Source | Top |
| Paper: Houston Chronicle Date: Sat 09/22/2007 Section: B Page: 5 Edition: 3 STAR Toll road plans attract wrath of citizens / Comments to TxDOT show scope of opposition to convert interstates By POLLY ROSS HUGHES, Austin Bureau |