Waller group opposes toll road, but others say project needed

By KIMBERLY PIÑA
Chronicle Correspondent

Members of a Waller County grassroots organization say they will continue to fight the construction of the Trans-Texas Corridor even though a bill calling for a two-year moratorium on the project was vetoed last week.

Gov. Rick Perry vetoed House Bill 1892 which imposed a two-year halt on public-private toll road contracts that would finance the corridor project. Both the Senate and House had overwhelmingly approved the bill.

However, lawmakers are aggressively working with transportation officials and Perry on alternative legislation, Senate Bill 792, which would also include a moratorium on most private toll roads.

Don Garrett, acting president of Citizens for a Better Waller County, a nonpartisan group that opposes the corridor, said his group and Waller County residents are pushing for a moratorium.

A section of the corridor is expected to cut through Waller County, affecting almost 5,000 acres of private property. …more…