October 17 Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,

For well past a year TXDOT has been studying the highway running the length from Ft. Stockton through Alpine and Marfa to Presidio.

Like you, I attended most public meetings held by TXDOT and, at every meeting I asked, “Is this an attempt to restart ‘La Entrada?’” “Is this about running freight trucks through Alpine?” “Is this about building a bypass around this area?” And the answer was always, “No. No. And no.” “It’s about public safety and improving the driving experience for people traveling through our area.” To illustrate, TXDOT would point to those “Next Passing Lane in Two Miles” signs along the highway from Alpine to Ft. Stockton as an example of their study’s work in reducing unsafe driving.

When TXDOT sponsored a bus trip to Presidio, I signed up. Along our drive, TXDOT described their plans to widen the roads we traveled on and, possibly, build a second road or bridge into Presidio to alleviate regular traffic jams resulting from congestion at the border crossing during holidays. I was shocked that traffic could be blocked all the way to the highway leading into Presidio for hours on end!

At a community center there we met folks from other towns, interested groups, and businesses that might be affected by TXDOT’s safety study. We were organized according to our city or group and asked to brainstorm on what priorities we wanted the study to focus on. Quickly, it became obvious all the towns agreed on safer driving conditions, wider streets, etc. The Border Patrol had their own concerns, understandably.

I supported everything I heard at that meeting, from easing congestion to new signage to wider roads and I thought it was, overall, a productive meeting up until there was a sudden and huge ruckus from one table. It was so involved that the commotion brought conversation in the center to a standstill and, at one point, a TXDOT official had to take to the microphone to remind everyone that “bypass” was not part of the discussion.

I later found out on the way back to Marfa that at that table was seated either the owner or managers from the company building those prefab houses you see transported on the highway and their associated business partners. They were demanding that TXDOT raise the height and widen the width of the train truss or “bridge” that gateways the road into Alpine, if you’re coming from Marfa, so they can drive their prefabs straight through Alpine instead of having to bypass up to Ft. Davis, come down to Alpine, drive along Loop Rd., and then on to Ft. Stockton. And, if TXDOT wouldn’t do that, then build a bypass around Alpine to connect directly with the highway leading to Ft. Stockton. Either way, they wanted to start driving up to sixteen prefabs a day through Alpine instead of the four to six they were limited to by the “Ft. Davis” route.

TXDOT told us on the bus this would never happen because the truss was railroad property, the railroad had no interest in spending any money on it and, besides, this study had nothing to do with that or looking into any bypass.

Great.

Two weeks ago, I attended a TXDOT meeting in Alpine. I was about an hour late getting there, but there was a good hour left. I sat down at one of the many round tables attendees were sitting at and looked forward to hearing an update on the results of TXDOT’s safety study.

On the table was a map of our area. The route from Presidio through Marfa and Alpine and on up to Ft. Stockton was highlighted in green and, in the map legend, this route was named the “Main Freight Generator.” Everything was about “freight trucks, freight traffic, freight routes.” There was nothing about the public safety and safer highway driving that I participated in for more than a year. In fact, there was even a guy there representing San Angelo and their interest in turning highway 67 into a “San Angelo corridor” leading through Alpine.

The conversation underway when I sat down

was, “what to do if a tanker truck got stuck under the railroad truss and leaked hazardous waste. How do we get emergency crews in and possibly evacuate Alpine?”

As I recalled, the only two potentially hazardous accidents we had involved the railroad and an overturned tanker car; once leading into Alpine coming from the Y and another years ago in Sunny Glenn. We’ve never had any problems with any trucks carrying potentially hazardous material and I had a hard time picturing a tanker truck wide enough or tall enough to get stuck under the train truss.

However, listening to this, I was reminded that I heard something similar. Though they were talking about a hazardous tanker truck, this conversation could easily have been about transporting those prefab homes I heard about in Presidio. In fact, I believe the conversation was, in truth, about those same prefab homes, metaphorically dressed up as toxic waste tanker trucks.

In that same conversation it was claimed that the railroad was now allegedly onboard with “raising the height of the truss and widening the width” of the bridge. Someone else piped up and said that if that doesn’t work, the best thing to do was to bypass Alpine. That way “toxic tankers” and freight traffic would be led away from Alpine, freeing up congestion for tourists to visit Alpine and everything would be great!

Two points. First, thirty plus years ago TXDOT made this same claim to Ft. Stockton: that building a bypass would shuttle freight off of Stockton’s streets and free up the city for tourists and other travelers.

Upon that promise, TXDOT built that bypass and Stockton was promptly killed because ALL traffic used the bypass and NO “tourists” drove through the city. For thirty plus years Stockton was a “dead town” and didn’t recover until very recently with the development of oil in the area.

Truth is, if you give travelers the choice of either driving through quaint towns and cities on their way to their final destination or the convenience and speed of bypassing them to get where they’re going faster, they’ll pick “convenience and speed” every time.

Second point. Back to the Presidio trip. When the TXDOT official told us what the prefab company wanted, I, along with a few others, made the suggestion that when those trucks got to Marfa, that they turn left. There’s a long, level road leading all the way to Van Horn and I10. From there the prefabs could turn left to El Paso or right to Ft. Stockton or wherever else they wanted to go. It would be the cheapest option for everyone, and Marfa, Ft. Davis, and Alpine would be spared. However, I was told you can’t tell trucks where to go and, besides, companies didn’t want to spend more on fuel costs.

Think about this: they’re claiming (the prefab company and freight) that it’s more expensive to drive about 67 miles along a flat road to Van Horn and I10 than to travel about a hundred miles through the mountains, through Ft. Davis, through Alpine, and on to Ft. Stockton. To save cents on alleged extra fuel, these freight interests and the power behind them would prefer TXDOT use your money to completely destroy your quality of life.

At this same meeting in Alpine, a TXDOT official next said, “we need to get these people use to freight traffic.” If you’re unclear, “these people” are you living in Marfa, Ft. Davis, and Alpine.

Now, if you’re properly civic minded and want to help out TXDOT and “get use to freight traffic,” may I suggest you drive to Pecos and experience that “wonderful” freight traffic. Drive along farm road 1776 to Monahans and enjoy that “neighborly” freight traffic. Or partake of the freight congestion of Odessa/Midland. In fact, the next time you encounter those prefab houses driving along the Loop Rd. pull over to the side and let them pass. Then, drive behind them as they lumber to the red lights before McDonald’s. Follow them as they plod to the stop sign and turn left in front of Subway towards Ft. Stockton.
Imagine sixteen of those, plus all that wonderful Pecos/Monahans/Odessa freight traffic coming up from Presidio, driving along E. Holland Ave and on towards Ft. Stockton or driving from Ft. Stockton, along W. Holland Ave., and on towards Presidio.

Everyday.

I want to be clear. I believed in the Process. Public safety. Road improvement. Public involvement. But the “Process,” it’s clear now, was not about a safety study, but to get us to here: Freight.

Now, put this newspaper down and gather your family up in the truck and drive. Drive between Alpine and Marfa. Alpine and Ft. Davis. Or to wherever your favorite spot is and know that your quality of life at this moment, the beautiful environment you find yourself in at this moment, will be gone in five years.

We (Marfa, Ft. Davis, and Alpine) are going to be cut up six ways to Sunday by decision makers who don’t live here and don’t think we have the power or the votes to affect them.

The Last Frontier is Gone.

Amit Rangra

Alpine, TX

Dear Editor,

For all the hand-wringing about Marfa being divided over C3’s proposed festival,

it seems the exact opposite is true. The voices joined together against this thing

are from varied backgrounds and span multiple generations:

old timers, new comers, ranchers, artists, business owners, service workers,

bird-watchers, hep cats, young pups and grandparents.  The citizens of Marfa

have come together to say no.

Lisa & Jack Copeland

Marfa, TX

Dear Editor,

I’d like to take this time to acknowledge the community members that have been attending our Presidio County Commissioners Court Meetings where the development of the Mass Gatherings Application is concerned. We have never had to deal with this issue, and I think it is of great importance that we get as much assistance as we can in order to get it right. First and foremost, Shelly Bernstein, Trey Gerfers and Neil Chavigney, who continuously pushed us to do a public setting for advice and guidance from the community that we serve. You all have continued on even when it felt like it wasn’t going to happen. I know there are many other people who have also done a great amount of work on the subject, I can’t name everyone, but you all know who you are. I am grateful to all of you because you show us how much you care about our communities. Secondly, to the Presidio County Judge and her assistant, Vanessa Sanchez, I know that they have poured countless hours into this process. Thanks also goes out to the Administration at Marfa ISD, Mr. Aguero, Dr. John Sherrill, their maintenance employees and the cafeteria personnel, who accommodated the large group at the Robinson cafeteria the evening of October 2, 2019. They did a fantastic job of setting up!

Everyone that has come out has been well spoken and thoughtful in what they’ve shared with us. The no’s far outweighed the yes’ and to those few people, especially Rob Crowley, thank you for your bravery and willingness to go against the grain. It’s not easy to come out and say what you feel, especially when you know that the majority of the people in the room may not feel the same way that you do. We should always be allowed to say our peace and be able to continue on in this beautiful community as friends.

Although I cannot predict the future, and I don’t know what will come of any mass gathering, I am grateful that you all care enough to open up and tell us how you feel on the matter, and on any other matter. We are not serving you well if we do not permit you all to help us understand what you expect from us. We need an application in place, but we should never rush a process. There is so much at risk, we really need to take the time to allow for all questions to be answered. Keep in mind that no amount of preparedness can ever guarantee 100% safety. In today’s world, you cannot leave your home and be assured nothing will happen, but we should make every effort to try to be a cautious as humanly possible. Please continue to reach out to us! I’m always willing to listen.

Proud to serve Presidio County,
Brenda Silva Bentley

Commissioner, Pct. 1

432-386-2328