By Shelley Kofler, KERA News Dirctor
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-603125.mp3
Dallas, TX – For weeks Spanish-based Cintra and the North Texas Tollway Authority have traded claims over which plan for State Highway 121 would provide the region with more money to build additional roads. Which would get the dirt flying fastest. Which would best guarantee repayment to investors.
Cintra, a private company, had the contract first. But a change in state law allowed the tollway authority to re-enter the bidding. And when the agency attracted the endorsement of local officials
state commissioners opted four-to-one to give it the nod.
NTTA Chairman Paul Wageman: It is truly one of the choicest toll projects in all of North America.
That's Paul Wageman , chairman of the tollway authority. Because the roadway is already partially built, and in one of the nation's most traveled corridors, he says it's a slam dunk for collecting a lot of toll money.
But, there are strings. Commission Chairman Ric Williamson says the authority has just 60 days to sign a contract with the state. Another 45 to deliver the $2.5 billion dollars it offered for the right to build. Or:
Commission Chairman Ric Williamson: If that doesn't happen then we already have a signed contract with Cintra.
With that crack in the door Cintra isn't folding yet.
Cintra Spokesman David Marguiles: It isn't over yet. We already have a signed contract. We can start tomorrow.
But the tollway authority's Wageman says his team can deliver.
I think the deadlines are very achievable deadlines if everyone comes to the table in good faith.
With so much money on the table, there's no guarantee everyone will.
For KERA 90.1 I'm Shelley Kofler