The original project proposal seeks to build a high-speed tollway through the Trinity River Corridor. Taxpayer funding will build the project. Taxpayer money will continue the maintenance on the tollway for many decades after the road is built. The City of Dallas will cede $500 Million worth of public land, most of it through the area that has already been designated for a Trinity River Greenbelt Park along the river between the levees adjacent to downtown Dallas, to private investors. Over one third of the downtown parkland will be eliminated by this project regardless of whether it is built as a high-speed toll road or a low-speed greenbelt access road. No revenues for the project will be paid into the city treasury - all proceeds from operation of the tollway will go to the private developers who are backing this project.

The Trinity River Project is already $600 Million over budget before any construction even begins, and is expected to cost taxpayers at least $2-3 Billion by the time it is completed. The cost is expected to exceed $120 Million per mile. No funding will be available for direct access from the tollway into the Trinity River Greenbelt Park, or anywhere else along the corridor. Logistical problems with the tollway plan have already delayed flood control and park projects, and will continue to do so.

The US Army Corps of Engineers says the toll road WILL flood, and that will result in taxpayer expense to rebuild or repair damages. The North Texas Turnpike Authority wants to build the toll road using pre-Katrina standards. Moving the entire project outside the levees will not affect any funding for parks and flood control, but it will protect over one third of the greenbelt parland near downtown Dallas, save taxpayers over $500 Million in lost land given to developers of the Trinity River Project and protect the natural integrity of the Trinity River Corridor.

The reason why politicians and developers want to build the road inside the levees is because to build it outside the levees means they will lose privately-owned land to eminent domain, so rather than realize an increase in real estate valuation and resultant profits upon sales of such land, they will lose land and receive a far lower price based upon fair market rates. The plan to build the road inside the levees allows private interests to reap huge financial rewards from the use or sale of their lands while taking $500 Million from taxpayers in the form of public land transfers, in addition to the future costs of repairs or restructuring after flood damages occur over the lifetime of the road.

Unfortunately, our civic leaders, whom we elected to serve us, have not seen fit to grant us an option for having no road inside the levees of the Trinity River Corridor at all. Rather, they have given us two options - build a high-speed tollway at taxpayer expense with profits going to private investors, or build a low-speed roadway with access roads into the greenbelt park, also inside the levees of the Trinity River Corridor. So, for now, our options are limited. By voting "YES" on Proposition 1, you are voting FOR a low-speed roadway with greenbelt access. By voting "NO", you are voting FOR a high-speed tollway built and owned by private investors using taxpayer funding for their personal profit.

It has been alleged by members of TrinityVote.org that to vote "YES" on Proposition 1 will effectively kill the entire project because federal and state money would not be available for a low-speed roadway. If that is true, then a "YES" vote will protect taxpayer interests in public lands and funding that would be given to private developers who want to build the high-speed tollway.

It is YOUR public land and YOUR taxpayer dollars that are at stake here. Please review this issue and then vote on November 6, 2007 according to how you feel regarding the use of your taxpayeer money and the gift of public parkland to private developers. For more information on this issue from the perspective of those who oppose the high-speed tollway please visit TrinityVote.org.

You have not heard, and may not hear, much about this issue between now and the election on November 6. That is by design. Those who favor the high-speed tollway do not want you to know what you are giving up for their personal profits. Please inform yourself as to the issues at stake, then do whatever you can to educate and motivate your fellow City of Dallas residents to vote on Proposition 1 when they go to the polls on November 6.