I-69 Segment Four & Five Committee Report and Recommendations The Interstate-69 (I-69) Segment Four and Segment Five Committee’s 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). As motorists travel the I-69 Texas route, the work of the I-69 Segment Four and Five Committees is displayed in I-69 signs in South Texas. The Segment Committee members should be proud to see the fruits of their labor in these interstate shields that designate the first portion of I-69 in Texas. When the I-69 Segment Committee process first started, committee members in Segments Four and Five recognized the common needs and goals of our two committees and decide to work and meet essentially as one committee. Identification of shared needs for US 77, US 281, US 59 and State Highway 44 are testament to the value of cooperative partnerships for mutual benefits. We wish to extend our sincere thanks to both Committees for working together to accomplish our common goals. As we reach the conclusion of this stage of the initial planning process, we want to thank the Segment Four and Five committee members for your hard work and diligence in working with your communities and legislators to identify needs and solutions, and to realize the significance of I-69 for economic growth to our regions and throughout Texas. It has been our personal pleasure to work with all of you and the public on this worthwhile endeavor, and we look forward to working with you in the near future promoting economic growth for all of South Texas. Pat Liston Judge Terry Simpson Segment Four Committee Chair Segment Five Committee Chair This page left intentionally blank I-69 Segments Four and Five 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 Four Committee ........................................................................................................... 8 I-69 Segment Five Committee .......................................................................................................... 10 Transportation Needs and Challenges .......................................................................................................13 I-69 Planning Considerations .........................................................................................................................14 Identification of Local Planning and Environmental Features ............................................................ 14 Recommended I-69 Routes and Connecting Facilities ......................................................................... 16 Current and Projected Traffic Data ...................................................................................................... 20 Crash Data and Information ................................................................................................................. 24 Development of Conceptual Interstate Layout and Costs ..................................................................27 Interstate Highway Requirements ....................................................................................................... 27 Conceptual Interstate Layout Maps ..................................................................................................... 27 Conceptual Cost Estimates................................................................................................................... 28 Funding I-69 Development ................................................................................................................... 29 Public Outreach ....................................................................................................................................................31 Public Outreach Goals as Defined by I-69 Segment Committees ........................................................ 31 Public Outreach Implementation by the Segment Committee ........................................................... 32 Public Feedback Gathered by the Segment Committee ................................................................... 33 Committees’ Recommendations for I-69 ..................................................................................................34 Redesignation of Highways that Meet Interstate Standards ............................................................... 35 Segment Four and Segment Five Priority Sections .............................................................................. 36 Segment Four Priorities .................................................................................................................... 36 Segment Five Priorities ..................................................................................................................... 40 Initial Implementation Goals ............................................................................................................... 42 Construct Currently Funded Projects ................................................................................................ 42 Future Spot Safety and Capacity Improvements .............................................................................. 44 Future Environmental/ Route Location and Planning Studies ......................................................... 44 Conclusion and Next Steps ................................................................................................................... 45 i I-69 Segments Four and Five Committee Report and Recommendations List of Figures Figure 1. Status of I-69 System .................................................................................................................. 3 Figure 2. I-69 Segment Committee Boundaries ........................................................................................ 7 Figure 3a. I-69 Segment Four Committee Boundaries .............................................................................. 9 Figure 3b. I-69 Segment Five Committee Boundaries ............................................................................. 11 Figure 4. I-69 Citizen Committee Process ................................................................................................ 12 Figure 5. Example of Local Planning and Environmental Map ................................................................ 15 Figure 6a. Transportation Facilities to Consider in Developing I-69 – Segment Four ............................. 17 Figure 6b. Transportation Facilities to Consider in Developing I-69 – Segment Five .............................. 18 Figure 7a. 2009 Average Daily Traffic – Segment Four ........................................................................... 20 Figure 7b. 2009 Average Daily Traffic – Segment Five ............................................................................ 21 Figure 8a. Forecasted 2035 Average Daily Traffic – Segment Four ......................................................... 22 Figure 8b. Forecasted 2035 Average Daily Traffic – Segment Five ......................................................... 23 Figure 9a. 2005-2009 Average Crash Rates – Segment Four .................................................................. 25 Figure 9b. 2005-2009 Average Crash Rates – Segment Five ................................................................... 26 Figure 10. Project Development Process for Highways .......................................................................... 30 Figure 11. Public Outreach Activities Statewide ..................................................................................... 32 Figure 12a. I-69 Segment Four Recommendations and Priority Sections ............................................... 39 Figure 12b. I-69 Segment Five Recommendations and Priority Sections ............................................... 41 Figure 13. Major Construction Funding for I-69 ...................................................................................... 43 List of Tables Table 1. I-69 Segment Committees ........................................................................................................... 6 Table 2a. I-69 Segment Four Committee Members and Appointing Entities (as of January 2012) .......... 8 Table 2b. I-69 Segment Five Committee Members and Appointing Entities (as of January 2012) ......... 10 Table 3. Public Outreach Activity Reports and Comments Received ...................................................... 32 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 Segments Four and Five Committee Report and Recommendations Executive Summary The I-69 Advisory Committee and