The Texas Transportation Commission has adopted a toll road policy that calls for all Texas highways to be owned by the state, even future roads that might be built and operated by private developers.
The new policy also prohibits the imposition of tolls to existing highways, except for new lanes that might be added to relieve traffic congestion. If tolled lanes are added, the number of free lanes cannot be reduced.
All-new comprehensive development agreements will include provisions that allow the Texas Department of Transportation to purchase the interest of the private developer at any time “if buying back the project would be in the best financial interest of the state,” the TTC said.
“The commission’s action today reflects the comments we have received from Texas drivers, legislators, and members of our citizen advisory committees,” said TTC chairwoman Deirdre Delisi. “Texans deserve a clear, straightforward explanation of what we are doing to solve our transportation challenges and how we are doing it.”
Delisi said that the Trans-Texas Corridor implementation plan, which was issued in June 2002, should be updated to reflect changes in the state’s transportation challenges since then.
The Trans Texas Corridor proposal includes a toll highway that would parallel portions of Interstate Highway 35, and a new interstate highway from Northeast Texas to the Rio Grande Valley.
