Stimulus pie to fund toll projects

AUSTIN (KXAN) - The Texas Department of Transportation is ready to spend its share of the stimulus pie on projects across the state. However, protesters Tuesday morning voiced their concerns about where TxDOT plans to use $1.2 billion of the stimulus money.

Some of the money is expected to fund toll projects, and many protesters said using stimulus money for tolls is a form of double tax.  Watchdog groups such as the Sierra Club, Texans Uniting for Reform and Freedom and the Citizens Transportation Coalition joined forces and held signs that took jabs at TxDOT and Gov. Rick Perry.

"Here we've been told by Rick Perry all these years that the reason we have to have toll roads is that there's no money for roads," said Terri Hall, with Texans Uniting for Reform and Freedom. "Now we get a new source of funding through the stimulus funds, and they're still going to come back and toll our roads."

Some legislators are also putting pressure on TxDOT this week because some worry the projects selected for stimulus money do not comply with federal law. Yet, TxDOT denies it.