Lufkin mayor supports I-69 — if it follows current U.S. 59

The Lufkin Daily News ^ | April 12, 2008 | Brittony Lund

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Despite the uproar over the state's proposal to build Trans-Texas Corridor 69 through East Texas, Lufkin's mayor says he supports the highway — as long as it follows the path of the current U.S. Highway 59.

The Trans Texas Corridor/I-69 project is a statewide network of transportation routes in Texas that will incorporate existing and new highways, railways and utility right-of-ways. Anyone wishing to comment on the proposed road can go online to www.keeptexasmoving.com. TxDOT has expanded its public comment period for TTC-69 to Friday, April 18.

Gov. Rick Perry appointed Gorden, along with 17 other Texans, to an I-69 Corridor Advisory Committee. The committee meets for the first time in Austin the week after next.

"This is an opportunity for Lufkin to have a say in the allocation of significant resources that will impact our part of the state for many generations," said Mayor Jack Gorden. "It's going to take a while longer, but I believe the Texas Legislature and the governor's office realize that up through this part of the state, it needs to stick to the existing 59 route. And that's going to speed up the process."

The committee members will advise TxDOT on I-69 Corridor plans. Gorden and others on the committee will study and prepare reports on the impact of an I-69 corridor on the economy, politics, society and population. They will also report on the use of existing, new and upgraded facilities; road and rail solutions; and financing options, according to a press release.

"Our goal is to enhance the public dialogue and meaningfully involve more Texans in transportation decisions," Texas Transportation Commission Chair Hope Andrade stated in a press release. "These committees will have an important seat at the table as we work together to shape the future of transportation in our state."

Gorden said he supports the move toward expanding existing highways.

"We need to try not to mistreat the landowners," Gorden said, "but we desperately need the highway. This part of Texas has more people living at or below the poverty level than any other part of Texas other than the valley. The north-south interstate coming through here will do as much to raise the standard of living for people in this area than any other project."

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Last chance for I-69 corridor comments

CORPUS CHRISTI — Those who want to comment on the proposed Trans-Texas Corridor 69, aka Interstate 69, have one more week to do it.

The deadline for submitting comment to the Texas Department of Transportation on I-69's draft environmental impact statement, originally March 19, was extended to April 18.

A copy of the statement is available at ttc.keeptexasmoving.com/projects/i69/deis_overview.aspx.

The corridor is a planned 1,600-mile national highway connecting Mexico, the United States and Canada. Eight states are involved in the project.

In Texas, I-69 will be developed under the Trans-Texas Corridor master plan. The initial study area is roughly 650 miles long.

I-69's Texas portion includes a corridor from Texarkana to Houston, then Victoria, where it could branch out to Laredo, McAllen and/or Brownsville via State Highway 44 and U.S. highways 281 and 77. Corpus Christi-area public officials anticipate a huge economic impact from the project, depending on the routes it uses.

Many public comments received thus far recommend the Department of Transportation focus on using existing highways first with new corridors as a secondary option.

A final environmental impact statement is expected in late 2008. If a preferred corridor is selected, additional environmental studies will be needed to narrow the final alignment.

Public comment about the proposed draft environmental impact statement for the Trans-Texas Corridor 69, or I-69, can be submitted:

Via e-mail at ttc.keeptexasmoving.com/comments_questions/comments_i69.aspx

Via mail to:

I-69/TTC

P.O. Box 14428

Austin, TX 78761

The impact statement can be viewed by visiting ttc.keeptexasmoving.com/projects/i69/deis_overview.aspx.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Trans-Texas Corridor PING!

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Could you please take the garbage out of the title? Thanks.

[golfisnr1]

I take US 59 a couple of times a year from Texarkana to Houston. It keeps getting improved. It is a welcome drive instead of the interstates.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Thanks. :-)

[AFreeBird]

I wish our Indiana politicians supported expanding existing roads. But noooooo, they want to create the all new terrain I-69 extension from Evansville to Indy. Cutting through farms, towns, forests. They don't care. They want to save ~20 minutes of drive time over expanding existing highways. 20 whole minutes. BFD.

This whole I-69 road deal is a scam.

[Admin Moderator]

Sure thing ;)

[levotb]

Two Texas mayors boughtmand paid for...Poor Texans! Poor U.S.! TTC has GOT to be stopped. It’s part of the New World Order and it’s coming NOW! Texans were supposed to stand up to Perry and the globalists, and they punted.

[Dov in Houston]

59. 69 is gonna be major different. Same path different owners and tolls

[dbacks]

[ they want to create the all new terrain I-69 extension from Evansville to Indy. ]

I have never seen that the proposed TX-Canada corredor will go through Indiana. Current hwy 59 is the proposed route and it goes up to Iowa and Minnesota.

[AFreeBird]

The article is titled I-69.

I-69 exists in Indiana from Indy through Ft. Wayne and on into Michigan to Canada. They want to continue it from Indy southwest to Evansville. From there down to Texas. Just another route on the NAFTA superhighway to Canada. The fast track for Illegals, and drugs and cheap Chinese imports (via mexican ports).

Welcome to the NAU.

[AFreeBird]

This is from the NHS website. The red part going through Indiana is I-69 and how it would go from Indy south.

[ForGod'sSake]

US Hwy 59 may as well be an interstate now from Houston to almost Livingston. It already has most of the attributes; divided four lanes with fewer crossings at grade, bypasses around the larger small communities, and wide shoulders. The traffic north of Livingston, particularly in the little towns, is a mess on Friday afternoons going north and Sunday afternoons going south. Bypasses around these little towns is at best a mixed blessing for the locals, but something needs to be done to alleviate the congestion. IMHO an I-69 would go a long way in solving some of the problems. Nothing will be done without creating some manner of grievance for somebody, though.

[dbacks]

I see nothing on that map referring to I-69.

[AFreeBird]

That would be corridor 18. And like I said, I-69 exists now, in Indiana and Michigan as depicted by the RED (from the middle of Indiana through Michigan to Toronto). As it stands right now, I-69 ends at I-465 on the NE corner of the city. They want to extend it from Indy, SW down to Evansville. The toe part of the state, and then from there south to the tip of Texas as indicated by the map.

[deport]

I-69

See that red line running from down in the valley of Tx and going northeast into MI? It is marked with a 18 in a circle. That priority corridor 16 which is I-69. Here is a complete listing of the priority corridors. Go down to #18 and it will give you the states etc it traverses. Click on the link and you’ll get additional info.

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/hep10/nhs/hipricorridors/hpcorqk.html

[Paleo Conservative]

The fast track for Illegals, and drugs and cheap Chinese imports (via mexican ports).

If limiting the development of roads helped economies grow by keeping out imports, the Soviet Union would have won the Cold War, and Africa would be an economic super power.

[deport]

That priority corridor 16 which is I-69.

s/b

That is priority corridor 18 which is I-69

Sorry for the mistake..

[deport]

Here is a map showing all priority corridors. Note the north / south layout and very few with an east / west layout. The map up thread shows the priority corridors to be designated as Interstates.

[AFreeBird]

LOL, well here in Indiana, we need another (new terrain) highway like we need a hole in the head. And if they want to extend I-69, they can do it by upgrading existing roads.