Stopping TTC begins with Lufkin workshop

Contributed

“Stop the Trans-Texas Corridor” has become the new battle cry of Texans in the path of the mega-highway set to transect the Lone Star State.

American Land Foundation, Stewards of the Range and TURF will hold a workshop to discuss that topic from 9 am until 3 pm, Monday, March 17, at the Lufkin Pitser Garrison Civic Center in Lufkin.

Thousands of Texas citizens have voiced their opposition to the TTC-69 in public meetings held by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT).

However, no one is convinced they are being heard or that they can keep the massive superhighway from being constructed.
However, four cities and school districts have discovered a way to force TXDOT to “coordinate” with them on the TTC-35 and it’s apparently working.

“Utilizing Chapter 391 of the Texas Local Government Code, four rural towns in Bell County formed the Eastern Central Texas Sub-Regional Planning Commission (ECTSRPC), forcing TxDOT to come to them,”? stated Fred Grant, attorney and president of Stewards of the Range. Grant has been assisting the four cities and school districts for the past six months.

Since forming last August, the ECTSRPC has held two coordination meetings with TxDOT and one with Region 6 of the Environmental Protection Agency, engaging in over 10 hours of open, in-depth discussions about local concerns.

“We discuss our bus routes, re-routing water lines, the disruption of our emergency services and the taking of 3,500 acres of prime farmland away from our local economy,” said ECTSRPC President Mae Smith, who also serves as mayor of Holland. “Before we formed our commission, we couldn’t get five minutes with anyone at TXDOT. Now, they’re working with us because they’re required to under Chapter 391.”

Along with the team that devised the strategy, several members of the commission will attend the workshop to answer questions.

“If we can get commissions established up and down the I-69 Corridor, we have a real shot at stopping this monster,” noted Hank Gilbert, director of TURF.

Gilbert is slated to speak at the workshop.
The workshop has been designed for city councilmen, county commissioners and other governmental officials, such as members of school and water districts and personnel with emergency services, as well as for citizens who want to be involved in stopping the TTC from destroying local communities and land.

Pre-registration is $20, but the workshop will cost $30 on the day of the event. A workbook and barbeque lunch will be provided.

To register for the workshop, call the American Land Foundation at 800-452-6389, go online at www.Stewards.us, or fax information to 512-365-7931.