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Related Articles Lawsuit could hinder Katy Freeway expansion TNRCC's Clean Air Proposal Clean air enforcement measures questioned Related Links The Katy Corridor Coalition Judge Robert Eckels

BRIEF: Harris County Judge Robert Eckels' proposal to replace HOV lanes with Toll lanes in the Katy Freeway Expansion project was the subject of a recent town hall meeting at Memorial High School with John Culberson. Culberson endorsed the change saying that toll lanes will keep the project under local control. The Katy Corridor Coalition, a group of residents and environmentalists, opposes the change saying that HOV lanes help to reduce air pollution. Culberson called the coalition's opposition frivilous. According to Carol Nixon at the Texas Department of Transportation, the department and the federal highway administration considered mass transit but included HOV lanes instead. Federal law requires that all highway plans comply with environmental regulations and according to the department of transportation the approved expansion plan is in compliance. Nixon and the Katy Coalition agree that HOV lanes are essential to keep the project in compliance with the clean air act. The department of transportation says that the removal of HOV lanes does not require a new study of the environmental impact. E-mail David Stiles at stiles138@yahoo.com . This story was broadcast on November 15, 2002.