Mar 16, 2006 10:34 pm US/Central
Battle Over North Texas Tollroads Continue
by Jack Fink
NORTH TEXAS (CBS 11 News) ―
The battle over north Texas toll roads is heating up again. A much publicized meeting between four area counties to iron out differences has been cancelled.
Some local leaders call it a setback.
What's at stake could affect toll road users for decades.
As CBS 11 News first reported last November, the leaders of Dallas, Tarrant, Collin, and Denton Counties have been feuding over who will build future toll roads and how much you will pay to use them.
And a compromise doesn't appear to be close, since next week's meeting was cancelled, Tarrant County pulled out.
"It sounded as though what they were trying to do is get together and decide on policy for the North Texas Tollway Authority, and I really don't believe it's the county's responsibility to do that," said Glen Whitley, Tarrant County Commissioner.
Dallas County Commissioner Maureen Dickey says the cancellation surprised her. She says the counties should cooperate for the common good.
There are two main disagreements.
Dallas and Collin County leaders say Fort Worth's Southwest Parkway toll road won't pay for itself and will be unfairly subsidized by toll road users in their counties.
The North Texas Tollway Authority has voted to spread the cost of the road more evenly among the counties.
Collin County Judge Ron Harris acknowledges the counties need to work together.
"But working together is a whole lot different than highway robbery," Judge Harris said.
Another disagreement centers on the new State Highway 121 toll road.
Collin County leaders want the NTTA o build and operate their portion of the road.
Denton County leaders and the Texas Department of Transportation, favor a private firm to build their portion.
Tarrant County Commissioner Whitley believes the regional transportation council should have the final say over these issues. But Judge Harris says Tarrant County needs to pay for its own toll roads.
(CBS 11 News)
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