Defending Our Property Rights & Freedom to Travel
ELECTION UPDATE
Prop 7 & Texas House District 118 Voter Guide
Prop 7 boosts road funding for NON-TOLL roads ONLY!
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Many voters are skeptical of constitutional amendments after getting burned in previous elections by objectionable provisions found in the fine print. So we're getting a lot of questions about the legitimacy of Prop 7.

We're here to tell you Prop 7 is a good amendment you can vote for!

After 10 years of advocacy in the Texas legislature, leadership FINALLY passed what the grassroots demanded - a road funding solution to greatly reduce, if not eliminate, toll roads in Texas.

Rather than increase taxes, Prop 7 dedicates some of the existing general sales & use tax as well as vehicle sales tax to the state highway fund. These funds can ONLY go to NON-TOLL roads or to retire existing state road debt. Together with Prop 1 that passed last year and ending the non-education gas tax diversions, this will give TxDOT nearly a $5 billion a year boost in funding.

In San Antonio, local officials have made the 281 project non-toll contingent upon passage of Prop 7. If it doesn't pass, 281 may be reverted back to a toll road. The same is true for I-10. Other areas of the state have identified similar road projects for Prop 7 funds, including I-35 in Austin. If Prop 7 doesn't pass, I-35 will be tolled!

Spread the word!
Vote 'Yes' on Prop 7

Early Voting: October 19-30
Election Day: November 3

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SPECIAL ELECTION:
House District 118
Voter Guide

Current incumbent
Joe Farias recently retired, triggering a special election for Texas House District 118 State Representative. View the District 118 map here . The election coincides with the Constitutional Amendment election November 3.

Three of the contenders submitted a TURF Voter Guide candidate survey on toll road and property rights issues. All three received an 'A' grade.

Robert Casias - 'A' rating  
Michael Holdman - 'A' rating 
John Lujan - 'A' rating

Don't miss our TURF Meeting Wednesday

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TURF Meeting 
Wednesday, October 21  
Chester's Hamburgers
16609 San Pedro
San Antonio, TX
6:00 PM (for those ordering dinner)
6:30 PM (meeting begins) 
 
With the constitutional amendment election only days away (and early voting happening right now), we'll have the full scoop on Prop 7 (and the surprising list of who's backing it) as well as how the upcoming primaries in March are shaping up across the state.

You won't want to miss our update on the new federal highway rules (hint: you won't like them) as well as our complete toll road update. Come ready to hear about the shake-up at TxDOT, too. 

See you there! 
DFW -
Good Guy Senator Don Huffines hosts transportation Town Hall
Plus, local board tilts 'survey' to transit only options
before a conference the microphones in front of empty chairs.     Note  Shallow depth of field One of our A+ rated Texas State Senators, Don Huffines, will be hosting a Transportation Town Hall next Tuesday, October 27 in Garland. Regional Transportation Council Executive Director Michael Morris will be in attendance as a panelist.

This is your chance to weigh-in on transportation and toll roads in the presence of the biggest, most powerful transportation bureaucrat in the state - Michael Morris. He's responsible for unleashing the largest managed toll lane network in the country right here in Dallas-Ft. Worth.

You won't want to miss this opportunity to have your voices heard by Morris!

Morris spearheaded the plan to hand our public highways over to private, foreign corporations like Spain-based Cintra who now controls I-635, I-820 and parts of 183 and 121 and who charges in excess of 80 cents a mile to access lanes paid for with our public money. Morris has opposed any efforts to restrain toll roads and manipulates the RTC board to marginalize our elected officials who are fighting for YOU against toll roads. It's time he hears from our good guys' constituents in person! 

Don Huffines Town Hall
on Transportation
Tuesday, October 27
7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Garland Library
625 Austin Street 
Garland, TX 

Please RSVP here.

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DFW 'MOBILITY' 2040 Plan
A lesson in how to manipulate drivers into transit

One of Michael Morris' latest gimmicks is to ask for public feedback on transportation options to include in the regional plan for the future, but every question gives you a transit-oriented option. Highway expansion and road improvements are hardly on the radar despite the fact that over 95% of commuters use their cars to commute.

(Scroll down to Mobility 2040 survey link)

Be aware, all the questions try to tilt you toward a transit option. So you have to be creative in how you find ways to submit your comments like click on 'other' and provide answers like 'roads not rail' or 'I don't want to switch from my car to transit, fix our roads without tolls.'

You can also submit feedback directly through the RTC's Mobility 2040 comment page.

Austin Update
Toll agency keeps financial info SECRET
Also, finally a non-toll proposal for I-35
Secret Magnifier Representing Confidential Secretly And Searching After years of being told there is no way to fix I-35 without tolls, Prop 7 (should it pass) FINALLY put a non-toll proposal on the table in Austin. This is why we insist on putting restrictions on ANY new money sent to TxDOT - it's the ONLY way to force toll roads OFF THE TABLE and to get projects done WITHOUT TOLLS!

SHROUD OF SECRECY
What are they trying to hide?
The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority or CTRMA (the toll agency) has a habit of keeping its toll road traffic and revenue studies SECRET from the public. We've tried ever since 2007 to make this practice illegal, however, under former Governor Rick Perry, these agencies were allowed to keep the studies secret from the public as long as they labeled it a DRAFT document.

Toll agencies testified against our bill to make these studies public earlier this year claiming financial institutions would balk and that it would somehow jeopardize our federal highway funds. It was so laughable, even the Transportation Committee didn't buy it.

Even the Austin American Statesman published a SCATHING editorial stating this vital financial information MUST be made public. Begs the question, what is CTRMA trying to hide? They know once the public has access to the disastrous financial information on these toll roads the level of public bail outs (subsidies), the backlash would be swift and sure!
TURF's 2015 Report Card for the 84th Legislature   
Find out how your state lawmakers voted on tolls
Many voters want to know how their elected leaders did in delivering on their promises to restrain toll roads.

With campaign season in full swing in many areas of the state, it's vital for voters to know how their representatives voted while in office so they can hold them accountable. Now's the time to compare notes to what was promised and what was actually delivered.

Spread the word about TURF's Report Card on social media!

BE IN THE KNOW... 

GET THE SCOOP FIRST! SUBSCRIBE TO TERRI'S COLUMNS 

Alamo city approves 'road diet' for Hwy 281

  READ MORE HERE .  
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Michael Morris: The man behind the largest toll network California-izing Texas

 READ MORE HERE. 
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HEADLINES...
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Lt. Governor Dan Patrick announces interim studies on transportation  
Includes investigation of RMA waste, TxDOT's plan to eliminate toll roads, and block Mobility Funds from going to toll roads  
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Drug cartels using empty SH 130 toll road to traffic meth into Texas
    Read more... 
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New poll claims Texans like toll roads because usage is up 
Well, yeah, because the number of toll roads keeps increasing and the amount of freeway choices is shrinking.  
  Read More... 
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DONATE TODAY
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With the 84th legislative session now over, our work continues educating the public about what their lawmakers did and how to hold them accountable at the ballot box. We'll also continue to help local communities fight toll roads in their backyard using the legal and political tools we've refined over a decade of advocacy. We provide vital materials like a Legislative Report Card and Voter Guide, all of which takes resources.

We'd appreciate a donation to support the work TURF does on behalf of taxpayers.

With HUNDREDS of toll projects planned in Texas, EVERYONE will be effected by these NEW taxes!

Or send in a check to:
Texans Uniting for Reform and Freedom (or TURF)
PO Box 29254
San Antonio, TX 78229-0254
"I...place economy among the first and most important of republican virtues, and public debt as the greatest of the dangers to be feared... Taxation follows that, and in its turn wretchedness and oppression."
-- Thomas Jefferson,
Letter to William Plumer, 1816