Perry's Trans-Texas Corridor: Will it continue to be an issue?

Paul Burka has an interesting post asking if Gov. Perry will flip-flop on the Trans-Texas Corridor.

http://www.texasmonthly.com/blogs/burkablog/?p=11103

Burka writes, "Like gay marriage and parental rights, the taking of private property by government is a huge issue with Republican voters. As originally conceived by Ric Williamson, and enthusiastically supported by Perry, the Corridor was a series of toll roads, each with a footprint a quarter of a mile wide, condemning millions of acres of pristine countryside, that would be built and controlled by Cintra, a foreign corporation. The right-of-way would include power lines, pipelines, and high-speed rail lines."

He also notes that some elements of the Corridor are being built individually. "[H]e goofed when he bought into Williamson’s vision of a giant network of toll roads (many of which are being built as I write.)"

See Burka's post and the comments for an update of the Corridor that never quite goes away.

HB 1201 to totally repeal TTC becomes law

A bill to totally remove the authority to create the Trans-Texas Corridor (TTC) finally passed in the last regular session of the Legislature and was signed by the governor. HB 1201 was authored by Republican Representative Lois Kolkhorst, a long-time opponent of the TTC. The bill was described as “Relating to repeal of authority for the establishment and operation of the Trans-Texas Corridor.”

HB 1201 was passed by the House and Senate in May, was signed by the governor on June 17, and was effective immediately. During the years of attempts to implement the Corridor, the Coupland area was threatened by plans for the Corridor route. Now, Gov. Perry, who created the TTC and described it as his “vision,” has signed the bill to completely take all references to it out of Texas statutes. If proponents ever want to revive the TTC, they will have to start from scratch; they will not be able to use existing authority.

HB 1201 to remove TTC from all statutes moves to Senate

As reported in the San Antonio Express-News by Gary Scharrer http://blog.mysanantonio.com/texas-politics/2011/04/house-moves-to-kill-the-dead-trans-texas-corridor/ "House moves to kill the dead Trans Texas Corridor" HB 1201 by Lois Kolkhorst has passed the House and moves on to the Senate. HB 1201 will remove all references to the Trans-Texas Corridor in state statutes. Scharrer notes, "The Texas Trans Corridor remains a controversial legacy of Gov. Rick Perry. Widespread opposition by landowners and others upset about foreign ownership of state highways doomed the massive project that was authorized in 2003. Perry pushed the plan, which included a large network of tolled highways, dedicated lanes for trucks, railways, and rights of way for utilities." Rep. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, said, “As our state grows in population, we are facing a pressing need for a more modern, more efficient network of roads and highways to move people and goods. We do not, however, need the Trans-Texas Corridor, and I thank Speaker (Joe) Straus and my colleagues in the Texas House for working with me to repeal the Trans-Texas Corridor from state law.” “So today is a true milestone. With Trans-Texas Corridor completely repealed, I look forward to more responsible transportation debates to keep goods and people moving in and around Texas,” Kolkhorst said. Rep. Linda Harper-Brown, R-Irving, co-author of the legislation, said: ”The Trans-Texas Corridor was too unwieldy, too expensive, and would have taken too much private property."

Coupland Incorporation Committee will meet April 18

From Susan Schmidt on Coupland Incorporation Committee: The Coupland Incorporation Committee met on Monday, March 21, at the Coupland Depot. Thanks to Tony Prete of Waeltz & Prete, Inc., Civil Engineers, the committee studied the first draft of a map encompassing the two square miles of surface area. After much discussion, the map was revised to include more people who wish to be part of Coupland. This is probably the first of many revisions. Also discussed was the need to inform residents of the Coupland community about the advantages of becoming an incorporated entity as opposed to being a part of another city. This will be our next priority. Another meeting will be held on April 18, 7 p.m., Coupland Depot. We encourage anyone who is interested in this topic to attend.

Totally wiping the Trans-Texas Corridor off the books

Two bills calling for absolutely repealing the statutory authority to establish the Trans-Texas Corridor are making their way through this session of the Legislature. The Senate Bill 565 by Hegar is scheduled for a public hearing on March 31. House Bill 1201 by Representative Lois Kolkhorst has already been reported favorably out of committee and sent to Calendars. Hopefully, good opportunities to remove the Trans-Texas Corridor from Texas statute once and for all!

First mayor of Volente advises Coupland to incorporate

Thanks to former Volente Mayor Jan Winawine for speaking to the Coupland Civic Organization on Feb. 28. He gave an interesting and entertaining account of Volente's path to incorporation. Volente's incorporation preserved the community, and he advised Coupland residents to incorporate in order to save their community also. Thanks to Tricia Rosetty, Taylor Daily Press, for her informative report of the meeting.

http://taylordailypress.net/news/coupland/article_192bde92-4528-11e0-86ce-001cc4c002e0.html

Coupland news in Taylor Daily Press

The latest news from Coupland:

http://taylordailypress.net/lifestyles/article_98916dfa-4131-11e0-b6e8-001cc4c002e0.html