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

Overview Committee Charge Committee Charge Recurring Themes Recurring Themes Committee Conclusions Committee Conclusions Current/Future Transportation NeedsCurrent/Future Transportation Needs Community Opportunities and ImpactsCommunity Opportunities and Impacts FundingFunding Next Steps Next Steps

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 Corridorthe current and future demand for the I-69 Corridor economic, political, societal, environmental, demographic, financial, multimodal and community impact issueseconomic, political, societal, environmental, demographic, financial, multimodal and community impact issues enhancing collaboration among TxDOT and affected communities, governments and interested partiesenhancing collaboration among TxDOT and affected communities, governments and interested parties

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

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 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 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 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 I-69, primarily a freight corridor, will provide environmental and congestion relief for Texas

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

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

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. 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 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

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

Committee “next steps” Assess economic impact of I-69 on statewide manufacturers, industries, agricultural producers, retailers, truckers, taxing entities, etc. 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 “Quantify” projected environmental and congestion savings from building I-69 Collaborate with newly formed segment committees and TxDOT Collaborate with newly formed segment committees and TxDOT Explore and assess funding options Explore and assess funding options Develop recommendations for facilitating community opportunity/impact planning Develop recommendations for facilitating community opportunity/impact planning Develop additional “citizen” recommendations for the Commission as needed and/or requested 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