In response to our press release about TxDOT's covert tracking of our travel behavior, their spokesperson claims:

"We hate to dignify these claims with a response, but the REAL facts are as follows:
 
The Bluetooth technology cannot be tied to an individual. How it works is, we have readers along the highway. As a vehicle passes a reader, it picks up the Bluetooth (yes, every Bluetooth has a unique identifying number, BUT this number is NOT tied to an individual.)  Further down the highway there is another reader and it picks up the Bluetooth there. Knowing the distance between the readers and the time it took between the readers, is how we calculate travel times. This is VERY good for drivers and helps us give the real-time travel information!"

But a simple Google search reveals:

Each device has a unique MAC-48 identifier needed to connect to other devices. This in turn is connected to the Cell Provider device profile, which in turn is connected to the personal information of the customer.  

As one of our supporter's rightly concludes...
It would not be a stretch to see the government storing these records (aka- the NSA) to be mined later with a simple request to the cell provider.

Long story short: they have enough to find out who you are, and what you were doing at any date in the past where you were tracked.

Where and how is this information being stored, for how long, and have they and their contractor been forbidden from selling (or giving) the data to other third parties or other governmental entities?

These are critical questions when it comes to privacy and our Constitutional rights. Just because TxDOT claims it's good information to aid them in gathering travel times, does NOT mean it can't be tracked back to an individual nor does it guarantee their contractor isn't selling this valuable data to the highest bidder.

.........

As usual, rather than listen to the public and NIX the toll lanes altogether, the City of Austin is suggesting a 'compromise' plan that would still add one toll lane each direction but would also add two non-toll lanes - but NOT on the highway itself.

Why not scrap the toll lanes altogether? Their argument is that they're responding to the concerns expressed at the BIG MoPac public meeting in February about the inability of many to access the toll lanes due to limited incomes. Why include a toll lane at all then? Because the wealthy still want their exclusive Lexus lanes, but they're willing to let the riff-raff have a couple extra non-toll lanes if it shuts up the opposition.

Officials are seeking public feedback on the new proposal. So now's the time to get your concerns on the record.

The proposed amendment to CAMPO's long range plan would now say:

"Study all options for the proposed MoPac South expansion

The North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) and the Regional Transportation Council (RTC) are asking for public input on updates to its project list. Virtually VERY highway in Dallas-Ft.Worth is slated to have toll lanes added to it. Unless we start removing the toll elements from these plans, a toll tsunami will ensue. The excuse was there was no money to fix them unless they toll them. But with an additional $5 billion/year in NEW funding, that excuse no longer hold water!

'Use ALL new funds coming from the legislature to REPLACE toll elements on existing projects BEFORE adding ANY new projects to the plan.'

NOTE: Be sure to include your full name and address and ask for confirmation of receipt of your comments.

Monday, June 8  

2:30 PM 

North Central Texas  

Council of Governments  

616 Six Flags Drive  

You've undoubtedly heard that the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the US 281 toll project was released for public comment on May 22. The public only has 30 days to wade through a 3,000 page document (plus thousands more pages of summaries of the public meetings and public comment), evaluate it, and prepare comments.

Comments are due, June 22, on this web site.

We'll be reviewing the FEIS and suggesting comments on the document, its flaws, and assumptions after we assess it.

In the meantime, the main message is: 'We do not want a tolled alternative. Go back to the complete NON-TOLL EXPRESSWAY alternative studied earlier using the new money the legislature has made available to fund it fully without tolls.'