Transcript Regional Mobility Authorities

I-69 Corridor: A Citizens’ Report on
Transportation Needs
Judy Hawley
Chair
I-69 Corridor Advisory Committee
Overview
• Committee Charge
• Recurring Themes
• Committee Conclusions
• Current/Future Transportation Needs
• Community Opportunities and Impacts
• Funding
• Next Steps
Committee Charge
Provide the Commission recommendations
on I-69 Corridor planning, development and
public involvement which consider:
• the current and future demand for the I-69
Corridor
• economic, political, societal, environmental,
demographic, financial, multimodal and
community impact issues
• enhancing collaboration among TxDOT and
affected communities, governments and
interested parties
Recurring Themes
• Remove the moniker Trans-Texas Corridor from project
name
• Use existing right of way where possible
• Early in the planning process, engage stakeholders and
incorporate their recommendations
• Protect private property rights and compensate fairly
Committee Conclusions
•
I-69 is the vital artery needed to connect the ports of entry to
each other, the rest of Texas and the nation
•
I-69 addresses the current urgency for additional road, rail and
port capacity to accommodate freight movements within and
through Texas
•
I-69 will optimize Texas ports’ capacity and distribution efficiency
– making Texas the hemisphere’s most competitive location for
moving freight - by reducing logistics costs for Texas industries,
retailers, importers/exporters, distribution centers,
manufacturers . . .
•
I-69, primarily a freight corridor, will provide environmental and
congestion relief for Texas
Committee Conclusions
• I-69 can be the template to incorporate innovative
technologies such as the Universal Freight Shuttle
• I-69 should be an interstate-type facility
• International coordination is essential in the
planning and development of I-69
• Improvements should be viewed as a systematic
approach, yet be compatible with local and regional
needs
Committee Conclusions
• Communities, through the segment committees and
other stakeholders, should be fully engaged in
planning and decision-making
• Local connectors must be addressed in planning
and funding discussions
• Projects currently included in regional transportation
plans should be prioritized and built quickly
• Improvements must include projects on US 59, US
281, US 77 and SH 44 and other connecting
highways to provide a contiguous facility
Committee Conclusions
• The rapid population growth stimulated by
proximity to an interstate corridor brings
challenges to: school districts, city planning
and zoning, emergency service providers,
utility providers, etc.
• Proximity to an interstate corridor brings
communities economic opportunities such
as job creation, funding for more projects,
increased economic development, increased
tourism, more evacuation routes
Committee Conclusions
• The State Legislature and TxDOT must commit to:
• Fund and build I-69
• Provide the tools of innovative financing to
maximize funding
• Stop diversions from Fund 6
• Develop additional sources of funding
• Weigh in on federal authorization in order to
prioritize and fund Interstate 69
Committee “next steps”
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Assess economic impact of I-69 on statewide manufacturers,
industries, agricultural producers, retailers, truckers, taxing
entities, etc.
“Quantify” projected environmental and congestion savings from
building I-69
Collaborate with newly formed segment committees and TxDOT
Explore and assess funding options
Develop recommendations for facilitating community
opportunity/impact planning
Develop additional “citizen” recommendations for the Commission
as needed and/or requested