Trans-Texas Corridor Not Going Away

Not that anyone thought the Trans-Texas Corridor would fade away, but is the massive ad campaign the Texas Department of Transportation has undertaken in relation to that project necessary?

Peggy Fikac at The Chron has some details for you:

The Texas Department of Transportation, which complains about chronic underfunding, has launched a multimillion-dollar campaign that promotes the divisive Trans-Texas Corridor plan and toll roads.

The campaign is anticipated to cost $7 million to $9 million, according to a memo titled "Keep Texas Moving: Tolling and Trans-Texas Corridor Outreach" sent to transportation officials by Coby Chase, director of the agency's government and public affairs division.

There are arguments on either side, and in the case of the Chron article, they are offered up by Republicans: Chisum says the whole deal is a waste of money. Krussee says that TxDOT is just telling everyone what they're doing, which is what everyone has wanted from TxDOT for a long time.

I think this campaign, which began on June 1 and included just as much media as your average gubernatorial campaign, is dissonant against TxDOT's constant complaints that they don't have enough money. Fikac brings up that point as well, in the form of criticism from State Representative Lois Kolkhorst.

So, how many roads could be fixed with $7 million? You would need to get that number from someone more up on Texas' roads than I am. I do know, however, that this kind of media campaign would likely not be necessary if the project itself weren't so reviled across the state.