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Extension of Toll 49 to U.S. 69, leg from U.S. 80 to north of Longview, in long-range plans


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Extension of Toll 49 to U.S. 69, leg from U.S. 80 to north of Longview, in long-range plans

Posted: Tuesday, January 21, 2014 4:00 am

Extension of Toll 49 to U.S. 69, leg from U.S. 80 to north of Longview, in long-range plans Glenn Evans [email protected] The Marshall News Messenger

Longview and Marshall residents have reason to follow the progress of Tyler’s toll loop as it morphs into half a figure 8 that’s about to begin snaking toward Gregg and Harrison counties.

Having opened the segment of Toll 49 connecting Texas 110 southeast of Tyler with Interstate 20 at Lindale, the Northeast Texas Regional Mobility Authority is looking to the next segment.

That stretch of new road will run north from the interstate to U.S. 69 north of Lindale.

“That will probably be our next segment, and that will complete the U.S. 69 bypass, to be able to bypass Lindale and Tyler,” said Everett Owen, executive director of the 12-county Northeast Texas mobility authority.

The mobility authority will sell bonds to fund that project this coming spring.

“They’re doing all the studies now,” mobility authority Chairwoman Linda Thomas of Longview said, referring to environmental, archeological and other probes required before concrete is poured. “I would say the best news we’ve had is the projected traffic and revenue from 49 were much more conservative than the actual. That’s good news for us, because it helps us get funds. We’re unique in that we’re probably the only rural RMA in the state. The others are around cities.”

Like much of the Northeast Texas Hourglass, the name given to the curly-Q envisioned from south of Tyler to north of Marshall, tolls will be in place on the coming segment to repay the loans that built it.

Those pay-to-drive fees also are likely to remain in force for maintenance costs after the construction bill is paid.

Thomas noted the disrepair that threatened the Dallas/Fort Worth Turnpike when construction costs were met and tolls lifted in the mid-seventies.

“That was not very farsighted,” she said. “Because, there’s not enough money to maintain it, and those roads have deteriorated. Fortunately, people are being more futuristic in realizing you not only have to pay for these roads, you need to generate more revenue to pay for more projects.”

After the stretch to U.S. 69 is finished, attention will leap into Gregg and Upshur counties. A required environmental study is underway along so-called Segment 7B, which will begin at U.S. 80 between White Oak and Longview and head north around Longview to U.S. 259 at the Upshur county line.

The timeline is not set for those or future segments of the ambitious project, partly because much of the timing will depend on funding.

Aside from tolls, the other major funding option being discussed is creation of Transportation Infrastructure Reinvestment Zones.

Those zones provide an incentive for developers by setting aside all or most of the taxes they pay on any improvements they build. That tax money can be used for road improvements, to lay utilities or for other uses such as the environmental or archeological studies. They also can buy rights of way.

A Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone was created about two years ago along Texas 42, from Interstate 20 into downtown Kilgore, with a spur along Texas 31 to Fritz Swanson Road.

“It’s a huge project. Unfortunately, it takes huge dollars,” Owen said. “We’re trying to do a piece at a time, and do what we can and get started — just like they started (Toll 49) in Tyler.”

The Hourglass is not the only project driving the mobility authority.

Thomas noted aspirations to connect Shreveport with Dallas by high-speed rail. A planned Loop 571 extension south of Henderson will connect U.S. 79 and U.S. 259.

“We are studying projects all over the East Texas area,” she said. “At this point, I don’t know of any potential toll projects, but we’re hoping to work with our counties to help with some aspects of projects. We all need to have some options for transportation. But we’re still trying to find out how we can be useful with the tools we have and the law, for what it provides for us to do. It’s just going to take us a little time.”

 

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I wonder if many of the people of East Texas (especially conservatives) who used this road know that 38 million dollars to help build this road came from Obama's American Reinvestment and Recovery Act.

http://texas.construction.com/texas_construction_news/2009/0901_Segment3A.asp

 

Which is the 2009 Stimulus package that conservatives hated.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Recovery_and_Reinvestment_Act_of_2009

 

Tyler's House member Louie Gohmert voted against it. I wonder if he ever used it?

http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2009/roll046.xml

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I wonder if many of the people of East Texas (especially conservatives) who used this road know that 38 million dollars to help build this road came from Obama's American Reinvestment and Recovery Act.

http://texas.construction.com/texas_construction_news/2009/0901_Segment3A.asp

 

Which is the 2009 Stimulus package that conservatives hated.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Recovery_and_Reinvestment_Act_of_2009

 

Tyler's House member Louie Gohmert voted against it. I wonder if he ever used it?

http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2009/roll046.xml

I can assure you, this conservative has not used it. It doesn't make good sense to me to pay to drive on one road, when you can drive another that you've already paid for. As far as the stimulus debacle, that just means we paid about 10x what it should have cost to build it. Some of your hated 1%rs got richer building it, and it's taking more $$ from the 99%rs who are using it because they think it's faster or more convenient.
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I wonder if many of the people of East Texas (especially conservatives) who used this road know that 38 million dollars to help build this road came from Obama's American Reinvestment and Recovery Act.

http://texas.construction.com/texas_construction_news/2009/0901_Segment3A.asp

 

Which is the 2009 Stimulus package that conservatives hated.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Recovery_and_Reinvestment_Act_of_2009

 

Tyler's House member Louie Gohmert voted against it. I wonder if he ever used it?

http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2009/roll046.xml

Proof that you can't screw everything up.

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I wonder if many of the people of East Texas (especially conservatives) who used this road know that 38 million dollars to help build this road came from Obama's American Reinvestment and Recovery Act.

http://texas.construction.com/texas_construction_news/2009/0901_Segment3A.asp

 

Which is the 2009 Stimulus package that conservatives hated.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Recovery_and_Reinvestment_Act_of_2009

 

Tyler's House member Louie Gohmert voted against it. I wonder if he ever used it?

http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2009/roll046.xml

 

Never used it but if it suited my fancy I would and I happen to think toll roads are a sign of the future. I am sure liberals have a free pass on the toll road though.

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I can assure you, this conservative has not used it. It doesn't make good sense to me to pay to drive on one road, when you can drive another that you've already paid for. As far as the stimulus debacle, that just means we paid about 10x what it should have cost to build it. Some of your hated 1%rs got richer building it, and it's taking more $$ from the 99%rs who are using it because they think it's faster or more convenient.

I get your point, but its smarter to take the toll. It only cost a few dollars. Going the "paid for" route will costs you more gas because its a longer trip. With that extra amount you pay for gas, you would be better served to take the toll. At worse, the toll will cost you about the same as that gas, and it saves you 20-25 min. on the drive.

 

Its like people who drive 10 miles down the road to pay 10 cents cheaper for gas....crazy, you are going to burn that 10 cent savings up with the drive.

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The only time I've ever used a toll road was going through the rez lands in Oklahoma. I pay the gov't enough for roads as it is. I'm not going to pay them an additional tax for another road.

Again, you rather go a longer route, that cost you more time, and more gas, than pay a toll, which at worst will cost the same as the gas spent for the longer route. And it saves time.

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Well, well. An interesting eminent domain situation shaping up here? lol

 

 

 

Long-term highway project could run through ET Oil Field

 

http://www.news-journal.com/news/local/long-term-highway-project-could-run-through-et-oil-field/article_b37e13a3-965b-55c3-bd06-216b62e616a5.html

Posted: Wednesday, January 22, 2014 4:00 am | Updated: 7:56 am, Wed Jan 22, 2014.

 

By Glenn Evans [email protected]

CLARKSVILLE CITY — A long-term highway project linking South Tyler with North Marshall hit a slick spot Tuesday — the East Texas Oil Field.

“They are coming through Gregg County here. I don’t think they even considered they are coming through the East Texas Oil Field,” oil company owner John Linder said during an information meeting called by Billy Silvertooth, the city manager of Clarksville City.

 

“If they come through here, they are going to be taking production wells,” Linder said. “It’s going to be a challenge for y’all and a worse economic disaster for us.”

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The only way I take toll roads is if it's quicker, but usually they are out of the way. The Bush Turnpike is one I always avoided in Dallas, and I never use the Hardy Toll Road or Sam Houston Toll Road. I don't see why I'd use this one either. I'm sure some will, but will it pay for itself ?

 

As 5-0319 pointed out if you live in Oklahoma you can't avoid them if you want to travel outside of Tulsa. I'm sure the tolls have paid for the highways, but they're still collected the tolls.

 

I remember when you had to use the Dallas Toll Road to get to 6 Flags, but they eventually closed the booths.

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I get your point, but its smarter to take the toll. It only cost a few dollars. Going the "paid for" route will costs you more gas because its a longer trip. With that extra amount you pay for gas, you would be better served to take the toll. At worse, the toll will cost you about the same as that gas, and it saves you 20-25 min. on the drive.

 

Its like people who drive 10 miles down the road to pay 10 cents cheaper for gas....crazy, you are going to burn that 10 cent savings up with the drive.

I suppose I MIGHT be inclined to use it if it saves some $$. However, the bigger problem with these roads is the fact that they are ramming them through with the use of eminent domain. Landowners don't want to give up their land for pennies on the dollar? Fine, we'll take you to court, force you to spend thousands on lawyer fees, then we'll STILL take your land. I was part of the group that fought (I'm not going to say killed, cuz I'm not sure it's dead) the I-69 TTC several years ago. That is one of the main issues I have with Rick Perry. His sales team was traveling all over the state on taxpayer $$, living large, then lying to the public. I confronted one twenty something info babe about what they would do about cemeteries that fell in the path of the project. She responded "oh that won't be a problem, because we only need a 1500 foot right-of-way!" After I explained in a loud enough voice to gather a crowd that 1500 feet was basically 5 football fields stacked end to end, and that it would be impossible to snake that in between the many cemeteries in Deep East Texas, she finally relented that some graves "may have to be relocated." Previous research had revealed a scheme that would have moved cemeteries to a "land bank" in West Texas. Some Shelby County citizens were very unhappy to hear about this. The whole thing was being pitched under the guise of "reducing traffic congestion in metro areas." Here's the deal: I've worked my tail off since I was 14 so that I could avoid living in a craphole like Houston or Dallas. I could care less about their traffic problems. Those people were stupid enough to choose that way of life, let them deal with the headaches that go with it. I'm certainly not giving up my piece of ground (which has been in my family since some of the first settlers came to Texas) so some jackwagon in Houston can reduce his commute to his sorry job by five minutes. He likes all those people so much, let him take the bus.
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I don't have much use for the toll roads personally because now that I'm semi-retired I avoid the metroplex as much as possible and manage to avoid having to use them. As for Perry, he isn't perfect, but all things considered he's still better than the alternatives I have seen.

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Good for you. In 2010 that left Bill White, Kathie Glass, Deb Shafto or Andy Barron if you cast a vote for the gubernatorial general election.

 

BTW , on your comment about a craphole you do realize there are some rather wealthy individuals in areas like Highland Park and chances are they made their fortunes among well connected politicians. No matter how stupid these people are they have one thing all of us could eventually succumb to and that is cronyism within Texas government in attempts at even more land grabs. I have driven through Highland Park and it does not necessarily remind me of a craphole although I have no desire for places like that myself. The well connected will continue to try land grabs in one way or another.

 

Obviously you appear to be one that agrees with a landowner's resisting the Keystone or any other pipeline from crossing private property. :)

I don't have a problem with pipelines crossing private property, AS LONG AS it's done within the free market. If a landowner doesn't want a pipeline on his land, I certainly don't want to be there. However, it's been my experience over my 15 years in the industry, folks like you are the exception, not the rule. Most folks don't mind, because it means $$ in their pocket. Others like the idea of doing business with me and my undeniable southern charm :).

As far as the rich folks in HP, if the want to live in each other's lap, that's great. More room out here in the sticks for folks like me!!

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I don't have a problem with pipelines crossing private property, AS LONG AS it's done within the free market. If a landowner doesn't want a pipeline on his land, I certainly don't want to be there. However, it's been my experience over my 15 years in the industry, folks like you are the exception, not the rule. Most folks don't mind, because it means $$ in their pocket. Others like the idea of doing business with me and my undeniable southern charm :).

As far as the rich folks in HP, if the want to live in each other's lap, that's great. More room out here in the sticks for folks like me!!

 

Blue...this proposed Toll will cut through the East Texas Oil Patch which apparnetly the planners gave no thought to. I see a eminent domain battle royale in the making here.

 

“They are coming through Gregg County here. I don’t think they even considered they are coming through the East Texas Oil Field,” oil company owner John Linder said during an information meeting called by Billy Silvertooth, the city manager of Clarksville City.

 

“If they come through here, they are going to be taking production wells,” Linder said. “It’s going to be a challenge for y’all and a worse economic disaster for us.”

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He's just part of the overall corporatist crony shills. Give us some examples Kirt that support your crony governor. How about that crony deal for the vaccination? Didn't you think it weird your governor had the perverted idea young girls should be mandated to have the vaccine? I guess not.

 

The truth is any business dealings that any governor supports can be seen as crony capitalism by someone. It's the nature of the beast. Somebody is going to feel slighted or offended for one reason or another. Like I said, I don't agree with EVERYTHING Perry may have done, but I still say overall he has been better for Texas than any governor in my lifetime. So go ahead and nit-pick and accuse him of crony capitalism if you want. I just hope we don't get an anti-business, socialist liberal to replace him when he steps down.

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I get your point, but its smarter to take the toll. It only cost a few dollars. Going the "paid for" route will costs you more gas because its a longer trip. With that extra amount you pay for gas, you would be better served to take the toll. At worse, the toll will cost you about the same as that gas, and it saves you 20-25 min. on the drive.

 

Its like people who drive 10 miles down the road to pay 10 cents cheaper for gas....crazy, you are going to burn that 10 cent savings up with the drive.

 

I'm sorry to break it to you, but the shortest route between two points is a straight line. This road loops all the way around East Texas. It may be faster, but it sure as heck ain't shorter.

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