By Shelley Kofler, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-629118.mp3
Dallas, TX –
Trinity toll road supporterss who oppose a November referendum have launched their media campaign. They say that if the planned tollroad is not built inside the river levee, traffic will gridlock downtown Dallas. KERA's Shelley Kofler reports.
As they rolled out their campign The "Vote No Save the Trinity" group sought to demonstrate broad support among well-known officials. Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert was joined by Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price, State Senator Royce West, activist Adelpha Callejo and others. He warned of what would happen if Dallas voters approve the ballot issue that would kill the six- lane Trinity toll road.
Mayor Tom Leppert: "If that vote on November 6 not a no vote then we fall back and look at additional taxes and additional delays and at some point we will undermine a project that will literally change the face of this city."
The vote no coalition provided media with sophisticated animation depicting a nine-mile toll road meandering along the banks of manicured parks and river trails.
Toll road opponents including Brooks Love say those drawings are misleading.
Brooks Love: "At the end of the day it is still a high high speed toll road in the middle of a park setting and it is not compatible."
Toll road opponents urging a yes vote are also questioning where funding for the road would come from.
You can find the tollroad animation at www.ntta.org.