Tuesday's Internet Edition, July 08, 2008.
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The closest public meetings to Lee County will be held in Rockdale on November 8 at the Patterson Civic Center and in Smithville on November 9 at Smithville High School. Both meetings will begin at 5 pm and go until 8 pm.
The Trans-Texas Corridor, a 30 to 50 year project, will have both a North – South corridor and an East – West corridor to carry car and truck, passenger and freight rail traffic, and data and utility lines.
The study area for the North – South corridor, which runs through Lee County, will be approximately 800 miles long and extend from north of Dallas – Ft. Worth, through the Austin area and the Valley, and on to Mexico. Some 30 counties are being studied.
The purpose of these meetings is to help the public: learn more about the TTC-35 and the environmental study; ask questions and provide input to project planners and TxDOT; review preliminary corridor alternatives; and, register your comments.
Of great concern is the financing of such a huge project. Will it be tax dollars or toll roads or some other type of financing? Also, how will the project affect area farms and ranches?
Study areas will include populations, neighborhoods, housing, businesses, environmental issues, estimated costs, traffic, terrain, air quality, endangered plants and animals, historic sites, water quality, and other topics.
The magnitude of how this project will affect Lee County should create enough interest for everyone living in the county to want more information.
There are several ways to obtain information: attend the public meetings and get information while having the opportunity to give public input; go to the website www.transtex.com; and, read the local papers.