Defending Our Property Rights & Freedom to Travel
Make sure your party's platform stays anti-toll
Bring resolutions to your precinct conventions
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One of the top ways the grassroots can pressure their elected officials to do the right thing is to place issues important to them into their party's platform. On election night, anyone can attend what's called their 'precinct convention.' It takes place at YOUR polling location after the polls close at 7 PM on election night, March 1.

Anyone who has voted in their party's primary can introduce a resolution(s) (which is voted on and if passed, moves up to the next level - the Senate District Convention. Then if it's adopted there, too, it moves up to the State Convention Platform Committee). Bring the slip of paper provided to you proving you voted. If you do not have it, not to worry, they can later verify that you voted.

We had so many of our resolutions make it to the state level on the GOP side in 2014, that we, in essence, got to write the transportation plank of the GOP platform. Everything   
we wanted was adopted! We have a resolution to affirm we want to keep the existing transportation platform in place.

However, one of the existing provisions (a ban on slapping tolls on existing roads) inadvertently got deleted when they added the new language. So we need to add that back in this year.

Also, we're proposing adding a new provision to prevent the imposition of restricted lanes to our highways whether dedicated HOV lanes, bus lanes, bike lanes, or toll lanes, the government shouldn't be picking the winners and losers of who gets an express ride and who doesn't based on mode of travel or how many people happen to be in your car. This problem is rampant in our urban areas and study after study shows HOV-toll lanes do not work and actually create unsafe conditions and actually cause congestion.

We also suggest one to protect property rights of landowners whose property is being taken by developers who are exploiting governmental powers.

SPECIAL NOTE:
Please let us know (terri@texasturf.org) if you become a delegate to the state convention. Also let us know if you have success in passing the resolutions!
Straus, Wolff try to re-write toll road history in Alamo City
Texas House Speaker Joe Straus faces a tough re-election. So does his friend, Bexar County Commissioner Kevin Wolff. It's interesting to watch both claim credit for taking tolls off San Antonio freeways at election time, yet both were instrumental in bringing tolls to the Alamo city for years.
ELECTION 2016
Anti-toll endorsements
The word Vote on a red ballot box for collecting votes and ballots in a democratic election to choose a new president, governor, representative, senator, congressman or other official or
Today is the last day of early voting - February 26. Election day is March 1. TURF vetted and researched the candidates in key contested primary races to help inform you of who the anti-toll candidates are and make our recommendations.

If you don't see a race listed, it's either because there's no opponent in that race or because they didn't return our survey or sign our candidate pledge. If a candidate is an incumbent, you can see how they voted on transportation legislation here. 


Spread the word on Facebook and through other social media. Also be sure to share with any groups your active in.

We also list the endorsements from Texans for Toll-free Highways.
 
DFW ALERT
TxDOT approves more tolls on I-635
Watch Senator Bob Hall defend constituents against the push for tolls
Senator Bob Hall tried to keep tolls of I-635 in East Dallas.
When an elected official travels all the way to Austin to address the Texas Transportation Commission, the Commission ought to listen. That's especially true when the legislator sits on the Senate Transportation Committee like Senator Bob Hall.  

Yesterday, Senator Hall traveled to Austin to defend his constituents' firm anti-toll stance and asked the Commission NOT to approve tolls on I-635 as the chief un-elected bureaucrat with the Regional Transportation Council, Michael Morris, insisted.

Rather than listen to the elected official who represents the residents that use the corridor, the Commission listened to the un-elected Morris and adopted tolls for I-635 East to Garland. Governor Greg Abbott campaigned against toll roads and promised a new anti-toll mindset at TxDOT. Yet his Transportation Commission continues to adopt MORE toll roads at EVERY Commission meeting since he took office.
 

TAKE ACTION 
Governor Greg Abbott needs to hear from you!

Call the Governor and ask him to keep his promise to end tolls and direct his Transportation Commission to STOP approving them. The voters have given TxDOT $5 billion a year in NEW non-toll funding (with passage of Prop 1 and Prop 7), yet they're still facing more toll taxes across Texas!

Call Abbott at (512) 463-1782 today. 
 
Austinites need to weigh in to stop toll roads
They're asking for feedback, let's give it to them!
before a conference the microphones in front of empty chairs. Note Shallow depth of field
Residents in the Austin area have a chance to weigh in on their region's  4-year transportation plan also called the TIP. They're asking for public feedback, so be sure to submit comments.

There's an inordinate emphasis on gimmicks like HOV-bus-toll lanes and transit projects that have proven to do nothing to alleviate traffic congestion.

Be sure to submit comments opposing toll projects, especially those that cannot pay for themselves and use our tax money. Paying twice for the same stretch of road is double taxation. The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority (CTRMA) is quite fond of it since every one of their projects uses tax money to subsidize them. The Austin Mayor, Steve Adler wants to add toll-HOV lanes on I-35, so say 'No to tolls on I-35.' 
 

AUSTIN PUBLIC MEETINGS ON TIP
(Try to attend the one near you. Special interests tend to be the only ones that show up)

Monday, February 29: Bastrop Library - 1100 Church St., Bastrop, TX
 
Wednesday, March 2: Pleasant Hill Library - 211 E. William Cannon Dr., Austin, TX 78745
 
Thursday, March 3: Marble Falls Library - 101 Main St., Marble Falls, TX 78654
 
Monday, March 7: Lockhart Library Fireplace Room - 217 Main St., Lockhart, TX 78644
 
Tuesday, March 8: Georgetown Library - 402 W. 8th St., Georgetown, TX 78626
 
Thursday, March 10: Kyle Library - 550 Opal Ln., Kyle, TX 78640
 
Monday, March 14: Cedar Park Library - 550 Discovery Blvd., Cedar Park, TX, 78613
 
Tuesday, March 15: University Hills Library - 4721 Loyola Ln., Austin, TX 78723
SAN ANTONIO
Important public meetings
Need to voice opposition to tolls this week
Male hand activating an Online survey button on virtual screen.

MPOs holds meetings on transportation plans  

Every city with population of 50,000 or greater has a Metropolitan Planning Organization or MPO. These MPOs are required to produce your region's transportation plans (basically a project priority list) and to hold public meetings when they undergo a major update to the plans known as the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP - short-range 4 yr plan) and Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP - long-range 20 yr plan).

While hosting the public meetings is just a way for the agencies to check a box and not really engage the public or incorporate any meaningful public feedback, it's important to get opposition to tolls on the official record. Remember, silence is approval! Opposition on the official record can be very useful in killing toll projects or any other ill-conceived projects or priorities the community opposes (like rail).


 
SUBMIT YOUR COMMENTS HERE.
(Be sure to note it's comments on the 2017-202 TIP. Include your full name and address.)

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SAN ANTONIO MPO TIP MEETINGS:

(You can also attend the meeting online here.)

All meetings are from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
 
Northeast Bexar County 
Tuesday, February 23
Morgan's Wonderland Event Center
5223 David Edwards Dr., San Antonio, TX

Central Bexar County 
Via Metro Center 
1021 San Pedro (just north of downtown) 
San Antonio, TX 
(This meeting will be live streamed online) 
Wednesday, February 24

Northwest Bexar County 
Leon Valley Conference Center 
6421 Evers Rd., Leon Valley, TX 
Thursday, February 25

Comal County 
New Braunfels Civic Center
375 S. Castell, New Braunfels, TX 
Tuesday, March 1

Kendall County 
Boerne Civic Center 
820 Adler Rd., Boerne, TX 
Wednesday, March 2

Guadalupe County 
Seguin-Guadalupe County Coliseum 
950 S. Austin St., Seguin, TX 
Thursday, March 3
 
Be sure to attend and give input opposing toll roads and 'managed lanes' of ANY kind of lane that restricts travel based on cost, mode of travel (ie - car, bike, carpool, bus), or number of occupants in a vehicle. Get your input on the official record by submitting formal comments.

The MPO's own consultant said HOV lanes do NOT increase carpooling, so why are on earth would they impose them all over Bexar County? Via insists no one on the north side will take their buses unless there's congestion on the free lanes. Something smells rotten, and it can't be good for freedom of mobility or for taxpayers. 
Mark your calendars now

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Next TURF Meeting
Wednesday, March 23   
Chester's Hamburgers
16609 San Pedro
San Antonio, TX
6:00 PM (for those ordering dinner)
6:30 PM (meeting begins) 
 

BE IN THE KNOW... 

GET THE SCOOP FIRST! SUBSCRIBE TO TERRI'S COLUMNS 

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The New Frontier in battle over property rights, seizing your vehicle when you've committed no crime

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BLOAT: Austin toll road cost triples

 
 
HEADLINES...
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NEW study: Toll-HOV lanes actually CAUSE congestion
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TxDOT considers eliminating all tolls???    
   
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Groups sue to stop south Austin tollways 
DONATE TODAY
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With the 84th legislative session now over, our work continues educating the public about what their lawmakers did and how to hold them accountable at the ballot box. We'll also continue to help local communities fight toll roads in their backyard using the legal and political tools we've refined over a decade of advocacy. We provide vital materials like a Legislative Report Card and Voter Guide, all of which takes resources.

We'd appreciate a donation to support the work TURF does on behalf of taxpayers.

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
"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
© 2015 Texans Uniting for Reform & Freedom