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Interstate 369

Started by Grzrd, October 19, 2013, 10:41:06 AM

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O Tamandua

I may be wrong, but I'm guessing that the future 3-interstate hub in Texakana may be one of the reasons Miller County (Arkansas side) is pitching land for this "opportunity of a lifetime" potential car manufacturing plant.  Being at such a "hub" hasn't yet helped West Memphis/Marion in the same pursuit, but we shall see:

QuoteWith what appears to be the "opportunity of a lifetime," Miller County's Budget and Finance Committee will soon recommend the county contribute $1.25 million over five years to potentially land a car-manufacturing plant.

https://www.texarkanagazette.com/news/texarkana/story/2020/feb/04/opportunity-lifetime-miller-county-officials-recommend-committing-125m-help-buy-secure-land-car-manufacturing-plant/815082/



sparker

Quote from: dariusb on February 02, 2020, 07:44:37 PM
Seems like when 369 and 49 are finally completed through Texarkana, there's no telling how bad the traffic will be. I hope they plan with that in mind or else it could be a future choke point.

The owners of road-related businesses located (or looking to locate) in the Texarkana area are probably looking forward to a useful-to-them bit of congestion -- with an eye toward drivers, both commercial and "civilian", electing to stop and patronize them as long as it's relatively slow going through the city center.  Of course, a lot of that will depend upon the final configuration of the area freeway network; if 369 is indeed relocated at some point around the west side of town to meet up with 49 near the Red River crossing, then there will be a whole new set of local interchanges at which to locate the usual complement of restaurants, shops, and even truck stops.  Otherwise -- if 369 stays where it is up to I-30 and not extended further, Loop 151 will likely be pressed into the connecting role, with a few appropriate businesses locating along its length. 

dariusb

It's a new day for a new beginning.

dariusb

Sorry. Didn't realize Tamandua had already posted this.
It's a new day for a new beginning.

Bobby5280

A completed I-369 from Houston to Texarkana will draw a lot of additional traffic onto the I-30 corridor.

I don't think I-49 is going to get a great deal more popular with long distance drivers until I-49 is completed between Texarkana and Fort Smith. Traffic coming from South Texas and going to points like Kansas City will likely stick with the I-35 corridor. Putting up with DFW traffic could be a "lesser evil" than dealing with a narrow, tree-lined 2-lane US-71 going through a bunch of hills.

sparker

Quote from: Bobby5280 on February 04, 2020, 04:43:46 PM
A completed I-369 from Houston to Texarkana will draw a lot of additional traffic onto the I-30 corridor.

I don't think I-49 is going to get a great deal more popular with long distance drivers until I-49 is completed between Texarkana and Fort Smith. Traffic coming from South Texas and going to points like Kansas City will likely stick with the I-35 corridor. Putting up with DFW traffic could be a "lesser evil" than dealing with a narrow, tree-lined 2-lane US-71 going through a bunch of hills.

That observation is probably correct regarding overall volume; until I-49 is fully complete down the west side of AR, traffic in the DFW>KC corridor will continue to use I-35 through OKC and Wichita, with US 75/69 used sparingly when mileage is an overriding factor.  Still, US 71 through the "gap" will continue to see considerable traffic -- commercial stuff that needs to reach Ft. Smith or NWA from the south, and "civilian" traffic who simply see the shortest distance between two points and/or follow their GPS.  It'll still be the corridor of choice for traffic originating in LA -- the current batch of Interstate-grade alternatives are either east of the Ozarks or very much out of their way to the west.  That's probably why many regional proposals over in Fictional place a Conway-Springfield corridor along US 65; it provides a nice neat straight shot between metro areas with a clear path southward into LA.   But for the time being much N-S traffic will continue to use US 71 despite its inadequacies just because it is where it is -- where I-49 should be! 

X99

Quote from: sparker on February 05, 2020, 02:26:47 AM
Quote from: Bobby5280 on February 04, 2020, 04:43:46 PM
A completed I-369 from Houston to Texarkana will draw a lot of additional traffic onto the I-30 corridor.

I don't think I-49 is going to get a great deal more popular with long distance drivers until I-49 is completed between Texarkana and Fort Smith. Traffic coming from South Texas and going to points like Kansas City will likely stick with the I-35 corridor. Putting up with DFW traffic could be a "lesser evil" than dealing with a narrow, tree-lined 2-lane US-71 going through a bunch of hills.

That observation is probably correct regarding overall volume; until I-49 is fully complete down the west side of AR, traffic in the DFW>KC corridor will continue to use I-35 through OKC and Wichita, with US 75/69 used sparingly when mileage is an overriding factor.  Still, US 71 through the "gap" will continue to see considerable traffic -- commercial stuff that needs to reach Ft. Smith or NWA from the south, and "civilian" traffic who simply see the shortest distance between two points and/or follow their GPS.  It'll still be the corridor of choice for traffic originating in LA -- the current batch of Interstate-grade alternatives are either east of the Ozarks or very much out of their way to the west.  That's probably why many regional proposals over in Fictional place a Conway-Springfield corridor along US 65; it provides a nice neat straight shot between metro areas with a clear path southward into LA.   But for the time being much N-S traffic will continue to use US 71 despite its inadequacies just because it is where it is -- where I-49 should be!
I've seen a couple proposals for a US 65 freeway between Springfield and Springdale on Fictional Highways (I made one of them), but not all the way to Conway.
why are there only like 5 people on this forum from south dakota

sparker

Quote from: X99 on February 05, 2020, 10:31:58 AM
I've seen a couple proposals for a US 65 freeway between Springfield and Springdale on Fictional Highways (I made one of them), but not all the way to Conway.

Springdale?  That's over on I-49 at US 412.  A Springfield-Springdale connection via US 65 and US 412 would be duplicative of I-49 (when completed) up to I-44 and then east; really wouldn't save a significant amount of either distance nor time.  Springfield-Conway (an effective proxy for greater Little Rock) would at least address a different traffic pattern -- particularly considering the I/AR 530 extension south (I'll stop here lest it become a bit too speculative).  But getting back to I-369/Texarkana matters -- any other mishmash of highways around the Ouachitas and/or Ozarks is simply out of the way for the LA-KC corridor;  the sole direct path (assuming OK continues to delay/avoid developing the "direct-ish" US 69 corridor) is US 71/I-49, regardless of the timetable for fully upgrading that particular route.   

O Tamandua

#358
Quote from: sparker on February 05, 2020, 01:41:50 PM
Quote from: X99 on February 05, 2020, 10:31:58 AM
I've seen a couple proposals for a US 65 freeway between Springfield and Springdale on Fictional Highways (I made one of them), but not all the way to Conway.

Springdale?  That's over on I-49 at US 412.  A Springfield-Springdale connection via US 65 and US 412 would be duplicative of I-49 (when completed) up to I-44 and then east; really wouldn't save a significant amount of either distance nor time.  Springfield-Conway (an effective proxy for greater Little Rock) would at least address a different traffic pattern -- particularly considering the I/AR 530 extension south (I'll stop here lest it become a bit too speculative).  But getting back to I-369/Texarkana matters -- any other mishmash of highways around the Ouachitas and/or Ozarks is simply out of the way for the LA-KC corridor;  the sole direct path (assuming OK continues to delay/avoid developing the "direct-ish" US 69 corridor) is US 71/I-49, regardless of the timetable for fully upgrading that particular route.   

In a way, it's the lengthened shadow of the dream of Arthur Stilwell, founder of the Kansas City Southern railroad, who knew this corridor was the best way to get from Kansas City to the Gulf of Mexico.  That being said, Mr. Stilwell likely had no idea how big the Louisiana-Texas petrochemical complex would someday be, nor did he likely know that Texas would be America's second most populous state.


sparker

Quote from: O Tamandua on February 05, 2020, 04:09:41 PM
Quote from: sparker on February 05, 2020, 01:41:50 PM
Quote from: X99 on February 05, 2020, 10:31:58 AM
I've seen a couple proposals for a US 65 freeway between Springfield and Springdale on Fictional Highways (I made one of them), but not all the way to Conway.

Springdale?  That's over on I-49 at US 412.  A Springfield-Springdale connection via US 65 and US 412 would be duplicative of I-49 (when completed) up to I-44 and then east; really wouldn't save a significant amount of either distance nor time.  Springfield-Conway (an effective proxy for greater Little Rock) would at least address a different traffic pattern -- particularly considering the I/AR 530 extension south (I'll stop here lest it become a bit too speculative).  But getting back to I-369/Texarkana matters -- any other mishmash of highways around the Ouachitas and/or Ozarks is simply out of the way for the LA-KC corridor;  the sole direct path (assuming OK continues to delay/avoid developing the "direct-ish" US 69 corridor) is US 71/I-49, regardless of the timetable for fully upgrading that particular route.   

In a way, it's the lengthened shadow of the dream of Arthur Stilwell, founder of the Kansas City Southern railroad, who knew this corridor was the best way to get from Kansas City to the Gulf of Mexico.  That being said, Mr. Stilwell likely had no idea how big the Louisiana-Texas petrochemical complex would someday be, nor did he likely know that Texas would be America's second most populous state.



And KCS is still an independent railroad after 120+ years of existence & operation.  It's one of the remaining lines not on a coast with a decidedly N-S axis rather than a dominant E-W traffic flow.  The other notable Midwestern line with similar characteristics, Illinois Central, was acquired by Canadian National decades ago (which is why one regularly finds CN locomotives down in New Orleans & Mobile). 

O Tamandua

Quote from: sparker on February 05, 2020, 04:56:23 PM
Quote from: O Tamandua on February 05, 2020, 04:09:41 PM
Quote from: sparker on February 05, 2020, 01:41:50 PM
Quote from: X99 on February 05, 2020, 10:31:58 AM
I've seen a couple proposals for a US 65 freeway between Springfield and Springdale on Fictional Highways (I made one of them), but not all the way to Conway.

Springdale?  That's over on I-49 at US 412.  A Springfield-Springdale connection via US 65 and US 412 would be duplicative of I-49 (when completed) up to I-44 and then east; really wouldn't save a significant amount of either distance nor time.  Springfield-Conway (an effective proxy for greater Little Rock) would at least address a different traffic pattern -- particularly considering the I/AR 530 extension south (I'll stop here lest it become a bit too speculative).  But getting back to I-369/Texarkana matters -- any other mishmash of highways around the Ouachitas and/or Ozarks is simply out of the way for the LA-KC corridor;  the sole direct path (assuming OK continues to delay/avoid developing the "direct-ish" US 69 corridor) is US 71/I-49, regardless of the timetable for fully upgrading that particular route.   

In a way, it's the lengthened shadow of the dream of Arthur Stilwell, founder of the Kansas City Southern railroad, who knew this corridor was the best way to get from Kansas City to the Gulf of Mexico.  That being said, Mr. Stilwell likely had no idea how big the Louisiana-Texas petrochemical complex would someday be, nor did he likely know that Texas would be America's second most populous state.



And KCS is still an independent railroad after 120+ years of existence & operation.  It's one of the remaining lines not on a coast with a decidedly N-S axis rather than a dominant E-W traffic flow.  The other notable Midwestern line with similar characteristics, Illinois Central, was acquired by Canadian National decades ago (which is why one regularly finds CN locomotives down in New Orleans & Mobile).

Excellent point, Sparker, and I think the main reason why KCS is still independent is because it took the OTHER part of Stilwell's vision (to build a railroad to the Pacific coast of Mexico) and acquired the railroad which is now the KCS de Mexico.  That's been good for KCS but may have acted as a kind of "poison pill" for would-be acquisitors, at least up to now.  Back to Mexico...likewise, Texas-I-69 will (technically) terminate at Texarkana to the north and in its "broken trident" shape terminate at Laredo (said right now to be North America's busiest international port), McAllen and Brownsville.

I'm still surprised that it has taken so long to build an interstate highway along this corridor yet again, the thinking has been "east-west" for railroads and, likely, interstates in mid-America west of Chicago for a long time.  Until now.

sparker

^^^^^^^^^^
Hadn't really though of the dearth of N-S Interstate corridors in the Midwest -- and the historical heritage of that situation as regards the rail corridors that preceded even the US highway network -- until now!  But that's basically true; the original approximately 30K mile system as envisioned in the '30's before Tom MacDonald and the Army Corps got involved were primarily E-W corridors west of the Mississippi -- probably a tip of the hat to the nation's population distribution back then.  But the postwar 1950 census figures, the first to indicate significant demographic shifting south and west, prompted the addition of a select few N-S corridors to the mix to serve the growing metro areas there.  Nevertheless, it took the type of "policy entrepreneurs" described by the political policy analyst John Kingdon -- and located in disparate parts of the country: Indiana and Texas -- to cobble up a reasonably useful diagonal national corridor concept (the Shreveport-Memphis segment notwithstanding) with, of course, enough locally-incited spurs and branches to garner regional support for its development.  I-69 may well be the poster child for a "horse-designed-by-a-committee" type of concept -- but it'll still likely be well-"ridden", at least regarding its outer segments.   The only thing holding back the Texas and Memphis-Indy segments is irregular identification and disbursement of funds.         

bwana39

Quote from: sparker on February 04, 2020, 02:21:12 AM
Quote from: dariusb on February 02, 2020, 07:44:37 PM
Seems like when 369 and 49 are finally completed through Texarkana, there's no telling how bad the traffic will be. I hope they plan with that in mind or else it could be a future choke point.

The owners of road-related businesses located (or looking to locate) in the Texarkana area are probably looking forward to a useful-to-them bit of congestion -- with an eye toward drivers, both commercial and "civilian", electing to stop and patronize them as long as it's relatively slow going through the city center.  Of course, a lot of that will depend upon the final configuration of the area freeway network; if 369 is indeed relocated at some point around the west side of town to meet up with 49 near the Red River crossing, then there will be a whole new set of local interchanges at which to locate the usual complement of restaurants, shops, and even truck stops.  Otherwise -- if 369 stays where it is up to I-30 and not extended further, Loop 151 will likely be pressed into the connecting role, with a few appropriate businesses locating along its length.

Texarkana looks to be not that congested. There seems to be a spread out idea in the not that distant future. I49 is planned to go into Texas then to west of Texarkana before crossing the Red River into Arkansas. 369 will probably head north and meet I49. 369 MAY actually come to the loop, but it may not.  Texarkana is looking for manufacturing & distribution jobs; not retail and food service.
Let's build what we need as economically as possible.

O Tamandua

#363
Quote from: O Tamandua on February 04, 2020, 02:09:25 AM
I may be wrong, but I'm guessing that the future 3-interstate hub in Texakana may be one of the reasons Miller County (Arkansas side) is pitching land for this "opportunity of a lifetime" potential car manufacturing plant.  Being at such a "hub" hasn't yet helped West Memphis/Marion in the same pursuit, but we shall see:

QuoteWith what appears to be the "opportunity of a lifetime," Miller County's Budget and Finance Committee will soon recommend the county contribute $1.25 million over five years to potentially land a car-manufacturing plant.

https://www.texarkanagazette.com/news/texarkana/story/2020/feb/04/opportunity-lifetime-miller-county-officials-recommend-committing-125m-help-buy-secure-land-car-manufacturing-plant/815082/

OK, to both give an update and add a bit more to what Bwana39 said just above:

- First, about the "opportunity of a lifetime" I mentioned earlier.  There was a very favorable editorial about the story above in the Texarkana Gazette a day or two after the link at the top was posted, essentially saying this was a venture the area should get behind.  THEN, the Miller County (AR) Quorum Court met and, according to the Gazette, added "a tidal wave of extra money" to what was already authorized!

- Then, I came across this article in the Gazette posted a little over two months ago.  It quotes both Arkansas- and Texas-side Texarkana city managers, as well as the director of Arkansas-Texas REDI, a special Texarkana joint economic effort which was officially launched by Gov. Gregg Abbott (TX) and Gov. Asa Hutchinson (AR) in late 2018.  Now, I hope the REDI leader isn't playing Svengali to Texarkana's Trilby.  Yet I think he sees (just like that city councilman who said last month that TXA has to prepare infrastructure to become a "three-interstate city") what the rest of us do with our own eyes: that Texarkana already is the prime rail gateway from the eastern U.S. both to America's second most populous state AND Mexico, and is going to be the same someday as an interstate highway junction point.  Now, we wait and see.:

Quote

Robust, diverse economy forecast for city | AR-TX REDI's Sitterley: Auto manufacturing plant 'not too much to hope for'

A growing, diversified business landscape is in the forecast for Texarkana, according to key stakeholders involved in shaping the Twin Cities' future.
In recent interviews, Kenny Haskin, Arkansas-side city manager; David Orr, Texas-side director of planning; and Rob Sitterley, CEO of vanguard economic development organization AR-TX REDI, agreed that the Texarkana region's unique set of assets and advantages poises it for unprecedented success.
...

"Ultimately, our goal is to diversify the economy. In 10 or 20 years, I would see that this community would be home to a number of large manufacturing operations, would be home to a number of logistics/distribution companies. We are just in a prime spot in the country," Sitterley said.

A large auto manufacturing operation is a real possibility for Texarkana, he said.

"If you look on the map, all the major auto plants and auto-making parts producers are basically Memphis to San Antonio, and that vein runs literally right through here.

"So I don't see any reason in 20 years we couldn't be just a giant in manufacturing and a place where people want to go because it's close to their customers, the product can get in and out quickly, and again it all comes down to workforce," Sitterley said. A major car maker investing $750 million to $1 billion here and employing 2,000 people, for example, is not too much to hope for.

"There's no reason we can't play on that field. There just isn't," he said. "All those things are doable here, and I think for a lot of years there were people that maybe didn't dream as big or didn't think that it was possible here. But for sure, I see that it's possible."  (NOTE: for "a lot of years", Texarkana didn't have a through interstate to Shreveport (and Louisiana I-49, with Arkansas taking notice) nor did it have the State of Texas furiously building the I-69 corridor.)

https://www.texarkanagazette.com/news/texarkana/story/2019/dec/01/robust-diverse-economy-forecast-city-ar-tx-redis-sitterley-auto-manufacturing-plant-not-too-much-hope/806305/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter


dariusb

I hope all goes well for Texarkana not just regarding potentially getting this plant but for the city's future. As a native of that city, there's been many promises and proposals that didn't materialize and many there myself included have the attitude of yeah right I'll believe it when I see it. So I guess time will tell.
It's a new day for a new beginning.

O Tamandua

Quote from: dariusb on February 14, 2020, 09:32:06 PM
I hope all goes well for Texarkana not just regarding potentially getting this plant but for the city's future. As a native of that city, there's been many promises and proposals that didn't materialize and many there myself included have the attitude of yeah right I'll believe it when I see it. So I guess time will tell.

I hear you, brother.  Watching ALL the auto, vehicle frame and auto parts trains that go through TXA on the Virtual Railfan "TexarCamera" plus knowing the key location of this place does make me think these people have a point.  I also think these individuals see what's preparing to happen here in terms of transportation where many in the past either couldn't or didn't have a reason to believe in it.  We will see what happens.

dariusb

I see what you're saying about the area having a future in manufacturing and distribution. Not only does Texarkana's location put it in a good spot but the city also serves all modes of transportation (rail, bus and air). A brand new airport terminal is scheduled to start construction next year to make room for any new airlines. Currently there's airline service to DFW. A lot of truck stops, gas stations and restaurants have broken ground over the last several years to service the growing number of trucks along I-30. All good but need jobs that pay the wages that manufacturing and distribution centers would pay. Most new jobs in Texarkana are either some sort of restaurant or retail which mostly pay minimum wage.
It's a new day for a new beginning.

O Tamandua

Quote from: dariusb on February 15, 2020, 02:40:31 PM
I see what you're saying about the area having a future in manufacturing and distribution. Not only does Texarkana's location put it in a good spot but the city also serves all modes of transportation (rail, bus and air). A brand new airport terminal is scheduled to start construction next year to make room for any new airlines. Currently there's airline service to DFW. A lot of truck stops, gas stations and restaurants have broken ground over the last several years to service the growing number of trucks along I-30. All good but need jobs that pay the wages that manufacturing and distribution centers would pay. Most new jobs in Texarkana are either some sort of restaurant or retail which mostly pay minimum wage.

(Moderators and friends, I'll get back to highways and highway-related things only on my next post.)

Dariusb, you know as well as I the issues facing Texarkana right now, and some of those have the potential to magnify with city growth.  Yet even before these other interstates started sprouting up, around 1998 something started changing.  Since that time, the three Texas-side schools have won a roomful of state high school championship trophies;  apparently Texarkana is the only Texas city to have three high schools which have each won both a football and baseball state title.  (Pleasant Grove h.s. just went to its third straight football championship game, and has won two of those.  BTW, the Arkansas-side high school has a boatload of such trophies.)  The Perot theatre was judged by Architectural Digest as the top performing arts venue in the state of Texas.  The newest Miss Teen Texas is from TXA.  The current top middle/high school administrator (as judged by his statewide peers) is from the TISD.  There are other recent awards as well.  When you're competing against D/FW, the Greater Houston area, San Antonio, Austin, El Paso and cities/towns from 253 other Texas counties, these achievements are far from easy.  Don't know if this is just an "up/down" cycle, but I'm guessing there are a lot of other cities that would like the potential that Texarkana has when these three interstates are all complete (all catching up to an existing rail network that was part "ahead of its time" thinking, part unexpected blessing with being the natural prime eastern gateway to America's second biggest state on pretty much all fronts).

Anyway, it FEELS like this city, or people within it, are accomplishing or at least being recognized for same a lot more than when I first started coming there on business in 1984.  There's some things Texarkana will likely never be, such as a financial capital.  That's cool by me - I don't want TXA becoming NYC.  Then again, the special things this city already has will probably make up for those perceived "shortcomings".

Back to I-369 for me.   :popcorn:

AcE_Wolf_287

Ok do I'm probably gonna get a lot of flag for this, but What is the point if I-369? I know it's a connection from Houston to Texarkana but I honestly believe that it's useless, I-49 i believe is 30-40 miles to the East? US 59 would've just been upgraded to 4 lanes instead of having a highway go through the towns.

Also, When I-69/I-369 gets done in Texas, wont US 59 be Truncated out of Texas and it's new Southern Terminus would be in Texarkana?

sparker

Quote from: AcE_Wolf_287 on March 30, 2020, 01:42:45 AM
Ok do I'm probably gonna get a lot of flag for this, but What is the point if I-369? I know it's a connection from Houston to Texarkana but I honestly believe that it's useless, I-49 i believe is 30-40 miles to the East? US 59 would've just been upgraded to 4 lanes instead of having a highway go through the towns.

Also, When I-69/I-369 gets done in Texas, wont US 59 be Truncated out of Texas and it's new Southern Terminus would be in Texarkana?

Just read a number of the previous 367 replies to the OP; I-369 itself is part of one of the two HPC's that comprise the I-69 cluster of corridors, HPC 20, which specifies an Interstate along US 59 from Laredo to Texarkana, passing through Houston.  And it's long been the goal of Houston-area interests, voicing their collective opinions through the organization Alliance for I-69/Texas, to have a direct outlet --  all-TX-if-at-all-possible -- to I-30 and thence to Chicago and other Great Lakes destinations.  The chances are, given the level of in-state support for the composite 69/369 corridor, that it'll be up and running well before any LA sections are completed.  While the entire I-69 "family" draws various levels of support from the other states it is intended to serve, parts of it are of particular importance to TX interests, as they (particularly the Brownsville-Houston-Texarkana continuum) fulfill longstanding regional "wish lists". 

Re the potential truncation of US 59:  TX is famous/notorious for truncating its US highways that have been subsumed by Interstate routes (e.g. US 75, US 80, US 81), but only if there are no independent sections of such routes that don't cross into other states or extend very long distances (like US 90).  What actually happens to US 59 (or the southernmost reaches of US 77 for that matter) will only be known in time once the I-69 corridor segments following those routes are substantially complete.  Some speculation regarding US 59 has it replacing US 96 down to Beaumont and Port Arthur; IMO that's not a terribly bad idea at that.       

Scott5114

I-369 seems to basically function as a Shreveport bypass for I-30-bound traffic.
uncontrollable freak sardine salad chef

bwana39

#371
Quote from: Scott5114 on March 30, 2020, 04:09:47 AM
I-369 seems to basically function as a Shreveport bypass for I-30-bound traffic.

I all but agree with you BUT.

1) The traffic load on US 59 is already fairly high: higher than I-49 from Shreveport to Texarkana.
2) There is no good path between US 59 and I-49. Traffic chooses US-59 as it is.
     A) US 79 is two lanes from Bethany to Greenwood (LA Section)
     B) I-20 is near capacity from Marshall to Shreveport (Actually from Dallas to Monroe at least).
     C) Other routes (Primarily US 84) are substandard.


I-49 was built to finish the northern Hurricane escape route. Prior to its completion, SHreveport would get  inundated with evacuees. Now they can travel on an interstate directly from Layfayette to Texarkana, Little Rock and beyond if needed.  Day-to day traffic needs seem beside the point.

I tend to agree with you that a 4-lane rural divided highway with controlled access loops around all of the towns and overpasses at all major intersections would PROBABLY be enough from Lufkin North.  That said, it is a trade off. Take the route and profits from inside the small towns and get Interstate Access.  While I disagree with the whole branding concept. When it comes to economic development, the INTERSTATE HIGHWAY brand is a selling point especially outside of major urban areas.

What is economic development? From one pov, it is bringing in jobs and construction to provide jobs and tax base to future generations so they can remain in their home communities.

Another way of looking at it is conversion of lower value assets (agricultural or low density usage land) to higher value assets (commercial / industrial land).  While commercial / industrial real estate is a longer term investment, the payouts tend to be 10X the investments.

Without this premium brand being bestowed on a given community, why would they support the eventual losses of business in their inner city. (Think Corrigan or Diboll).  Moving out to  the freeway is a slow not painless proposition for the folks who own fixed assets along the old routing.
Let's build what we need as economically as possible.

AcE_Wolf_287

Quote from: sparker on March 30, 2020, 03:58:27 AM
Quote from: AcE_Wolf_287 on March 30, 2020, 01:42:45 AM
Ok do I'm probably gonna get a lot of flag for this, but What is the point if I-369? I know it's a connection from Houston to Texarkana but I honestly believe that it's useless, I-49 i believe is 30-40 miles to the East? US 59 would've just been upgraded to 4 lanes instead of having a highway go through the towns.

Also, When I-69/I-369 gets done in Texas, wont US 59 be Truncated out of Texas and it's new Southern Terminus would be in Texarkana?

Just read a number of the previous 367 replies to the OP; I-369 itself is part of one of the two HPC's that comprise the I-69 cluster of corridors, HPC 20, which specifies an Interstate along US 59 from Laredo to Texarkana, passing through Houston.  And it's long been the goal of Houston-area interests, voicing their collective opinions through the organization Alliance for I-69/Texas, to have a direct outlet --  all-TX-if-at-all-possible -- to I-30 and thence to Chicago and other Great Lakes destinations.  The chances are, given the level of in-state support for the composite 69/369 corridor, that it'll be up and running well before any LA sections are completed.  While the entire I-69 "family" draws various levels of support from the other states it is intended to serve, parts of it are of particular importance to TX interests, as they (particularly the Brownsville-Houston-Texarkana continuum) fulfill longstanding regional "wish lists". 

Re the potential truncation of US 59:  TX is famous/notorious for truncating its US highways that have been subsumed by Interstate routes (e.g. US 75, US 80, US 81), but only if there are no independent sections of such routes that don't cross into other states or extend very long distances (like US 90).  What actually happens to US 59 (or the southernmost reaches of US 77 for that matter) will only be known in time once the I-69 corridor segments following those routes are substantially complete.  Some speculation regarding US 59 has it replacing US 96 down to Beaumont and Port Arthur; IMO that's not a terribly bad idea at that.     

Yea because all of US 59 would be freeway sections in the matter of 20-30 Years, US 77 is Probably gonna get Truncated, and US 281 is probably gonna Get Truncated back to San Antonio

sprjus4

Quote from: AcE_Wolf_287 on March 30, 2020, 01:24:35 PM
Yea because all of US 59 would be freeway sections in the matter of 20-30 Years, US 77 is Probably gonna get Truncated, and US 281 is probably gonna Get Truncated back to San Antonio
Over the next 10 years, 60 miles of US-77 between Kingsville and Raymondville is programmed to be upgraded to interstate standards, which would complete I-69E between I-37 and Brownsville. The segment between I-37 and Victoria however isn't currently programmed.

Additionally, in that time frame, about 50 miles of US-281 between Edinburg and Falfurrias is also programmed to be upgraded to interstate standards, completing the route between two, but still leaving the 90 mile gap between Falfurrias and I-37 largely incomplete.

The odds of US-59 of getting improved between Victoria and Laredo are slim IMO, but I suppose we'll see. Largely 2-lane route, with very light traffic volumes. I suppose any 4-lane upgrades going forth will be completed to interstate standards.

sparker

Quote from: sprjus4 on March 30, 2020, 01:33:40 PM
Quote from: AcE_Wolf_287 on March 30, 2020, 01:24:35 PM
Yea because all of US 59 would be freeway sections in the matter of 20-30 Years, US 77 is Probably gonna get Truncated, and US 281 is probably gonna Get Truncated back to San Antonio
Over the next 10 years, 60 miles of US-77 between Kingsville and Raymondville is programmed to be upgraded to interstate standards, which would complete I-69E between I-37 and Brownsville. The segment between I-37 and Victoria however isn't currently programmed.

Additionally, in that time frame, about 50 miles of US-281 between Edinburg and Falfurrias is also programmed to be upgraded to interstate standards, completing the route between two, but still leaving the 90 mile gap between Falfurrias and I-37 largely incomplete.

The odds of US-59 of getting improved between Victoria and Laredo are slim IMO, but I suppose we'll see. Largely 2-lane route, with very light traffic volumes. I suppose any 4-lane upgrades going forth will be completed to interstate standards.

The method used in TX has been to address I-69 one of its SIU's at a time.  I-37 south to the RGV is one unit programmed for short-term action, as is Victoria-Houston along US 59.  The former has independent utility as, in conjunction with I-37, a San Antonio-Mexico "relief" routing as an alternative to the largely crowded (maybe not right now!) Laredo border crossing, while the latter is largely building out the sections between the existing freeway segments.  I-37 to Victoria will come later -- but not that much later, as TxDOT and the corridor backers have prioritized the 69/69E continuum (probably because of the fact that most of the ROW is already in place). 

While not presently programmed, all of US 281 south of US 59 is becoming a priority because of the substantial level of commercial traffic using it as border access as an alternative to the oft-congested I-35.  And if upgrading construction over on I-69E through the King Ranch area causes interim delays, expect 281 to host quite a bit of the diverted traffic.  And it's an almost certainty that Freer-George West along US 59 will be the very last section of the corridor cluster to see development;  if the branch along TX 44 west of Corpus doesn't attract programming attention terribly soon, that will likely extend west all the way to Laredo.   



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