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Toll-free Texas Day at the Capitol
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Governor Greg Abbott will be joining us!
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Governor Abbott has a plan to keep Texas toll-free. Plan to join us!
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Good Guy Rep. Scott Sanford asked for our help to elevate the toll road issue statewide by hosting a Toll-free Texas Day at the Capitol.
We have an exciting line-up of events, including hearing from Good Guy legislators about their bills (and how we can help get them passed), a press conference, and other activities to help us STOP tolls across Texas. Governor Greg Abbott will be joining us (let's have a great show of support for his plan)! So you won't want to miss this important event to get us across the finish line.
Pre-registration needed
Sign-up today!
We'll have t-shirts available to help spread the Toll-free Texas message as we walk the halls of the Capitol. If you plan to go and would like one, please let us know so we're sure to order enough. Suggested donation $15. We'll also pre-order box lunches from Jason's Deli (cheaper than the Capitol Grill), select your lunch to ensure we have enough.
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at the Capitol
Monday, March 23
Meet on the South Capitol Steps
9:00 AM
Texas Capitol
Austin, TX
PLAN AHEAD
Ask to meet with your own legislators
Plan ahead by setting appointments with your State Rep. and State Senator that day so you can personally tell them the bills you want them to support (by FAR the MOST effective way to get reps on board with our legislation!). Aim for sometime between 10:30 AM - 12 noon or between 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM. Parking & travel info
Parking is available for $8 at the public parking garage at 12th & San Jacinto. More parking is also available at 18th & Congress at the Texas History Museum for the same price.
For those traveling from out of town and don't wish to drive, Mega Bus has CHEAP bus fares to the Capitol (usually not more than $10). The most affordable hotel near the Capitol is the La Quinta at 300 E. 11th Street (cross street is San Jacinto).
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Lawmakers introduce package of Toll-free Texas legislation
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Rep. Scott Sanford leading the charge on toll-free Texas bills.
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Good Guys Rep. Scott Sanford, Rep. Jeff Leach, and Rep. Matt Shaheen introduced a slate of Toll-free Texas legislation this week.
"Toll Free Texas will take time, but will begin moving Texas back toward great roads paid for by tax dollars, not tolls. And, in the event a community desires and approves a tolled project, it must be 'paid off' and become a free roadway within twenty years. This movement moves the decision making process closer to the voters by having toll road decisions made by elected officials instead of career bureaucrats," says Rep. Scott Sanford.
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ALL HANDS ON DECK!
Senator Kolkhorst needs our help!
We need folks to come testify in favor of SB 485 by Senator Lois Kolkhorst to remove tolls when the road is paid for. As we all know, once they slap tolls on a road, it never comes off! The special interests and toll agencies are lining up to oppose this vital bill. She needs a show of support beyond just little ol' me (even though there's a grassroots army behind me)! Unfortunately, these committees do not allow people to officially register in favor of a bill unless you are physically present in the committee room at the time public testimony is called.
Please be there to support our Good Gal, Lois Kolkhorst!
Senate Transportation Committee
Hearing on SB 485
Wed., March 11 at 8:00 AM*
Committee Rm. E1.016
(in the extension building, take north elevators to E1) Texas Capitol Austin, TX
* We believe this will be the hearing date. Subject to change at the whim of the Chair. Please RSVP to me, Terri Hall, to let me know you're planning to come so I can inform you if plans change.
When you arrive, fill out a witness registration form in support of SB 485. You can find the forms at the back of the room and turn them into the committee clerk at the front. I will have talking points if you wish to orally testify, otherwise, just registering in favor of the bill will be a BIG help!
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ANOTHER DATE CHANGE:
NEXT MEETING NOW MARCH 19
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CHANGE OF DATE:
We just found out about the Loop 1604 meetings next week (see below). So to encourage you to attend those meetings to OPPOSE tolls on Loop 1604, please mark your calenders for our next meeting - Thurs., March 19.
DATE CHANGED: Thurs., March 19
Chester's Hamburgers
16699 San Pedro San Antonio, TX (Off US 281 at Thousand Oaks/Mecca exit) 6:00 PM
(Order dinner on your own)
6:30 PM Meeting begins
NOTE: Our regularly scheduled meeting on the 4th Thursday of the month has been changed to March 19. We'll resume our normal 4th Thursday meeting on April 22.
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SAN ANTONIO
Toll plans for I-35 unveiled,
Loop 1604 meeting THIS WEEK!
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I-35 elevated toll lanes only 3 exits, $15/day!
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TxDOT is rushing to toll this vital corridor before the Governor and lawmakers pull the plug on tolling.
Thursday night was the ONLY public hearing for the I-35 toll project in San Antonio (from 410 S to FM 1103 in Schertz). This is the most pie-in-the-sky, unworkable plan we've ever seen from TxDOT. Two elevated toll lanes for 15 miles with only 3 exits.
They plan to build exclusive interchange ramps at 410 S, 410 W, and at Loop 1604, which will be the only way to access the toll lanes. There are 40 exits on I-35 (on the ground today), yet this elevated, continuous block of cement in the sky will only have 3 exits. With such restricted access who will be able to use this monstrosity even IF they wanted to pay $15/day (50 cents a mile) in tolls?
Private toll operatorThe plan calls for it to be operated by a private, likely foreign, company in one of these sweetheart deals like SH 130, known in Texas as a Comprehensive Development Agreement (or CDA). Cintra charges DFW drivers in excess of 83 cents a mile or over $20/day, and non-compete clauses prevent expansion of surrounding free lanes. Who will pay the tab when it goes belly-up from lack of traffic? This toll plan won't do a STITCH to solve congestion in this vital corridor.
ACTION ITEM SUBMIT PUBLIC COMMENTS BY MARCH 9 HERE. See our flyer with details, a schematic, and suggested comments. Other ideas for comment:
I do NOT support the elevated toll lane alternative. No at-grade (on the ground) option was presented. Any time lanes are off the ground, the cost explodes. We can fund two new non-toll lanes on the ground that everyone can use for much less money than a $1.3 billion elevated toll lane for 15 miles.
Due to the extremely limited access and high cost of tolls for drivers, this plan would do nothing to solve the congestion problem for the vast majority of the traveling public. An at-grade, non-toll lane each direction will handle far more traffic and actually relieve congestion without adding to the tax burden. Prop 1 has added over $1 billion/yr in NEW funding for non-toll highways, and additional new non-toll funding is in the Texas legislature's next budget that will be approved by early June. Use these funds to fix I-35 without tolls, at-grade at a much lower cost than the elevated toll proposal.
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| | Here's what officials want for 1604, toll lanes that cost $20/day or stay stuck in gridlock. |
IMPORTANT MEETINGS
LOOP 1604 TOLL PLAN
(from Bandera Rd. to I-35)
Wednesday, March 4
Holy Trinity Catholic Church Banquet Hall
20523 Huebner Road, San Antonio, TX 78258
5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Thursday, March 5
Northern Hills Golf Center
13202 Scarsdale Street, San Antonio, TX 78217
5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Public comments may be submitted at the meetings or on the project website at www.morefor1604ea.com.
Comments must be received by March 16, 2015, to be included in the official record of the public meetings.
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AUSTIN
More toll lanes on MoPac?
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Toll agency proposing two lanes on South MoPac
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 Apparently these unelected toll bureaucrats haven't gotten the message that toll roads are about to be dumped en masse by Abbott and new leadership. Or maybe they have and they're RUSHING to get as many toll roads underway BEFORE taxpayers can stop them! This is what happens when you give unelected boards the power to tax without accountability.
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SUBSCRIBE to Terri's columns today!
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Abbott's state of the state speech prmises adequate road funding without tolls
BOOK REVIEW -
Merger of the Century: Why Canada and America should become one country By Diane Francis
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CNN airs video slamming toll collection tactics in Harris County
..........5 ways privatization is fleecing American taxpayers
Texas Transportation Reform: Fiscal responsibility FIRST ..........
TxDOT taken to woodshed over toll billing scandal
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The 84th legislative session is underway and our work kicks into high gear. It requires frequent travel to Austin to meet with lawmakers, testify in vital committee hearings, provide bill analysis for legislators, and get our reform bills PASSED!
A gift of any amount, $10, $20, or more is most appreciated, but we're also in need of ongoing monthly contributions earmarked for the six months of the legislative session. If you're interested, please contact Sudie Sartor here.
We need the resources to STOP tolls on existing roads & to get pro-taxpayer transportation policies and reforms in place.
With HUNDREDS of toll projects planned in Texas, EVERYONE will be effected by these NEW taxes!
Or send in a check to:
Texans Uniting for Reform and Freedom (or TURF)
PO Box 29254
San Antonio, TX 78229-0254
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"I...place economy among the first and most important of republican virtues, and public debt as the greatest of the dangers to be feared... Taxation follows that, and in its turn wretchedness and oppression."--Thomas Jefferson, Letter to William Plumer, 1816
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