Dane Rudloff delivered his Comments at the Town Hall
Meeting in Bellville, Austin County where more than 1100 citizens from
Austin, Grimes, Waller, Wharton, and Harris Counties were in
attendance. Austin County residents showed up and spoke out into the
late hours!!
REP. Lois Kolkhorst had
everyone on their feet with her opening salvo at the governor, Texas
Transportation commission members, and TxDOT.
From Dane Rudloff..
I strongly oppose the TTC-69 project
I am at the present time still a landowner in Austin
County. Our farm is at the intersection of I-10 and the proposed TTC-69
corridor. We have lost property in the past and will in the near future
to the expansion of I-10. Loosing land to the I-10 by the eminent domain
process leaves a person bitter, but at least I-10 benefits the people
of Texas. This proposed land grab by TxDot for TTC-69 to benefit
private entities and foreign governments makes me really angry. It
does not benefit the people of Texas. It has more to do with
corporate greed.
TxDot tries to make out that this is a rural issue.
It's true most of the people initially protesting this project were
probably the landowners in it's path. The prospect of loosing land that
has been in the family for generations really gets your attention.
Landowners were among the earliest to become aware and to try to educate
others. As we called attention to this plan, people from the cities,
elected officials, and even political parties reacted with disbelief at
first and then anger. The more people we reach, the more people are
really angered.
Initially proponents of this project tried to keep the
public uninformed. This TTC project was being denied in rural areas. At
the same time huge billboards were being placed along congested city
highways. Frustrated commuters were told this project would ease their
traffic congestion. When the news media reported on these billboards,
they quickly came down. Keeping this secret didn't work. Now we are
having public meetings to supposedly involve the public in the
planning.
Today millions of dollars of our taxes are
being spent on a public relations campaign desperately trying to
convince the non informed public that TTC-69 is good for Texans. This
public relations campaign should not be financed with taxpayer money.
