Proposed I-69 truly mammoth (TEXAS)

The Associated Press ^ | an. 01, 2005 | Jim Vertuno

[Dubya]

AUSTIN - In what sounds like another tall tale told by a Texan, the Lone Star State has embarked on an audacious project to build superhighways so big, so complex, that they will make ordinary interstates look like cow paths. The Trans-Texas Corridor project, as envisioned by Republican Gov. Rick Perry in 2002, would be a 4,000-mile transportation network costing $175 billion over 50 years, financed mostly if not entirely with private money. The builders would charge motorists tolls.

But these would not be mere highways. They would be megahighways -- corridors up to a quarter-mile across, consisting of as many as six lanes for cars and four for trucks, plus railroad tracks, oil and gas pipelines, water and other utility lines, even broadband transmission cables.

Supporters say the corridors are needed to handle the expected NAFTA-driven boom in the flow of goods to and from Mexico and to enable freight haulers to bypass urban centers on straight-shot highways that cut across the countryside.

The number of corridors and exactly where they would run have yet to be worked out for the proposed I-69. But the Texas Transportation Commission opened negotiations Dec. 16 with the Spain-based consortium Cintra to start the first phase of the project, a $7.5 billion, 800-mile corridor that would stretch from Oklahoma to Mexico and run parallel to Interstate 35.

"Some thought the Trans-Texas Corridor was a pie-in-the-sky idea that would never see the light of day," said Perry, who has compared his plan to the interstate highway system, which was started during the Eisenhower administration.

But as the plan rumbles along in the fast lane, some have called it a Texas-size boondoggle. Environmentalists are worried about what it will do to the countryside. Ranchers and farmers who stand to lose their land through eminent domain are mobilizing against it. Small towns and big cities fear a loss of business when traffic is diverted around them.

Even the governor's own party opposes the plan. The GOP platform drafted at last summer's state convention rejected it because of its effect on property rights.

Perry is undeterred. "I think it will be a model for future infrastructure construction in the world," he predicted.

The tolls would represent a dramatic departure for Texas, which has traditionally relied on federal highway funding from gasoline taxes to build roads. But supporters say the combination of tolls and private money would allow Texas to pour concrete at a rate that would not be possible through gasoline taxes alone. ONLINE: ww.dot.state.tx.us www.keeptexasmoving.com www.corridorwatch.com

[oceanview]

I guess I should stick it out in NY - its got problems, but sometimes the devil you know is better then the devil you don't.

[deport]

Northeast Texas to Mexico (I-69/TTC)

Interstate 69 is a planned 1,600-mile national highway connecting Mexico, the United States and Canada . Eight states are involved in the project: Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas.

Three national studies conducted between 1995 and 2000 have confirmed the feasibility of this project and laid the groundwork for planning efforts at the state and regional level.

Once completed, I-69 will extend from Port Huron, Michigan to the Texas/Mexico border.

Each state will oversee development of its specific section of I-69 while ensuring coordination at the national level. In Texas , I-69 will be developed as part of the Trans-Texas Corridor, a proposed multi-use, statewide network of transportation routes that will incorporate existing and new highways, railways and utility right-of-ways. This section is currently referred to as the Northeast Texas to Mexico element, or I-69/TTC.

The majority of I-69 has not been constructed, and most states – including Texas – are currently undergoing detailed environmental and engineering studies to identify the preferred location of the future interstate.Though part of a larger, national project, I-69/TTC will be developed in Texas under the TTC master plan. A second corridor – the Oklahoma to Mexico/Gulf Coast element, or TTC-35 – is also under development. As other routes are identified, additional project pages will be added to this Web site.

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http://www.nationali69.org/
The Interstate 69 Steering Committee is composed of representatives from the eight state departments of transportation in the Interstate 69 corridor -- Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas -- and from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD) serves as Committee’s lead agency and provides administrative support.

[neb52]

"Anyone who travels I-35 knows something has to be done. Its like rush hour all day long, even in the remote countryside."

On Fridays and Sundays, yes and holidays specifically. That has more to do with College Students and vacationers, then anything else. Probably wouldn't hurt to put a highway in to cut across from College Station to either 35 at Waco or 45, instead of going to Austin and then coming up all the way up 35 to DFW.

[oceanview]

I agree with you on that - any industrial production that can take place in Mexico, and employ a Mexican worker there, is one less who would consider illegally crossing the border - and that's more of a benefit to the US then employing someone in china at the same job.

[spokeshave]

Buy stock in CEMEX .

In other news, solar reflection from the road surface causes additional ozone hole.....women, children and minorities hit hardest.

[Joe Hadenuf]

That's one of the reasons we stay in Southern Cal.

LA and Orange county have no room for massive expansion. It's surrounded by mountains, with deserts beyond that. The only place for them to build is inland, or the deserts. Look for massive influx of immigrants to places like Texas, and most everywhere else that happens to have room for many millions of people.

[DBrow]

And if the project tanks, imagine the nifty airports we'd have!

And a new place to land the Shuttle, and imagine, instead of a quarter mile, a string of 25 mile drag strips!

NASCAR could go linear! Nnnnaoooowwww there goes the pack!

Sailplanes could use the huge black strip as a source of thermals!

SLAC and Los Alamos could use the center strip for a world-class LINAC!

The awesome benefits just boggle the mind.

[Bogey78O]

The failure of modern transportation engineering is the idea that making 1 super-pathway is better than multiple smaller feeders.

Make several smaller 3 lane highways crisscrossing popular areas rather than trying to shift everyone onto the same vein. A 6-lane highway sucks if all you're doing is going 15 miles out of town and have to wait 10 minutes just to get on because the engineer didn't want too many on-ramps slowing his road down.

[PAR35]

THE LAST THING WE NEED IN TEXAS IS FRICKIN TOLL ROADS !

You drive on LBJ, I'll drive on George Bush. You drive on 610, I'll drive on Sam Houston. You drive on I-35 or Central through the High 5, I'll drive on the Tollway. You drive on Beltline, I'll take the Tunnel.

Have you actually ever driven in Dallas or Houston or down I-35 from the Red River to San Antonio?

[deport]

NASCAR could go linear! Nnnnaoooowwww there goes the pack!

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LOL..... look quick

[hermgem]

Southern States obviously have their mind made up on business growth continuance.
What has been confirmed by red voting State maps primarily in the South is business expansion above and beyond blue voting States.
Nothing wrong with planning to keep feeding what's already in growth motion to keep unemployment dropping further.

[SouthTexas]

I've never been an enviro-whacko, but the thought of a quarter mile of asphalt and concrete running through the countryside so somebody, somewhere else can get their junk cheaper, does not appeal to me.

As I said many years ago, the only benefit Texas will see out of Nafta is one hell of a freeway, at OUR expense.

[SouthTexas]

I've never been an enviro-whacko, but the thought of a quarter mile of asphalt and concrete running through the countryside so somebody, somewhere else can get their junk cheaper, does not appeal to me.

As I said many years ago, the only benefit Texas will see out of Nafta is one hell of a freeway, at OUR expense.

[neb52]

The Local and State government are always behind in road planning. They let areas get developed without creating a plan of action to have the infrastructure grow with the defined area. You end up with an area that is fully developed with 20 year old infrastructure. Throw in constant utility upgrades were parts of the streets get ripped up ever few months by (insert utility company name here). You get a big headache from constant construction.

[SolidSupplySide]

THE LAST THING WE NEED IN TEXAS IS FRICKIN TOLL ROADS !

Yeah! What do these private investors think they're doing? Everyone knows that only the government can do things right.

[marty60]

Spain huh.This is going no where. He better start talking to American Companies and fast. Texans love the Land. They'll keep this tied up in court till Perry is in anursing home.

[marty60]

From the location shown on the map. this is not going to happen in my lifetime. he is essentially trying to destroy Texas. Bush didn't like him now I know why. I see he wants to make it easier for the illegals to get to Houston. actually it's the port, but this is untenable.

[marty60]

This is not about SS or Gov. it's about the land.

[Paleo Conservative]

I've never been an enviro-whacko, but the thought of a quarter mile of asphalt and concrete running through the countryside so somebody,

It isn't just highway. It has double tracked railroad, utilities, space for future high speed trains, four lanes of truck traffic, and six lanes of cars plus other rights of ways. I'd rather have a well thought out set of corridors than a hodgepodge of ill-connected expanded freeways. When was the last time you travelled down I-35 between San Antonio and DFW? Why should people from the valley or the Gulf Coast have to travel all the way to Austin in order to get to Dallas?

[umgud]

Supporters say the corridors are needed to handle the expected NAFTA-driven boom in the flow of goods to and from Mexico

I wouldn't bet the farm on Mexico trade.Asia, China and India is acing them out of the picture. Better build more ports.