“Before the last speaker in opposition had even reached their seat, the three present commissioners voted unanimously to approve the 2023 TxDOT plan."
Posted by
Qale (aka Qale)
Aug 31 '22, 09:12
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The Texas Transportation Commission, after listening to some 80 speakers, approved — without comment — its 10-year Unified Transportation Plan, plotting funding for some of the state’s largest projects, including the $9.7 billion-plus widening of Interstate 45 from downtown Houston north to Beltway 8.
The vast majority of spending in the 10-year plan, more than 96 percent, goes toward highways, something that increasingly has drawn alarm from critics in the major metro areas and those seeking more investment in combating climate change.
“Continuing to chase congestion will only exacerbate the climate crisis,” said Harrison Humphreys, climate program manager for Air Alliance Houston.
Opponents of the I-45 project on Tuesday traveled by bus to Austin for a protest outside TxDOT headquarters and unfurled a long banner saying “Do Not Pave Over Us,” in the meeting room.
“More lanes will not increase safety on our roadways,” said Zach Hamburg, a member of the Stop TxDOT I-45 group. “More lanes will not improve air quality. More lanes will not right racist policies of the past or create vibrant neighborhoods that attract people to our cities.”
The planned rebuild of Interstate 45 in Houston drew the largest number of comments, 382 of the 1,685 TxDOT received through a month-long public comment period. Of those, TxDOT said 299 were supportive of the project while 66 were opposed. Fifteen advocated support with design changes and two comments were neither positive or negative.
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