Wanna Trade?

In an earlier post concerning the North Tarrant Expressway, we noted it stated the decision was made "behind-the-scenes".  Here's another one for you, "series of closed sessions".   Remember, it's the Fort Worth Way.  Isn't it time for a new way in Fort Worth?  Even Mayor Moncrief stated we need new leadership...if you want new leadership, don't vote for the same old crowd in May.

Read the latest Trinity River Vision boondoggle update in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.  Unless you have an extra billion or two laying around, YOU can't afford not to.

The Tarrant Regional Water District board approved a land swap Tuesday with Tarrant County College that will give the water district access to 33 acres, most of which will be used for the Trinity River Vision project.

The water district gets the exclusive right to buy 18 acres near the confluence of the Trinity's Clear and West forks where the abandoned TXU power plant is, said Steve Christian, the water district’s real property director. The water district is negotiating with Luminant Energy on the purchase.

The Luminant property will require extensive environmental cleanup. Since the levee is part of the barrier keeping the contaminants from reaching the river, any cleanup cannot take place until the levees are decommissioned as part of the Trinity River Vision.

That isn’t expected to happen for 10 years, said J.D. Granger, executive director of the Trinity River Vision Authority, a political subdivision of the water district.

Gaining control of these properties will give the Trinity River Vision all the land needed for a town lake, one of the centerpieces of the project.

The Trinity River Vision is the $909 million flood control and economic development project that will run from the near north side to Gateway Park.

Until TCC releases that parking right, the water district cannot build anything on that site, where plans call for a Trinity River Vision floodgate.

The land exchange also clears ownership issues for some of the land where the Trinity River East Campus was built. Both TCC and the water district always planned to swap some properties along the river.

"We started this process about four years ago," said Christian, the water district's real property director. "It was always understood that this would be one of the tracts in the land included. That's why we gave them this easement for that campus."

The swap also cleared up ownership titles for the two entities, he said.

"It's beneficial to both of us," Carter said.
 
Question - HOW does this benefit the citizens??