Comments on: 2004 Original Plan for Hwy 281 http://satollparty.com/post/?p=144 A Taxpayer Revolt Like the Boston Tea Party Tue, 18 May 2010 04:15:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: terrih http://satollparty.com/post/?p=144&cpage=1#comment-80499 terrih Wed, 25 Mar 2009 04:33:28 +0000 http://satollparty.com/post/?p=144#comment-80499 TxDOT colluded to break federal in how they conducted the study for the 281 toll road. The citizens' lawsuit would have been thrown out of court had it not had any merit. We didn't break the law, TxDOT did. We didn't do the fraudulent study, TxDOT did. We didn't nor did the court pull the clearance on 281, the feds did. We didn't fail to build the promised overpass expansion project in 2003 (that had the funding and clearance), TxDOT did. Don't shoot the messengers! Concerned citizens have EVERY RIGHT to redress their government for grievances and demand accountability for how their hard-earned tax dollars are being spent. The public HAS weighed-in in every way they've been given (they haven't allowed a public vote). Over 90% of the public feedback for the 281 project said no toll road, just give us the original overpass expansion plan paid for with gas taxes since 2003. This project never should have been put in jeopardy. The simple solution to get us all moving again was to listen to the public feedback years ago, drop the ill-conceived conversion of an existing freeway into a tollway, and build the overpasses. Every transportation agency involved as well as tone-deaf politicians have allowed this situation to fester and REFUSED to heed the voice of the taxpayers, REFUSED to sit down and negotiate, REFUSED to the work with the community in any meaningful way. Go to www.281OverpassesNow.com to read about the ORIGINAL FREEway plan for 281, how it would cost one-tenth the price, make a much smaller footprint, and take less than half the time to build without new toll taxes on economically battered commuters. TxDOT colluded to break federal in how they conducted the study for the 281 toll road. The citizens’ lawsuit would have been thrown out of court had it not had any merit. We didn’t break the law, TxDOT did. We didn’t do the fraudulent study, TxDOT did. We didn’t nor did the court pull the clearance on 281, the feds did. We didn’t fail to build the promised overpass expansion project in 2003 (that had the funding and clearance), TxDOT did. Don’t shoot the messengers! Concerned citizens have EVERY RIGHT to redress their government for grievances and demand accountability for how their hard-earned tax dollars are being spent.

The public HAS weighed-in in every way they’ve been given (they haven’t allowed a public vote). Over 90% of the public feedback for the 281 project said no toll road, just give us the original overpass expansion plan paid for with gas taxes since 2003.

This project never should have been put in jeopardy. The simple solution to get us all moving again was to listen to the public feedback years ago, drop the ill-conceived conversion of an existing freeway into a tollway, and build the overpasses. Every transportation agency involved as well as tone-deaf politicians have allowed this situation to fester and REFUSED to heed the voice of the taxpayers, REFUSED to sit down and negotiate, REFUSED to the work with the community in any meaningful way.

Go to http://www.281OverpassesNow.com to read about the ORIGINAL FREEway plan for 281, how it would cost one-tenth the price, make a much smaller footprint, and take less than half the time to build without new toll taxes on economically battered commuters.

]]> By: B.T. http://satollparty.com/post/?p=144&cpage=1#comment-80452 B.T. Mon, 23 Mar 2009 17:49:00 +0000 http://satollparty.com/post/?p=144#comment-80452 First, the Constitution says nothing about the Government's obligation to make the poor as rich as the rich or vice-versa. The Government's only obligation is the general welfare of the country, and that just means "wellbeing." So, the government has no business in seeing that everything is perfectly even. That might be equal, but it would not be fair. Second, the public has not spoken against toll roads. No votes have been taken either way. A lawsuit is currently holding up any progress on 281 and will continue to do so for the forseeable future. Something will have to be done. For the county and state to allow certain development out in that area without the necessary infrastructure to support that development is irresponsible. Something needs to be done soon because lesser needed freeways and tollways are being constructed all over this state. First, the Constitution says nothing about the Government’s obligation to make the poor as rich as the rich or vice-versa. The Government’s only obligation is the general welfare of the country, and that just means “wellbeing.” So, the government has no business in seeing that everything is perfectly even. That might be equal, but it would not be fair.

Second, the public has not spoken against toll roads. No votes have been taken either way. A lawsuit is currently holding up any progress on 281 and will continue to do so for the forseeable future.

Something will have to be done. For the county and state to allow certain development out in that area without the necessary infrastructure to support that development is irresponsible.

Something needs to be done soon because lesser needed freeways and tollways are being constructed all over this state.

]]> By: Dorothy http://satollparty.com/post/?p=144&cpage=1#comment-9291 Dorothy Thu, 08 Feb 2007 02:00:10 +0000 http://satollparty.com/post/?p=144#comment-9291 I think it's a forgone conclusion that the 281 toll road gets built because state government has all the power and absolutely, positively does not care what the citizens think. My solution is to not use the road. Not ever. If we all refuse, the road will fail. For me, it means going to San Antonio far less than I do now. Not only will I save the toll, but also the money I currently spend on gasoline and the sales tax I spend when I get there. I've heard TxDot and Governor Perry loud and clear. Go to hell is what they've told me, told all of us really. No problemo. I may go to hell but I'm afraid that I won't be going to San Antonio any more, at least not on the yellow brick road. I think it’s a forgone conclusion that the 281 toll road gets built because state government has all the power and absolutely, positively does not care what the citizens think.

My solution is to not use the road. Not ever. If we all refuse, the road will fail. For me, it means going to San Antonio far less than I do now. Not only will I save the toll, but also the money I currently spend on gasoline and the sales tax I spend when I get there.

I’ve heard TxDot and Governor Perry loud and clear. Go to hell is what they’ve told me, told all of us really. No problemo. I may go to hell but I’m afraid that I won’t be going to San Antonio any more, at least not on the yellow brick road.

]]> By: Concerned Citizen http://satollparty.com/post/?p=144&cpage=1#comment-9102 Concerned Citizen Tue, 06 Feb 2007 13:11:53 +0000 http://satollparty.com/post/?p=144#comment-9102 My concern is simple. WHY! The Texas Congress has used TexDot funds for something else. They took money out of our highway taxes and used it for something else. This has been going on for YEARS! The concerned citizens need to form a Class Action Suit against the Texas Congress (1985 to Present). They need to write a bill and force the Governor to sign it. This bill would not allow the Texas Congress to remove any money from the TexDot fund without a state wide public vote. It should also include, or separate bill written for the School Tax. The Lotto money was susposed to go to fund schools. It has been taken since the lotto started and used for something else. These legislators need to be held accountable. When they steal money from one fund and use it illeagally for something else, they need to be removed permanantely! They are not doing good for Texans. They are serving their own purposes. THEY NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. TexDot needs an overhaul. It has turned into another wasteful government group. It needs to be STOPPED in its tracks. My concern is simple. WHY! The Texas Congress has used TexDot funds for something else. They took money out of our highway taxes and used it for something else. This has been going on for YEARS!
The concerned citizens need to form a Class Action Suit against the Texas Congress (1985 to Present). They need to write a bill and force the Governor to sign it. This bill would not allow the Texas Congress to remove any money from the TexDot fund without a state wide public vote. It should also include, or separate bill written for the School Tax. The Lotto money was susposed to go to fund schools. It has been taken since the lotto started and used for something else. These legislators need to be held accountable. When they steal money from one fund and use it illeagally for something else, they need to be removed permanantely! They are not doing good for Texans. They are serving their own purposes. THEY NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
TexDot needs an overhaul. It has turned into another wasteful government group. It needs to be STOPPED in its tracks.

]]> By: Mel Borel http://satollparty.com/post/?p=144&cpage=1#comment-8733 Mel Borel Sat, 03 Feb 2007 16:08:28 +0000 http://satollparty.com/post/?p=144#comment-8733 I am opposed to converting an existing highway (281 and 1604) to a toll road. The original plan for 281 makes the most economical sense even at this stage. I can’t believe the cost and inconvenience of constructing a toll road on 281 is a better alternative than overpasses at the major intersections. If our bureaucratic TXDOT insist on toll roads, let them start from scratch where there is no highway available. Using toll revenues makes some sense to fund a new highway. Economically this can be justified. From an inconvenience standpoint, there is no difference between a toll road and a non-toll road construction. A larger issue is how can we, as taxpayers, control what TXDOT does and plans to do? The taxpayers of San Antonio and Bexar County have rejected the issue of toll roads and TXDOT continues to insist on moving forward. Let’s again put this matter to a vote and remove the apparent (real or perceived) authority of TXDOT to tell us what they will do. I am opposed to converting an existing highway (281 and 1604) to a toll road. The original plan for 281 makes the most economical sense even at this stage. I can’t believe the cost and inconvenience of constructing a toll road on 281 is a better alternative than overpasses at the major intersections.

If our bureaucratic TXDOT insist on toll roads, let them start from scratch where there is no highway available. Using toll revenues makes some sense to fund a new highway. Economically this can be justified. From an inconvenience standpoint, there is no difference between a toll road and a non-toll road construction.

A larger issue is how can we, as taxpayers, control what TXDOT does and plans to do? The taxpayers of San Antonio and Bexar County have rejected the issue of toll roads and TXDOT continues to insist on moving forward. Let’s again put this matter to a vote and remove the apparent (real or perceived) authority of TXDOT to tell us what they will do.

]]> By: Roger Satton http://satollparty.com/post/?p=144&cpage=1#comment-5359 Roger Satton Fri, 22 Dec 2006 04:08:19 +0000 http://satollparty.com/post/?p=144#comment-5359 According to TXDOT in 2007 there is a letting for widening FM 306 from Mystic Pwy. to FM 484 running East. Finally a traffic light is being installed at Hwy. 281 & FM 306,guess what the day they started Construction which was the 12th a accident occured 4 days later a accident happened 1,000 ft. from the interesection on FM 306.A Motorcycle traveling West on FM 306 lost it around the curve.The hill needs to be excavated. TXDOT is going the wrong way if they are proposing Widening from Mystic Shores to FM 484? According to TXDOT in 2007 there is a letting for widening FM 306 from Mystic Pwy. to FM 484 running East.
Finally a traffic light is being installed at Hwy. 281 & FM 306,guess what the day they started Construction which was the 12th a accident occured 4 days later a accident happened 1,000 ft. from the interesection on FM 306.A Motorcycle traveling West on FM 306
lost it around the curve.The hill needs to be excavated. TXDOT is going the wrong way if they are proposing Widening from Mystic Shores to FM 484?

]]> By: Wilson http://satollparty.com/post/?p=144&cpage=1#comment-4614 Wilson Tue, 12 Dec 2006 02:45:14 +0000 http://satollparty.com/post/?p=144#comment-4614 San Antonio has a great freeway system--for 1995 or earlier. How does so much development occur in the last decade with so little planning to accomodate it? How is there just now an interchange being built at 281/410 and finally an update at 10/410? Loop 1604 is a joke, with its impractically placed ramps at random locations and no room to merge, not to mention its mazes that pass for interchanges at I-10 and I-35, and complete lack of one at 281. 281 North is the most ridiculous of them all, with all its bottlenecking stoplights and turn-around death traps, and absolutely no alternate north/south routes. When you drive 281 North and pass 1604, it's like traveling back in time, from a simple and efficient freeway to a sea of brake lights. There's even all kinds of right-of-way cleared for the freeway that was never built that you can look at while you sit at the stop lights. It makes you wonder what happened, because there were obviously plans for such a thing at some time. It also makes you wonder how Comal can put overpasses at 1863 and 46 and Bexar has nothing. These developments didn't all spring up overnight and all these folks move in the next day. Planners had to know which areas were growing and how fast and watched traffic volumes go up over the years, but nothing was ever done. Responsible planning and use of then-available money would likely have prevented the current scenario, before the toll word was introduced as an option (and a forced one at that). And it's absurd to say "well all the rich folks on the north side should be willing to fork out the money for a toll road", just like those in higher crime areas should pay higher taxes for more police protection. I drive 281 every day and see way more pickup trucks and work vehicles and school buses than luxury cars, and I myself am a teacher that can ill-afford the cost of tolls, as do the rest of the middle class folks who drive it. If the City of San Antonio is going to continue to annex northward, it has a responsibility to those citizens to help provide safe and viable transportation for them. Since it is in the state's hands, more pressure needs to be put on the state from local leaders to get it done and stop wasting time and money. San Antonio has a great freeway system–for 1995 or earlier. How does so much development occur in the last decade with so little planning to accomodate it? How is there just now an interchange being built at 281/410 and finally an update at 10/410? Loop 1604 is a joke, with its impractically placed ramps at random locations and no room to merge, not to mention its mazes that pass for interchanges at I-10 and I-35, and complete lack of one at 281. 281 North is the most ridiculous of them all, with all its bottlenecking stoplights and turn-around death traps, and absolutely no alternate north/south routes. When you drive 281 North and pass 1604, it’s like traveling back in time, from a simple and efficient freeway to a sea of brake lights. There’s even all kinds of right-of-way cleared for the freeway that was never built that you can look at while you sit at the stop lights. It makes you wonder what happened, because there were obviously plans for such a thing at some time. It also makes you wonder how Comal can put overpasses at 1863 and 46 and Bexar has nothing.
These developments didn’t all spring up overnight and all these folks move in the next day. Planners had to know which areas were growing and how fast and watched traffic volumes go up over the years, but nothing was ever done. Responsible planning and use of then-available money would likely have prevented the current scenario, before the toll word was introduced as an option (and a forced one at that). And it’s absurd to say “well all the rich folks on the north side should be willing to fork out the money for a toll road”, just like those in higher crime areas should pay higher taxes for more police protection. I drive 281 every day and see way more pickup trucks and work vehicles and school buses than luxury cars, and I myself am a teacher that can ill-afford the cost of tolls, as do the rest of the middle class folks who drive it. If the City of San Antonio is going to continue to annex northward, it has a responsibility to those citizens to help provide safe and viable transportation for them. Since it is in the state’s hands, more pressure needs to be put on the state from local leaders to get it done and stop wasting time and money.

]]> By: Outback http://satollparty.com/post/?p=144&cpage=1#comment-1020 Outback Wed, 13 Sep 2006 14:51:36 +0000 http://satollparty.com/post/?p=144#comment-1020 Great web site. Thank you for the information. It's apparent to me that the consortium of construction companies and toll road operators who stand to profit from this couldn't care less about congestion or those of us who have to live with this mess. They've grown entirely too big for their britches and expect the public to bear the cost of making them rich. TTC is an even bigger travesty, with a Republican (in name only) governor advocating a land grab from Texas farmers and ranchers to build his multi billion dollar boondoggle. The bottom line is that I'm through enriching these thieves. If they build it, I won't use it. Not next week, not next month, not ever. If traffic on the feeders gets too bad, I'll find a job closer to home. They're not getting a dime from me. Not one dime. Great web site. Thank you for the information. It’s apparent to me that the consortium of construction companies and toll road operators who stand to profit from this couldn’t care less about congestion or those of us who have to live with this mess. They’ve grown entirely too big for their britches and expect the public to bear the cost of making them rich. TTC is an even bigger travesty, with a Republican (in name only) governor advocating a land grab from Texas farmers and ranchers to build his multi billion dollar boondoggle. The bottom line is that I’m through enriching these thieves. If they build it, I won’t use it. Not next week, not next month, not ever. If traffic on the feeders gets too bad, I’ll find a job closer to home. They’re not getting a dime from me. Not one dime.

]]> By: Roger Satton http://satollparty.com/post/?p=144&cpage=1#comment-256 Roger Satton Sat, 29 Apr 2006 04:07:02 +0000 http://satollparty.com/post/?p=144#comment-256 Let's not leave out the increasing traffic at Hwy.281 and FM 306.According to TXDOT the traffic count on FM 306 well exceeds FM 1863 right now. With more development and a new High School down the road the congestion is only going to get worse.Learn the lesson that Bulverde 46 is experiencing now. Let’s not leave out the increasing traffic at Hwy.281 and FM 306.According to TXDOT the traffic count on FM 306 well exceeds FM 1863 right now. With more development and a new High School down the road the congestion is only going to get worse.Learn the lesson that Bulverde 46 is experiencing now.

]]> By: Warren Cook http://satollparty.com/post/?p=144&cpage=1#comment-216 Warren Cook Mon, 10 Apr 2006 15:32:43 +0000 http://satollparty.com/post/?p=144#comment-216 What would the traffic flow look like on the 281 from 1604 to Bitters if they had the same stop lights we had on the 281 from 1604 to Evans? It would be a HUGE mess, and certainly require toll roads, I would think. Let's be fair about this, let's put traffic lights on the 410, on the 35 - let's put them everywhere! Then we could put tolls on ALL the traffic in San Antonio. Just think how much money we could make if we tolled the traffic going downtown to work every day. Now we're talking some real money! Naw, never mind. Here's another idea. I vote for sanity. I vote for fairness. I vote for accountability to the voters who do the jobs, who earn the money, who pay the taxes. Why not, instead of tolls, give us a handful of overpasses north of the 1604? Just for fun, let's try something obvious. What would the traffic flow look like on the 281 from 1604 to Bitters if they had the same stop lights we had on the 281 from 1604 to Evans? It would be a HUGE mess, and certainly require toll roads, I would think. Let’s be fair about this, let’s put traffic lights on the 410, on the 35 – let’s put them everywhere! Then we could put tolls on ALL the traffic in San Antonio. Just think how much money we could make if we tolled the traffic going downtown to work every day. Now we’re talking some real money!

Naw, never mind. Here’s another idea. I vote for sanity. I vote for fairness. I vote for accountability to the voters who do the jobs, who earn the money, who pay the taxes. Why not, instead of tolls, give us a handful of overpasses north of the 1604? Just for fun, let’s try something obvious.

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