Posted on 02/12/2008 2:04:34 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
Trucks hauling everything from cars to produce use Southeast Texas roads to deliver their goods, and when a proposed Interstate 69/Trans Texas Corridor is completed, local drivers could see even more of them, local transportation officials said.
The proposed I-69 corridor stretches from Michigan down to Texas. Once in Texas, the corridor goes about 650 miles from Texarkana to Brownsville and Laredo and includes separate lanes for cars and semis and areas for trains and utilities. It doesn't cut through Beaumont, but local arteries like U.S. 69 and Interstate 10 would connect to it.
Travelers and truckers just need to take U.S. 69 for a straight shot into Beaumont.
"On a truck south from Canada, the first port is the Port of Beaumont," said John Roby, the port's customer service director.
The Grand Parkway project, a loop being built around Houston, also could hook into the I-69 project, said Marc Shepherd, Texas Department of Transportation Beaumont office spokesman.
That loop also would link to the I-10 artery, which likely would increase traffic between Houston and Beaumont. That increase would balance any decrease caused by truck traffic taking the I-69 corridor straight south from Michigan instead of using another route south and heading west on I-10.
About 25 percent of the traffic now passing through Beaumont is truck traffic, Shepherd said. About 130,000 vehicles pass under the Liberty-Laurel overpass over I-10 in a given 24-hour period, Shepherd said, quoting 2005 statistics, the most recent available.
Shepherd said the corridor is in the "very early design stages" and public hearings still are being conducted along the route. A general route has been outlined, but the final determination is yet to be made, he added.
Recent public hearings along the proposed route have been packed with residents opposing the cooridor, according to the Houston Chronicle.
Opponents include farmers and ranchers who do not want their land divided, merchants who fear loss of business to new routes and others who oppose trucks from Mexico doing business in the United States, or the long-term leases of U.S. highways to foreign companies, according to archives on the Chronicle's Web site.
Others would like it to follow the U.S. 59 route around Houston so as to not cut a huge swath through rural areas, according to the Chronicle.
Only a portion of the entire I-69 highway has actually been built in Michigan, according to information on the Trans Texas Corridor Web site.
The 2005 statistics hint at what is coming in the sense of business, Shepherd said of the data.
Houston area growth is spilling over into Chambers and Liberty counties and marching east.
"The growth is moving toward this side and this area," Shepherd said.
Population estimates by the state show a 60 percent increase along the corridor's route in the next 20 years, according to information on the corridor Web site.
DIBOLL — State Rep. Jim McReynolds urged people to say what was in their hearts Monday night as the Texas Department of Transportation held one of 47 statewide hearings at the Diboll Civic Center. The hearing gave community members a chance to voice their opinions regarding the proposed I-69/Trans-Texas Corridor.
The opinion was overwhelming, at least among those who spoke, that the corridor was unwanted and unnecessary. Concerns included the large amounts of land that would be used (the corridor could be as wide as 1,200 feet in some places), the possibility of toll roads owned by a foreign company, and the amount of compensation that would be provided for people's homes and land.
"I strongly oppose the TTC, as it would take farm, ranch, and timber land from hard-working people, decrease the gross domestic product of Texas, and increase greenhouse gas from the reduced number of trees and other plants," said Bill Tetly. "There is no land available to replace what will be taken, and it would put people out of business with no possibility of continuing in their respected agricultural field."
According to TxDOT, the purpose of the corridor is to accommodate the projected increase in population and traffic both on highways and rail facilities in South and East Texas. The I-69/TTC is in an infancy stage and the hearings are part of an environmental study that will be evaluated next month. The project study area is approximately 650 miles long and generally follows U.S. Highway 59 from Texarkana and Shreveport, La., to Laredo and the Rio Grande Valley following U.S. 77 and U.S. 281. The study is a two-tiered approach, and if the Tier One study is approved by the Federal Highway Administration, Tier Two studies will focus on identifying a final route within the narrowed study area. If a final route is approved, the state will hire a private firm to plan, design, construct, finance, maintain and operate the I-69/TTC.
"This is about revenue, not roads, and it is being fueled by corrupt politicians," said Arlen Foster, a candidate for state representative from Polk County. "This would be the largest taking of private property in the United States, and they aren't even giving us the chance to vote."
Portions of the corridor could be tolled by a private company out of Mexico, an idea that does not sit well with some Texas residents.
"Why would we want to send money to foreign countries?" Tetley asked. "If the purpose of the I-69/TTC is to improve truck traffic, then we should focus our time and money into rail lines, which would only require a fraction of the land needed."
Michael Parish, a third-generation cattle and timber farmer, expressed his dissent for the corridor by challenging TxDOT to come to his farm and tell him that the compensation given would be enough.
"I have a 42-inch gas pipeline that is being constructed across my farm as we speak, and I'll be the first to say that the state's idea of just compensation differs from my own," Parish said. "Are they (the state) going to find me other land with the same high timber-producing index? Are they going to pay me for having to drive 45 minutes to another part of my land that took 45 seconds to get to before a corridor was built in the middle of it? I'd like to hear these answers, because what it looks like they are doing is taking my land and my livelihood and giving to a private company."
Texans will not have the opportunity to vote on whether or not the corridor is constructed, but the comments made at the public hearings will be considered before the project advances any further.
"We just want to provide everyone with the opportunity to get their opinion out there and let it be heard," said TxDOT official Kathi White.
In Diboll, the opinion was one-sided.
"We have not been allowed to vote, and it seems like the politicians in Austin are only interested in helping their construction and trucking buddies," Tetley said during a second turn on the microphone. "We should spend money widening existing highways, and not destroying the natural beauty of Texas."
Another hearing will be held Tuesday night at the Pitser Garrison Civic Center in Lufkin, with open house beginning at 5 p.m. and the public hearing starting at 6:30.
Trans-Texas Corridor PING!
Question marks around the word “fewer” in title, since the article seems to imply the opposite.
Just noticed my favorite candy Brach’s Candy Corn is now made in Mexico. There is a perceptible drop in quality.
But, but, but I thought that there was no such thing as a "trans North American Hiway."
At least, that is what we have been told in KS/MO. We have been told that the "Smart Port" including a Mexican Consulate is NOT encompassing a North American Union that would include a trans American Hiway. We have been told that people who claim that is what is going on here, are the "tin foil hat" people.
You’ve been told, huh? That’s why I prefer to listen to real people, instead of the voices in my head.
“This is about revenue, not roads, and it is being fueled by corrupt politicians,” said Arlen Foster, a candidate for state representative from Polk County. “This would be the largest taking of private property in the United States, and they aren’t even giving us the chance to vote.”
Can’t help but agree wholeheartedly. It’s more than just about revenue though. Wherever there is a huge quantity of money, no matter whose money for targeted projects of this nature there exist creative means by unscrupulous Politicians whom became Politicians for the purpose of self gain in the first place.
It’s amazing how some Pols Buddy that wasn’t the lowest bidder somehow manages to become the Contractor, or the Supplier, or perhaps the legal council, or even the Environmental Impact Study nominee. Just incredible how these things just happen!
“Texans will not have the opportunity to vote on whether or not the corridor is constructed”
We better by golly have a vote on the funding etc... I cannot see the bond election passing.
Fewer trucks on our Freeways/streets was the mantra sold to Los Angeles/Long Beach and route cities from the Harbor to L.A. for the Alameda Corridor Project now in place in So. California.
The Truckers still use the same Freeways and Streets as before because the brilliant and esteemed elitists of the route cities put in stop signs at almost every intersection driving the Truckers right back onto the Freeways.
Many of the Harbor Haulers get paid by the load and cannot be fooling around with stop signs. The wear and tear of their vehicles stopping and going is excessive and of concern as well. Fuel consumption is greatly effected also.
They take the Freeway. It’s a matter of their economics.
Required reading for those not familiar with I-69 as it is, as if WAS proposed to be, and as it is now proposed.
http://www.interstate-guide.com/i-069.html
http://www.aaroads.com/high-priority/corr18.html
http://www.aaroads.com/high-priority/corr02.html
BTTT
Ole Mike is just a bit miffed that 42 incher isn't goin through his farm. Yo, the royalties on a 42 inch pipe, lordy, lordy.....
i69info.com has apparently not been updated since Oct. 3, 2006.
Yeah, I saw that several pieces of info were old, the background info is what I was pointing out though. Sorry I wasn’t clear.
An “Americans need to WAKE UP” BUMP!
“Portions of the corridor could be tolled by a private company out of Mexico”
This is new. Got any idea who they’re talking about?
New to me also. The reporter might’ve gotten it wrong, but I don’t know.
I think that’s a mistake. They’re probably talking about Cintra, which is a Spanish company.
Cintra and its American partners could, of course, hire Mexicans to build the road instead of Americans.
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