Posted on 02/14/2007 2:29:22 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
But lack of funding looms as biggest stumbling block to construction of highway project
Interstate 69, a highway that would stretch from Michigan to Texas connecting Canada with Mexico, has been included on a short list of interstate corridors under consideration by federal transportation officials for fast-track development, according to a press release from the Texas Department of Transportation.
The Texas segment of I-69 is being developed as part of the Trans-Texas Corridor (TTC-69) and extends from Northeast Texas to the Rio Grande River, the release said.
Lufkin is in the study area of TTC-69, according to Randall Dillard, director of public information for the Texas Department of Transportation. However, TxDOT still does not know where the route of I-69 will eventually be.
"We are looking to handle the increased traffic in the area and heading north out of Texas," Dillard said. "We are planning now how we will provide for that increased transportation need and determine if and where that roadway should be built."
When asked if there was any chance that the corridor would not go through or near Lufkin, Russell said, it all depended on the environmental study. However, he added that the probability was great that it would go through Angelina County, if and when it is built.
According to the TxDOT press release, the goal of TTC-69 is to increase mobility, safety and economic development opportunities through a multi-use transportation system that includes roads, rail and utilities. This means that there is continued federal interest in I-69 and how it is important for national congestion relief, Dillard said.
However, this does not mean there will be money from the federal department, Dillard said.
"Part of the problem," he said, "is that there is never federal money to cover cost ... We are not counting on federal funding to build this project. There is no special money for I-69."
The designation does not come with funding, agreed Mayor Jack Gorden.
"It raises the awareness level of the need for future construction," he said, "and every little bit helps, of course. But we're a long way from it happening."
"Federal transportation funding is becoming more and more unstable every day," Dillard said. "If we rely on federal funding in transportation, we will be sorely disappointed. So we are seeking innovative ways to look at funding."
One of the ways to fund this project will be through a public-private partnership, he said. The private companies that absorb the costs up-front will be reimbursed over the long term through the use of tolls, Dillard said.
"(A public-private partnership) is a much quicker way of (getting the project completed) than relying on traditional transportation funding," he said. TxDOT officials say the cost of the corridor would be about $10 to $15 billion, including right of way, design and construction.
TxDOT, Dillard said, is in the process of conducting an environmental study of where the corridor can and should be built. Public hearings will be scheduled for later this year on the proposed location of I-69, he said.
Trans-Texas Corridor PING!
BTTT
More NAFTA superhighway stuff.
Bump.
It will never be built. The end of cheap oil means the end of projects like this.
A railway would make a heck of a lot more sense!
Upgrading existing highway to Interstate standard was done for decades. Interstate 20 from Fort Worth to Kent, in Far West Texas, was largely built on the path of then existing U.S. 80. The same is true for Interstate 45, which used the existing U.S. 75 for most of the Dallas to Galveston route. Small segments of the old U.S. highways live on as business routes or secondary roads. Alabama, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, and New York are in the process of converting existing U.S. or state highways to Interstate standards at the present time.
There is no reason that Interstate 69 could not be built along the same model. It might take 15-20 years to complete, but would chew up less land and disrupt fewer farms and ranches than the Trans Texas Corridor plan would.
"However, TxDOT still does not know where the route of I-69 will eventually be."
Do they know where Lufkin will be?
Makes sense to me to upgrade what we already have, unless it means making toll roads out of what we already paid for.
I've used farm-to-market roads many times and other than fear of hitting deer I find that they're well maintained. Why can't they be upgraded?
That's quite a map. Anybody make heads or tails out of it? I guess it is east Texas and some existing highways. After that I'm lost.
The green stuff, if the newspaper got the map right, shows the possible paths of I-69.
I am not totally against toll roads. They are useful in rapidly growing urban areas like Dallas and Houston, where such roads provide a faster path to highway construction. However, massive projects like TTC-69 are far more disruptive of property rights and more intrusive than more modest means of highway improvements.
When they call it I-69, is it because America's gonna get ****ed in the face?
The Houston part is done, I drive it every day. Pretty good road. 8 or 12 lanes wide in most parts, more in others.
"massive projects like TTC-69 are far more disruptive of property rights and more intrusive than more modest means of highway improvements."
Yes, and I don't like the way gubmint would have this steam-rolled right past us, raping our pockets as they go...
First they will designate it I-69, then, after completion, they will finally notice that 'over looked' fact.
It will be an excuse to hold more hearings; commission studies; and spend untold more gobs of money changing it to something else. New signs; new maps; new letterheads; and all else that goes into a name change.
Just like US-666 in the Four Corners region not so long ago.
Most likely.
Indiana has a dog in this hunt too since I-69 runs through here, at least from Indy on north to Michigan. They want to make a new terrain section running south from Indy to Kentucky, so we can be one big happy NAFTA Super Highway, North American Union, family.
Back when it was first proposed, I think NBC or someone did a piece on it called: "The Fleecing of America", and that was just for the Indiana portion. I think original estimates were in the 6 billion range. And never mind that they could have taken an existing state road (41) from Evansville to Terre Haute, and upgraded it to an interstate configuration and hooked it into existing I-70, no they wanted a all new terrain highway, cutting through farms, towns and state forest.
The second option would have cost around 10~20 more minutes in travel time over the new route, and a whole lot less money, and wouldn't have cut through so much land.
And while people screamed and yelled about the new route, the state listened, and then went ahead with the new terrain route anyway. Big business, land speculators (campaign donors all) and apparently (as is coming to light), (inter)national politics won out.
Got to have a speedy and direct way to get illegals, illicit drugs, and who knows what else, from mexico to Canada, and all points in between.
Thanks for the ping!
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