Terri Hall says " there are more questions than answers"

Terri Hall (photo)
www.TexasTURF.org

Citizens and MPO Board members alike have more questions about the 281 toll rates than answers. Questions like...

• Is there anything that could make the annual toll rate increase higher than CPI?



• 2-How much traffic will divert from the tollway onto neighborhood streets to avoid paying a toll thereby increasing traffic, putting the safety of neighborhood streets in jeopardy, and increasing the cost of road maintenance for the City or County?



• Where are the entrances and exits to the tollway so a person can calculate how many fees or other hidden costs add to the cost per mile?



• Is the tollway feasible if gas prices exceed $3 a gallon (as other studies have concluded)?



• And most importantly, will the bond investors require a Non-Compete agreement that would prevent any new roads or the expansion of existing roads near the 281 tollway, like Bulverde Rd., Red Land Rd., Stone Oak Pkwy., and Blanco Rd.?
  
  So we did an Open Records request to see the 281 market value and toll feasibility studies performed by TxDOT and the RMA. The Governor's counterfeit toll moratorium bill, SB 792, includes a nice wide open loophole for TxDOT to leap through to make these financial studies "draft" documents not subject to Open Records requirements. Convenient, eh? So they're refusing to hand over this vital financial information prior to a key vote to approve the rates at the upcoming December 3 MPO meeting.
  
  TxDOT Shrouded in Secrecy
  Then, State Representative Nathan Macias (www.NathanMacias.com) whose district is affected by converting 281 into a tollway, asked for the 281 studies. TxDOT also refused to give the studies to Rep. Macias unless he signs a confidentiality agreement! This means the Legislature approved a bill, SB 792, at the behest of the Governor and special interests that prohibits a public servant from getting access to information on a tax hike prior to a contract being signed and let. So much for open government!
  
  If he or any other elected official were to sign a confidentiality agreement, he cannot share any of the information in the toll studies with Anyone, including the press, his constituents, other legislators or the MPO Board members!
  
  What a violation of representative government! TxDOT's insistence on operating in SECRECY to HIDE vital tax information from the public is clearly taxation without representation and a complete assault on transparent government. Ironically, Rep. Macias is the one who tried to strip this problematic language from SB 792 (after we brought it to his attention for this precise reason, knowing TxDOT would use it to keep more document Secret), only to have it thrown in his face when he tried to get access to toll tax information prior to any final decisions being made.
  
  In the Dark
  The MPO Board is being asked to approve the market value study and toll rate formulas on December 3 without knowing anything other than what the RMA or TxDOT has told them in a 10 minute briefing. We all know how horrifically the public has been betrayed regarding toll rates and financing to date, so this "trust me" is certain to have a Big Fat Gottcha for politicians and taxpayers just around the corner!
  
  How can a single elected official sign-off on anything while still being in the dark and prevented from openly discussing any toll tax variables, especially whether or not the City or County can expand nearby streets? Make no mistake, the taxpayers will be fleeced or forced onto congested surface streets if the MPO Board approves this plan.
  
  Demand the MPO vote "NO" on the 281 Toll Rates December 3! Send an email to the MPO Board here: Listen@TexasTURF.org.