I-69 Corridor: A Citizens’ Report on Transportation Needs Judy Hawley Chair

1. I-69 Corridor: A Citizens’ Report on Transportation Needs Judy Hawley Chair I-69 Corridor Advisory Committee

2. Overview • Committee Charge • Recurring Themes • Committee Conclusions • Current/Future Transportation Needs • Community Opportunities and Impacts • Funding • Next Steps

3. Committee Charge Provide the Commission recommendations on I-69 Corridor planning, development and public involvement which consider: • the current and future demand for the I-69 Corridor • economic, political, societal, environmental, demographic, financial, multimodal and community impact issues • enhancing collaboration among TxDOT and affected communities, governments and interested parties

4. Recurring Themes • Remove the moniker Trans-Texas Corridor from project name • Use existing right of way where possible • Early in the planning process, engage stakeholders and incorporate their recommendations • Protect private property rights and compensate fairly

5. Committee Conclusions • I-69 is the vital artery needed to connect the ports of entry to each other, the rest of Texas and the nation • I-69 addresses the current urgency for additional road, rail and port capacity to accommodate freight movements within and through Texas • I-69 will optimize Texas ports’ capacity and distribution efficiency – making Texas the hemisphere’s most competitive location for moving freight - by reducing logistics costs for Texas industries, retailers, importers/exporters, distribution centers, manufacturers . . . • I-69, primarily a freight corridor, will provide environmental and congestion relief for Texas

6. Committee Conclusions • I-69 can be the template to incorporate innovative technologies such as the Universal Freight Shuttle • I-69 should be an interstate-type facility • International coordination is essential in the planning and development of I-69 • Improvements should be viewed as a systematic approach, yet be compatible with local and regional needs

7. Committee Conclusions • Communities, through the segment committees and other stakeholders, should be fully engaged in planning and decision-making • Local connectors must be addressed in planning and funding discussions • Projects currently included in regional transportation plans should be prioritized and built quickly • Improvements must include projects on US 59, US 281, US 77 and SH 44 and other connecting highways to provide a contiguous facility

8. Committee Conclusions • The rapid population growth stimulated by proximity to an interstate corridor brings challenges to: school districts, city planning and zoning, emergency service providers, utility providers, etc. • Proximity to an interstate corridor brings communities economic opportunities such as job creation, funding for more projects, increased economic development, increased tourism, more evacuation routes

9. Committee Conclusions • The State Legislature and TxDOT must commit to: • Fund and build I-69 • Provide the tools of innovative financing to maximize funding • Stop diversions from Fund 6 • Develop additional sources of funding • Weigh in on federal authorization in order to prioritize and fund Interstate 69

10. Committee “next steps” • Assess economic impact of I-69 on statewide manufacturers, industries, agricultural producers, retailers, truckers, taxing entities, etc. • “Quantify” projected environmental and congestion savings from building I-69 • Collaborate with newly formed segment committees and TxDOT • Explore and assess funding options • Develop recommendations for facilitating community opportunity/impact planning • Develop additional “citizen” recommendations for the Commission as needed and/or requested ntEmpower state and federal decision makers with economic data linking Texas’ prosperity with the capacity of the state’s infrastructure to competitively accommodate commerce