TxDOT: “the public needs to be kept in the dark”
Amadeo Saenz, TxDOT’s assistant executive director for engineering operations, said Carona could obtain the information only if he signed a confidentiality agreement.
Of chief concern to transportation officials, according to records of a Monday e-mail exchange between a Carona aide and TxDOT, is the need for the public to be kept in the dark about specifics of bridge safety.
TxDOT’s government relations staffer Caroline Love cited a state law saying government records are confidential if “they identify the technical details of particular vulnerabilities of critical infrastructure to an act of terrorism.”
Also, she wrote that a federal law barring bridge inspection reports from use in court litigation strictly limits release of such information by the state to the public.
“TxDOT is not releasing specific bridge information or reports for requests from the general public,” she wrote before she cited an “option” for legislators.
“If a legislator requests such information in writing AND indicates the information is for legislative purposes, information may be provided,” Love wrote.
What a load of garbage. There is more than enough information available to the public already that the fear mongering doesn’t cut it. They just don’t want to have to answer to us demanding for them to fix our bridges.
Technorati Tags: TxDOT, Bridges
Filed under: TX DOT, Texas Department of Transportation
