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Fact Check: Trans-Texas Corridor and Community Access
To investigate this claim, it is helpful to ask what purpose a road without access would serve to the users of the road or to its neighboring communities. Indeed, the Texas Department of Transportation must provide direct connections to and from the TTC and interstate, US and state highways. TxDOT must also consider similar connections to Farm-to-Market and Ranch-to-Market roads, as well as major county and city arterials. Certain considerations, such as traffic volume, local input, difficulty of travel for landowners and emergency vehicles, will be taken into account when determining the feasibility of connections.
It is important to know that TxDOT makes a strenuous effort to minimize the impact on landowners. However, in some instances—due to environmental and engineering constraints—dividing a parcel is unavoidable. Recognizing this, the Legislature has enacted certain protections. TxDOT is authorized to negotiate for and purchase land that is severed by a roadway, and is required to offer to purchase a remaining tract if it has little or no value to the owner (unless hazardous materials are present). In cases where land is severed, the department must pay damages for the remainder, including damages caused by inaccessibility from one tract to the other.
In all cases, the department will seek to provide needed access and to minimize land divisions to ensure that the Trans-Texas Corridor brings opportunity to communities and not obsolescence.
