SA’s E-N on Prop 1
Editorial: To enhance rail safety, approve Proposition 1
Web Posted: 10/19/2005 12:00 AM CDT
San Antonio Express-News
Bexar County received a wake-up call about the dangers of freight train traffic in populated areas last year.
Three people were killed and 49 injured after a rail car carrying chlorine gas was punctured in an accident near Nelson and Old Pearsall roads.
The incident occurred in a sparsely populated area, but could have easily happened in the city. In another 2004 railroad mishap, 5,600 gallons of diesel were spilled and three men injured near Brackenridge High School.
By voting for Proposition 1 on the Nov. 8 ballot, Texas voters can jump-start a mechanism that will reduce the risk and help economic development efforts as well. Early voting begins Monday.
Proposition 1 would amend the Texas Constitution to create the Texas Rail Relocation Improvement Fund. If voters approve the amendment, lawmakers plan to find revenue for the fund in the next legislative session.
“We’ll get input from the public and then figure out a way to pay for it,” said Rep. Ruth Jones McClendon, D-San Antonio, who sponsored a resolution to put the amendment on the ballot.
The fund would be used in a public/private effort to move freight rail traffic out of densely populated areas.
In addition to enhancing public safety, relocation of freight rail lines would reduce the time automobiles spend idling at railroad crossings, reducing air pollution and traffic congestion.
Additionally, the relocations would enable railroads to carry more freight and reduce the number of 18-wheel trucks on Texas highways — a benefit that would be particularly important in areas such as the Interstate 35 corridor, where NAFTA has created heavy truck traffic.
Proposition 1 is an important step forward for modern Texas and has the support of public officials ranging from Gov. Rick Perry to Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff.
We urge voters to cast ballots for Proposition 1.
October 19th, 2005 at 9:45 am
Prop 1 rail fund includes:
Unlimited Taxes & Debt
Trans Texas Corridor Land Grab
States Full Faith & Credit
Corporate Welfare
http://salcostello.blogspot.com/
October 19th, 2005 at 11:42 am
so, i know very little about prop1 and how “development zones” balance with reduced congestion or (the way overused and way-under-defined term of) “public safety.”
specifically as well, what of bexar county judge nelson wolff? who knows why he makes a good endorser??
does prop1 have time limits or funding percentage limits or limits of any kind? i’m for investing, within reason and with defined terms and measured time-line performance must-hit goals, in public-private ventures. but are any of these in prop 1?
anyone help me make an informed decision?
thanks
m
October 19th, 2005 at 7:41 pm
I’m with Mario. That is, unclear. Isn’t it the case that something *could* be theoretically a good policy and also a blatant political move by nefarious officeholders?
October 31st, 2005 at 7:51 pm
Prop 1 grew from legislation sponsored by a San Antonio Democrat on eastside concerned about rail safety. We should vote for Prop 1 to help us do somethimg about trains in San Antonio. How many more chlorine tanker deaths do we have to have?
Barney