AFS Cinema
TxDOT Indifferent to Communities
RECEIVED Tue., June 20, 2006
Dear Editor:
In "‘Y’ Can’t We Be Friends" [News, June 16], Bob Daigh of TxDOT can hardly contain his disdain and condescension for the Fix290 proposal when he says, "I applaud their concern and their interest in their community." Daigh probably doesn’t even realize how hypocritical and shallow his statement sounds to citizens.
And he goes on, "We, too, are interested in working with them to whatever degree possible, to provide a transportation facility that will work in a way that can meet all our goals." A "transportation facility" that can meet all our goals? We are talking about a road that will accommodate through traffic, will provide connectivity in Oak Hill, will be cost-effective, will respect the many historical trees, and will incorporate modern design that results in context-sensitive design for the area.
Then, as if to make his point clear that TxDOT is not to be bothered by community concerns and interests, Daigh says, "We do, however, have a U.S. highway and a state highway and an underlying responsibility to provide a facility that will move people and goods efficiently through the area."
In other words, roads using expensive, outdated design by TxDOT take precedence over communities, and the bloated TxDOT bureaucracy could care less about communities since TxDOT caters to the road-building industry that greases the skids for TxDOT at the governor's office, in the state Legislature, and in our Congress.
In the immortal words of the Valley Girls, "Gag me with a spoon."
In "‘Y’ Can’t We Be Friends" [News, June 16], Bob Daigh of TxDOT can hardly contain his disdain and condescension for the Fix290 proposal when he says, "I applaud their concern and their interest in their community." Daigh probably doesn’t even realize how hypocritical and shallow his statement sounds to citizens.
And he goes on, "We, too, are interested in working with them to whatever degree possible, to provide a transportation facility that will work in a way that can meet all our goals." A "transportation facility" that can meet all our goals? We are talking about a road that will accommodate through traffic, will provide connectivity in Oak Hill, will be cost-effective, will respect the many historical trees, and will incorporate modern design that results in context-sensitive design for the area.
Then, as if to make his point clear that TxDOT is not to be bothered by community concerns and interests, Daigh says, "We do, however, have a U.S. highway and a state highway and an underlying responsibility to provide a facility that will move people and goods efficiently through the area."
In other words, roads using expensive, outdated design by TxDOT take precedence over communities, and the bloated TxDOT bureaucracy could care less about communities since TxDOT caters to the road-building industry that greases the skids for TxDOT at the governor's office, in the state Legislature, and in our Congress.
In the immortal words of the Valley Girls, "Gag me with a spoon."
Charles O’Dell, Ph.D.
