I-69 Segment One Committee Report and Recommendations The Interstate-69 (I-69) Segment One Committee Report and Recommendations contains the ideas and recommendations of the segment committee members and does not contain proposals by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). The Segment One Committee would like to thank the citizens of Northeast Texas for participating in this stage of planning for I-69 Texas. Thinking about transportation for the next generation of Texans, not the next general election, was a challenging experience. The Committee worked to balance planning for the future while protecting property rights and the environment. During the Segment Committee process, one of our goals was to encourage public participation from the start. We were determined to get Texans involved in the discussion of the transportation needs of the state. We heard from Texans in our Segment Committee meetings, in other regional transportation planning meetings, in response cards, and internet postings. Members of the Segment Committee served as volunteers and to encourage public participation and feedback on I-69, made presentations in their local communities on the Committee’s ideas. It has been a pleasure working with the staff of TxDOT and their able group of consultants and facilitators. The availability of expertise made our job much easier. I would be remiss if I didn’t thank the Texans who joined me in serving on the I-69 Segment One Committee. These committee members contributed time and talent to this process, making progress towards the future of I-69 Texas possible. Jerry Sparks Chair, I-69 Segment One Committee This page left intentionally blank I-69 Segment One Committee Report and Recommendations Executive Summary .............................................................................................................................................. 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................. 3 A Citizens’ Plan for I-69 ...................................................................................................................................... 5 I-69 Advisory Committee ....................................................................................................................... 5 I-69 Segment Committees ..................................................................................................................... 6 I-69 Segment One Committee ............................................................................................................ 8 Transportation Needs and Challenges .......................................................................................................11 I-69 Planning Considerations .........................................................................................................................12 Identification of Local Planning and Environmental Features ............................................................. 12 Recommended I-69 Routes and Connecting Facilities ......................................................................... 14 Current and Projected Traffic Data ...................................................................................................... 18 Crash Data and Information ................................................................................................................. 21 Development of Conceptual Interstate Layouts and Costs................................................................22 Interstate Highway Requirements ....................................................................................................... 22 Conceptual Interstate Layout Maps ..................................................................................................... 22 Conceptual Cost Estimates................................................................................................................... 23 Funding I-69 Development ................................................................................................................... 24 Public Outreach ....................................................................................................................................................26 Public Outreach Goals as Defined by I-69 Segment Committees ........................................................ 26 Public Outreach Implementation by the Segment Committee ........................................................... 27 Public Feedback Gathered by the Segment Committee ...................................................................... 28 Committee Recommendations for I-69 ......................................................................................................28 Redesignation of Highways that Meet Interstate Standards ............................................................... 29 Segment One Priority Sections ............................................................................................................ 29 Initial Implementation Goals ............................................................................................................... 32 Construct Currently Funded Projects ................................................................................................ 32 Future Spot Safety and Capacity Improvements .............................................................................. 34 Future Environmental/ Route Location and Planning Studies ......................................................... 34 Conclusion and Next Steps ................................................................................................................... 35 i I-69 Segment One Committee Report and Recommendations List of Figures Figure 1. Status of I-69 System .................................................................................................................. 3 Figure 2. I-69 Segment Committee Boundaries ........................................................................................ 7 Figure 3. I-69 Segment One Committee Boundaries ................................................................................. 9 Figure 4. I-69 Citizen Committee Process ................................................................................................ 10 Figure 5. Example of Local Planning and Environmental Map ................................................................ 13 Figure 6. Transportation Facilities to Consider in Developing I-69 Segment One .................................. 15 Figure 7. I-69 Segment One 2009 Average Daily Traffic .......................................................................... 18 Figure 8. I-69 Segment One 2035 Forecasted Average Daily Traffic ....................................................... 19 Figure 9. I-69 Segment One Crash Rates 2005-2009 Average ................................................................. 21 Figure 10. Project Development Process for Highways .......................................................................... 25 Figure 11. Public Outreach Activities Statewide ..................................................................................... 27 Figure 12. I-69 Segment One Committee Priorities and Recommendations .......................................... 31 Figure 13. I-69 Major Construction Funding ........................................................................................... 33 List of Tables Table 1. I-69 Segment Committees ........................................................................................................... 6 Table 2. I-69 Segment One Committee Members and Appointing Entities (as of January 2012) ............. 8 Table 3. Public Outreach Activity Reports and Comments Received ...................................................... 27 List of Appendices Appendix A. Summary of Public Outreach Efforts, Citizen Comments, Responses to Citizen Questions and Resolutions for All Segment Committees ii I-69 Segment One Committee Report and Recommendations Executive Summary The I-69 Advisory Committee and five I-69 Segment Committees were created by the Texas Transportation Commission in 2008 as a way to increase citizen and community input in planning for I-69 Texas. The committees are comprised of citizen volunteers who have dedicated their time and talents to researching, planning and listening to their neighbors about the best way to develop I-69 in Texas. The I-69 Segment Committees are divided geographically along the I-69 route in Texas and members of these committees serve as the direct link to the citizens’ and communities’ voices in planning for this interstate. The Advisory Committee oversees the entire I-69 route in Texas and, using the recommendations of the five segment committees, will compile a comprehensive plan for developing I-69 Texas. The segment committees met regularly to discuss transportation, safety and economic development needs and concerns of their communities and also discussed how I-69 would address these needs and concerns. The committees agreed that I-69 is needed to: serve a growing Texas population, accommodate the increase in traffic that accompanies population growth, provide safer travel, improve emergency evacuation routes - such as hurricane evacuation routes - and to maintain and improve economic competitiveness. In addition to researching the needs and concerns of their communities, the segment committees also conducted an