From Robin Holzer of the Citizens Transportation Coalition, here's how you can do something about the stealth toll road plans:
CTC is seeking neighborhood volunteers to attend (and ideally, address)
Harris County Commissioners' Court on Tues July 26 at 10:00 am, downtown.Background: As you know, Harris County identified the next five priority toll road corridors in their new Capital Improvement Plan (CIP):
* Beltway East mainlanes,
* Brazoria County toll road,
* Grand Parkway segment E,
* Hardy toll road extension into downtown,
* Hempstead Road managed lanesand two possible priorities:
* Fort Bend connector project (phase 2) from US 90A to IH 610 loop
* Fairmont Parkway/Red Bluff project from SH 146 to Beltway 8 East
Source, pp.17-18.If you live in a neighborhood near one of these projects (i.e. Katy, Willowbend, Westbury, Cottage Grove, Oak Forest, etc.), your voice is needed.
What we've already done: On June 21st, CTC board members asked commissioners to delay adoption of the CIP and commit to holding meetings in affected communities. Judge Eckels told us that they've held "countless" meetings on these projects and few people came. Art Storey told us it doesn't make sense to hold meetings for a project if you don't know when you're going to do it.
We don't buy that. If you would like Harris County to host public meetings about one of these projects in your neighborhood, I hope you'll come tell them so.
If you are ready to discuss this further, especially if you wish more background before speaking at Commissioners Court, join us for an Advocacy committee meeting: Tues July 19 at 7:30 pm. Please RSVP to Peter Tyler at (713) 256-9205 or p_tyler@swbell.net.