See the screen grab from his campaign web site that’s now been pulled down here (scroll down to “Improving Transportation”).
Perry’s Contradictions
First Perry claimed the TTC Hearings were to solicit alternatives (read the WOAI story here). Then Comptroller and Gubernatorial candidate Carole Strayhorn delivers viable alternatives even vetted by TxDOT in 1999 and 2001. Then Perry dismisses the alternatives out of hand calling them bad science fiction. Out of one side of his mouth he says the point of the hearings was to solicit alternatives (versus gain public input on the project), and then out of the other side of his mouth through his Transportation Chair Ric Williamson says “the TTC is the ONLY feasible option.” So which is it? Apparently Williamson forgot to check his own department’s previous studies that Strayhorn is now presenting as alternatives to the TTC.
They also claim there are no signed contracts, but it’s public knowledge that there is a SECRET contract with Cintra-Zachry that the Attorney General has ordered opened (read about it here). TxDOT also claimed at the hearings that TTC construction has NOT begun, yet Perry’s own campaign web site said construction began in 2005 (now that text has been removed, see the link to it above). So again, which is it? These are more than contradictions, it seems to be a blatant attempt to mislead the public on just about every aspect of these toll corridors. Bottom line: For Perry, all roads lead to toll roads in the hands of foreign companies. He’s ignoring the public, viable alternatives, and he’s sold out to special highway interests to the detriment of all Texans.