Toll Road opponents flocked to the VIA Center Board Room to attend the MPO meeting on tolls in Bexar County
L-R: MPO Board members, Leon Valley Mayor Chris Riley, Former Balcones Heights Councilwoman & MPO Board member Melissa Castro, SA Gadfly Jack Finger, Former Judge Oscar Kazen, HTA President Bob Martin, MPO meeting agenda, Board member going over notes, Al Kaufman, crowd, name plates for MPO members
Toll Road oponents swarmed into the VIA Metro Center Board Room, Monday, January 22nd to voice their disgust over the Metropolitan Planning Organgization's decision to continue to support Toll Roads in Bexar County. The meeting started at 1:30 p.m. and lasted nearly four hours.
Visibly irate citizens from all over the County, lined up to speak against allowing parts of Hwy. 281, and Bandera Road from being a part of the TexDot Toll Project. Leon Valley Mayor Chris Riley told MPO members that tolling Bandera Road would be a great mistake and hurt local businesses. She pointed out that the Leon Valley City Council passed a resolution against Tolls in her suburb.
Local gadfly Jack Finger, known for his appearances each week at San Antonio Council meetings voiced harsh words for the panel.
Home Owners Taxpayer Association President Bob Martin also voiced opposition to all forms of tolling in Bexar County. Many of his members also were on hand. Citizen after citizen took to the microphone railing at board members vote against incorporating Tolls in the County.
One upset citizen accused the board of promoting Socialism.
During the discussion, County Commisioner Tommy Adkisson told fellow board members he didn't want his handprint on the Mobility Plan. He pointed out that while he was initially for the concept of Toll Roads, he said he came to the conclusion they were not in the best interest of the County.
Commissioner Lyle Larsen proposed an amendent to delete a stretch from Hwy. 281 from consideration of being included in the the Mobility Plan package.
His amendment was not allowed to be voted on since it was not on the agenda. The Open Meetings Act prohibits boards or councils from voting on issues not placed on the agenda 72 hours before the meeting.
The Toll Road Party members packed the house and numerous citizens who signed up to speak against the proposal yielded their three minutes to David Ramos, spokesman for the Toll Road Party, who outlined in detail the reasons Bexar County residents were overwhelmingly against Tolls.
Toll Road oponents swarmed into the VIA Metro Center Board Room, Monday, January 22nd to voice their disgust over the Metropolitan Planning Organgization's decision to continue to support Toll Roads in Bexar County. The meeting started at 1:30 p.m. and lasted nearly four hours.
Visibly irate citizens from all over the County, lined up to speak against allowing parts of Hwy. 281, and Bandera Road from being a part of the TexDot Toll Project. Leon Valley Mayor Chris Riley told MPO members that tolling Bandera Road would be a great mistake and hurt local businesses. She pointed out that the Leon Valley City Council passed a resolution against Tolls in her suburb.
Local gadfly Jack Finger, known for his appearances each week at San Antonio Council meetings voiced harsh words for the panel.
Home Owners Taxpayer Association President Bob Martin also voiced opposition to all forms of tolling in Bexar County. Many of his members also were on hand. Citizen after citizen took to the microphone railing at board members vote against incorporating Tolls in the County.
One upset citizen accused the board of promoting Socialism.
During the discussion, County Commisioner Tommy Adkisson told fellow board members he didn't want his handprint on the Mobility Plan. He pointed out that while he was initially for the concept of Toll Roads, he said he came to the conclusion they were not in the best interest of the County.
Commissioner Lyle Larsen proposed an amendent to delete a stretch from Hwy. 281 from consideration of being included in the the Mobility Plan package.
His amendment was not allowed to be voted on since it was not on the agenda. The Open Meetings Act prohibits boards or councils from voting on issues not placed on the agenda 72 hours before the meeting.
The Toll Road Party members packed the house and numerous citizens who signed up to speak against the proposal yielded their three minutes to David Ramos, spokesman for the Toll Road Party, who outlined in detail the reasons Bexar County residents were overwhelmingly against Tolls.
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