DeAnne
Mike CrowlNAFTA Super Highway
February 24th 2008 20:53
DeAnne Martin
"Quietly but systematically, the Bush Administration is advancing the plan to build a huge NAFTA Super Highway, four football-fields-wide, through the heart of the U.S. along Interstate 35, from the Mexican border at Laredo, Tex., to the Canadian border north of Duluth, Minn." writes Jerome R. Corsi. To which Joe Kress adds: "Unbeknownst to the general public because of a “George W. edict” we became a part of the North American Union. Sieg Heil!"
NASCO, the "Tri-National Advocacy for Efficient, Secure, and Environmentally Conscious Trade and Transportaion," claims that there are no plans to build a "NAFTA Super Highway," that it already exists as I-35. They use the term "Super Corridor" to describe the plans, and indicate that it is not just a "highway". Their goal is to "develop key relationships along the EXISTING corridors (existing Interstate Highways 35/29/94) we represent to maximize economic development opportunities along the NASCO Corridor, as well as coordinate the development of technology integration projects, inland ports, environmental initiatives, university research, and the sharing of 'best practices'".
In Texas, however, plans have been made to construct a new section of highway, called the Trans-Texas Corridor. In 2002, the Texas Transportaion Commission adopted the "Crossroads of America: The Trans Texas Corridor Plan." This is to be a series of toll-roads stretching from Laredo - at the Mexican border - to Texarkana - at the Texas/Arkansas border. The Texas Legislature granted the Texas Transportaion Commision complete authority to designate any existing or future facility as the "Trans Texas Corridor" with the passing of House Bill 3588.
"It's shocking just how few Texans know about this massive super-highway-rail-utility project launched by Governor Perry in 2002. Ten vehicle lanes, six rail tracks, utilities, pipelines, state concessions (gas stations, restaurants, motels, stores, warehouses, etc.) all on 4,000 miles of toll roads that will consume more than one-half million acres of Texas." reads the text on CorridorWatch.org
Further, this section of roads is going to be constructed, maintained, and operated by Cintra-Zachry, a limited partnership formed between Cintra Concesiones de Infraestructuras de Transporte, S.A., a publically listed company headquartered in Spain, owned by the Madrid-based Groupo Ferrovial, and a San Antonio-based construction company, Zachry Construction Corp.
In another article, Corsi states, "The plans ultimately call for building some 4,000 miles of highway-railway-utility super-corridors throughout Texas over the next 50 years, using some 584,000 acres of what is now Texas farm and ranchland, at an estimated cost of $184 billion. Since a corridor nearly a quarter-mile in width will be difficult to cross, these super-corridors are envisioned to virtually divide the land through which they pass. The design calls for TTCs to route around cities, leaving intra-city transport largely to the existing network of limited access interstate highways. These TTC toll-road super-corridors will function primarily to facilitate international trade and secondarily to serve as alternative routes for those inter-city private travelers willing and able to pay the added toll cost."
Where will the land come from? EMINENT DOMAIN will allow the state to obtain the land. Who will profit from the tolls? Cintra-Zachry, of course. PLUS, according to some, the state will not be able to build new roads which might "compete" with the Cintra-Zachry managed toll roads.
Texas State Representative (District 5) Bryan Hughes, after the passing of House Bill 3588 had this to say (it is still posted on his website):
House Bill 3588, an ambitious transportation bill, passed the Legislature and is awaiting signature by Governor Perry. This bill is an important step in completing the Governors transportation agenda with the Trans-Texas Corridor. HB 3588 also allows TxDOT to help alleviate rail safety issues, and issue up to $3 billion in bonds backed by the state highway fund.
This bill will not only improve funding methods for construction of new roads and highways, it will also generate more than $100 million in fiscal year 2004 for Texas trauma systems, increasing to over $200 million annually by 2006. Texas trauma facilities statewide incurred $564 million in costs to provide treatment to trauma patients, and this new funding will help keep our trauma hospitals open for business not just in East Texas but throughout the state.
This bill will not only improve funding methods for construction of new roads and highways, it will also generate more than $100 million in fiscal year 2004 for Texas trauma systems, increasing to over $200 million annually by 2006. Texas trauma facilities statewide incurred $564 million in costs to provide treatment to trauma patients, and this new funding will help keep our trauma hospitals open for business not just in East Texas but throughout the state.
When contacted about this, his Chief of Staff, Daniel Deslatte, sent this reply:
Rep. Hughes shares your concerns about the Trans Texas Corridor, its impact on privately owned land, and the long-term effects it will have our State. You will be pleased to know that last session he voted for House Bill 1892 and later Senate Bill 792, which puts a moratorium on construction of the Trans Texas Corridor. It also places other major restrictions on the development of corridors and creates a special committee of the Legislature to overseen concerns regarding the corridors. Senate Bill 792 passed overwhelmingly and is now the law in Texas.
This bill was, however, vetoed by Governor Rick Perry. Public hearings continue regarding the Trans Texas Corridor. There is nothing on Representative Bryan Hughes's website stating he has any concerns about the Trans Texas Corridor, though his comments in support of it remain.
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