The Huntsville Item, Huntsville, TX

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January 23, 2008

Town hall meeting to address TxDOT issues

By Jay Ermis

Residents in Walker County and surrounding counties will have the chance to address issues about state highway projects during tonight’s town hall meeting.

Several Texas Department of Transportion officials will attend the Huntsville meeting starting at 6:30 p.m. at the Walker Education Center, 1400 19th St.

The Huntsville meeting is one of 11 town hall meetings scheduled throughout the I-69/Trans-Texas Corridor study area, according to Bob Colwell, TxDOT public information officer for the Bryan District.

TxDOT officials scheduled to attend are Doug Booher, environmental specialist for the Texas Turnpike Authority; Steve Simmons, deputy executive director; Phil Russell, turnpike authority director; Ted Houghton, transportation commissioner; and Bob Appleton, director of transportation, plannning and development.

District engineer Bryan Wood will serve as moderator.

“These meetings are a result of public comments that residents want more opportunities to ask questions and get answers about transportation issues, “Wood said. “We want to hear the public's ideas and we want to answer their questions.

“We regularly hear from our friends, our neighbors, and our critics that we need to do a better job of talking to Texans about what they want and need, and what we are doing and why.

“This is an opportunity to participate in that dialogue. We cannot solve the state’s transportation problems without public awareness and public involvement.”

Colwell said residents can discuss any problems with roadways in their counties.

Maps of different highway projects will be available at tonight’s meeting and residents can address concerns such as current problems and future problems awaiting Walker and area counties, Colwell said.

“We suggest that if residents have any problems with roads, they ask questions tonight,” he said.

TxDOT has scheduled a public hearing for Feb. 4 at the Walker County Fairgrounds on the I-69/Trans-Texas Corridor’s draft environmental impact statement, but officials will not be able to answer any questions or respond to comments, according to federal law.

“The format for these hearings is designed to gather public comments solely on the statement,” Colwell said.

The public hearing is one of 46 scheduled statewide.

The Wallker County hearing begins with an open house at 5 p.m. followed by the hearing at 6:30.

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