Link to article here. Note Nichols’ words very carefully: “It ensures that the free lanes, even though they’re moved off to the side, still have the same traffic flow they had before the toll lanes were built“…that means you get no improvements to any freeways. If your highway has stoplights at the crossovers causing congestion [...]

IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Senate bill opens NEW loophole to toll existing highways
Friday, March 27, 2009 – SB 220 authored by Senator Robert Nichols actually opens a NEW loophole that would allow existing highway lanes to be tolled and the free lanes to be subsequently downgraded to access roads. This bill would legalize the conversions of at least [...]

Link to article here.
Web Posted: 03/26/2009 12:00 CDT
Bexar County may beat state at retooling toll road agency

Jaime Castillo – Jaime Castillo, San Antonio Express-News
A major bill being pushed by San Antonio Democratic Rep. Ruth Jones McClendon to consolidate several agencies dealing with local transportation policy hasn’t even been assigned to a legislative committee.
But that hasn’t [...]

Link to article here.
03/24/2009
Stimulus may bring some relief to U.S. 281

By Scott Huddleston – Express-News
Leaders with the Metropolitan Planning Organization agreed Monday to direct nearly $23 million in federal stimulus money to street projects aimed at reducing congestion on U.S. 281 North and creating new jobs on the Southwest Side.
The plan approved by [...]

Link to article here.
Funding for North Texas roads, rail faces rising opposition
By Dave Montgomery
Star-Telegram
March 21, 2009
AUSTIN — A month after it was introduced with a burst of fanfare from North Texas officials, supporters of a major transportation funding bill are now confronting the challenges of trying to advance the measure in an economic [...]

Link to article here. Read our complete press release here.
03/21/2009
Toll road debate heats up — again
By Craig Kapitan – Express-News
Two factions that have harbored a running argument in recent years over the fate of a congested stretch of U.S. 281 just beyond North Loop 1604 are at it again.
Each side has held news conferences [...]

Link to article here. Well, of course, proponents outnumbered opponents because the proponents were government officials testifying in favor of tax hikes on their constituents! There were either paid to be there or traveled there on the taxpayers’ dime.
Those against are in the tens of thousands but don’t have the luxury of taking time off [...]

Link to news report here. Here is the TURF response to the RMA’s propaganda. Read about Operation: Meltdown the Phones here.
Alamo RMA Opens Web Site Touting Toll Roads
Opposition Groups Planning Friday Response
Thursday, March 19, 2009
SAN ANTONIO — The Alamo Regional Mobility Authority is taking their case for various Highway 281 improvements to the [...]

If ever there was a display of the ugly realities of politics today, it was at Senator John Carona’s Transportation Committee hearing on his “local option” menu of new taxes. Virtually EVERY county judge, mayor, and local transportation official traveled to Austin to lobby for more of YOUR money on the taxpayer’s dime! The stack [...]

Link to editorial here.
Dixon: Don’t let the Legislature take a wrong turn when it comes to transportation
Don P. Dixon, SPECIAL CONTRIBUTOR
Austin American Statesman
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
A secret hides in the midst of Texas Road Policy, and it doesn’t just stop at money siphoning, conversion of public roads to toll roads or toll taxes. The [...]