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October 17, 2014 The Honorable Ted Houghton Chairman Texas Transportation Commission 125 East 11
th
Street Austin, TX 78701 RE: Immediate Rescission of CSJ 0918-00-251 and CSJ 0901-22-
109 “New Location Toll Road –
Blacklands Corridor” from the 2015 Unified Transportation Plan
Dear Chairman Houghton: Thank you for your continued service as the Chairman of the Texas Transportation Commission. Under
your leadership, the State’s
transportation system has been greatly improved, and the Department has taken great strides to improve its standing. I have heard from a number of constituents that CSJ 0918-00-251 and CSJ 0901-22-109, the Collin
County and Hunt County “New Location Toll
Road
–
Blacklands Corridor,” has recently been added by
the Commission to in the 2015 Unified Transportation Plan. I am taken aback by the Transportation
Commission’s action of approving this UTP, on August 28, 2014, with the Blacklands toll road project
contained therein given the overwhelming public opposition to this project. The final NCTCOG public hearing in Rockwall, Texas, on September 22, 2014
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the rescheduled hearing after the previous one was closed down by the fire marshall - had over 1,200 individuals present plus hundreds more watching online. The vast majority of those present voiced strong opposition to the toll road. Also, six cities along the proposed path(s) have passed resolutions in opposition to the project. The Commission, however, apparently had included already the Blacklands toll road into the 2015 UTP, before even receiving a recommendation from the MPO (whose recommendation has been deferred to November and perhaps even longer). Within the North Texas region, there has been a great deal of discussion regarding the inclusion of the Blacklands toll road within the Metropolitan Transportation Plan; however, the Commission has already acted without taking into account public involvement.