The presentations were very interesting both for what they said and what was not said. A technical person on transportation design gave more detailed information on the project logic and history.  Former Mayor Kirk is an excellent speaker and made a very good case for the NO side.  They then opened for questions and said they would stay "as late as needed" to answer every question as they were “hiding nothing.”  One of the first questions was from the YES vote representative who asked why they were not allowed to be involved in the presentation.  Mayor Kirk responded saying this was a brain storming or strategy session for their side. (I do not recall his exact words.)

Mayor Kirk had spoken in his talk about the 20-year delay of the Central Expressway rebuilding due to the "Angela Hunt's" (his term) who caused repeated delays.  He complained of the multi-million dollar increases in construction costs that such delays had caused.  During questions I asked him if he had considered the delays that "Angela Hunt's" complaining about the double-decking idea for Central had caused as being worth the wait and extra expense.  A "Yes" or "No" answer was never given. The question was danced around.

Slowly the questions were all answered. I indicated to the person managing the microphone that I wanted to ask one more question as he prepared to hand the microphone to a person in front of me.  He immediately announced that was the last question.  It was still over 10 minutes before the planned 9:00 PM end for the event.  He then took the microphone to the front.  I stood up and asked my question anyhow.

I asked why Dallas did not consider a plan, like many other major cities have considered, to lessen downtown traffic since the large majority of downtown traffic is just driving through Dallas.  Major Kirk gave a credible response explaining how such plans have not worked. 

I strongly believe such a plan will happen in Dallas someday.  A simple toll tag system, that we are all moving to anyhow, that ONLY charged cars and trucks that both passed into the 635 loop, through downtown, and the out the other side of the 635 loop, would work.  There would be no charge to cars either circling on 635 or going down Loop 12 west, or stopping for several hours in Dallas. We could have an much quieter, cleaner central city, with more people stopping to eat and spend time & money in Dallas, and fewer hazardous cargo wrecks!)

It was a very interesting evening.  You may share this with anyone you think may be interested.