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CDAs DOA in Senate?
Legislation that would allow state transportation officials to continue contracting for privately built toll roads derailed this afternoon in the Senate, amid an angry backlash over plans to toll a Dallas-area expressway that is being built with taxpayer money.
At the end of a sometimes-heated hearing, Finance Committee Chairman Steve Ogden, R-Bryan, acknowledged that Senate Bill 3 — which would extend the authority of the Texas Department of Transportation to continue entering into comprehensive development agreements (CDAs) — cannot pass.
“This issue is controversial and right now, we don’t have the votes,” Ogden said.
“I think we pass the bills that are essential — SB 1 and 2. SB 3 is optional … and right now, I don’t see it getting out of this committee.”
The controversy over SB 3 had started earlier in the day as nearly a dozen senators told Senate leaders they intended to “tag” the bill — meaning it would not get a public hearing as planned.
But Ogden said he prevailed on senators to allow the hearing to proceed. Tempers quickly flared after North Texas senators learned that of three CDAs that are in the pipeline now, one project is being built with federal stimulus money — and drivers on a restricted lane will still pay tolls.
“There should be no reason to levy a toll,” Ogden told Amadeo Saenz, TxDOT’s executive director. Seanz said the road is a design-build project, and under Texas law only toll roads can be design-built.
Five North Texas senators on the panel sat speechless for a minute — their mouths open, then frowning, their hands folded in front of themselves.
“Don’t you think you need to rethink that?” Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, asked Seanz. “Why should taxpayers be put in this position. Why in the world should people have to pay tolls on a road that is being built” with public money?
Sen. Florence Shapiro, R-Plano: “If we do not approve House Bill 3 or Senate Bill 3, what happens?”
More CDAs cannot be approved, Seanz said.
How many are likely in the next two years, asked Ogden.
Probably just the three now in the pipeline, perhaps one more, Seanz responded.
“My gut feeling is probably zero,” Ogden answered. “Considering what has happened to the financial markets … what might have seemed like a good idea two or three years ago probably is not now.
“I’m having a hard time pushing legislation with such vague notions … We’re being asked to pass legislation more on faith than on fact. So far, faith has been pretty disappointing” on the toll-road issue.
Several other senators frowned and folded their arms.
Sen. Chris Harris, R-Fort Worth, suggested that transportation officials should reconsider the tolling of a publicly funded road.
After the committee hearing ended, Shapiro predicted SB 3 will not be approved by the committee. Other senators agreed, including Ogden.
“I’ve never really thought Texas needed CDAs,” he said. “But I guess we’ll wait to see what happens in the House. I don’t see this bill coming out.”
Despite the opposition, Sen. Robert Nichols, R-Jacksonville, said he holds out hope for the bill in some form.
“We can do nothing. We can kick the can down the road a couple more years. Or we can fix this thing,” Nichols said. “I’d like to fix it.”
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By Robert Domitz
July 3, 2009 1:33 PM | Link to this
We are TEXANS! We do not need someone else in our pockets every time we drive somewhare! Raise the fuel taxes, if you must. But, please, NO MORE TOLL ROADS!
Furthermore, I request you begin a consitutional ammendment to outlaw toll roads in Texas.
By G.F. "Hookman" Brown
July 2, 2009 5:07 PM | Link to this
Despite the opposition, Sen. Robert Nichols, R-Jacksonville, said he holds out hope for the bill in some form.
“We can do nothing. We can kick the can down the road a couple more years. Or we can fix this thing,” Nichols said. “I’d like to fix it.”