We’ve posted before on Metro’s eye-popping ability to condemn land — a 1,500-foot radius around any transit station — and now state Rep. Martha Wong is contemplating doing something to reduce that:
State Rep. Martha Wong (R-Houston) says her staff is reviewing the transit agency’s condemnation authority and could propose limiting legislation in the near future.
Wrangling over a light rail segment along a stretch of Richmond Avenue in Wong’s district has raised questions about a 1978 decision by the Texas Legislature that gives Metro the power to condemn property within 1,500 feet — about the length of five football fields — of a transit station.
The allowed range is far too excessive for Wong, who looks to adjust the distance allowed in the enabling legislation passed almost 40 years ago.
Says Wong: “They could buy up the Galleria basically if they wanted to do that. They could claim eminent domain there.”
All for the greater good, you know.
As always with a Jenna Colley story, there is much more to read and digest.
Sidenote: I wonder what the CTC thinks of Metro’s condemnation authority. The CTC has said before that the Harris County Toll Road Authority has too much eminent domain power. Surely they’d agree that Metro’s power is worrisome?
