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[abaurgooasdusx]

I'm going to enjoy driving on the new Interstates since they're within a day's drive from me.

Y'all can let your OCD keep you riveted to your chairs with rage.

[texaskdog]

I'm going to enjoy driving on the new Interstates since they're within a day's drive from me.

Y'all can let your OCD keep you riveted to your chairs with rage.

Me too. 

[formulanone]

Y'all can let your OCD keep you riveted to your chairs with rage.

I was kind of curious what a C-suffixed Interstate Shield would look like, what with Texas opting for letters under the numerals on their state highway signs.

[agentsteel53]

I was kind of curious what a C-suffixed Interstate Shield would look like, what with Texas opting for letters under the numerals on their state highway signs.

probably similar to 35E and 35W.

[formulanone]

Yeah, that was kind of what I imagined.

[texaskdog]

Yeah, that was kind of what I imagined.

I bet it's the small letter underneath.

[lordsutch]

I bet it's the small letter underneath.

The signage plans from TxDOT that have been previously posted suggest it will be a I-35E/W style suffix, not the "tiny letter" design used for business routes.

[Molandfreak]

I bet it's the small letter underneath.

The signage plans from TxDOT that have been previously posted suggest it will be a I-35E/W style suffix, not the "tiny letter" design used for business routes.

I hope it's that way.

[texaskdog]

I bet it's the small letter underneath.

The signage plans from TxDOT that have been previously posted suggest it will be a I-35E/W style suffix, not the "tiny letter" design used for business routes.

Yeah, the average plebian driver wouldn't figure that out anyway.

[Henry]

I think most of us will agree that I-69C is a dumb idea, especially when you consider the fact that most suffixed Interstate routes (of course, with the exception of the two I-35 splits in TX and MN) were renumbered over 30 years ago. I wouldn't mind duplicating an odd-numbered route, as there are currently none in the system. I-39, I-41 or even I-43 would be a good fit for the spur to McAllen/Brownsville.

[Grzrd]

The final formality needs to be approval by the Texas Transportation Commission.

I would assume that they're the ones who requested it, no?

They provided the authority for TxDOT to submit the application.  Now that it has been approved, they need to rubberstamp AASHTO's decision.  It seems like an inefficient way to do things.  They have followed this procedure with prior I-69 Corridor designations.

(above quote from AASHTO May 5, 2013 Route Numbering Actions and Applications thread)

The Texas Transportation Commission ("TTC") May 30, 2013 Agenda suggests that the TTC may slightly alter their past practice and grant approval to several interstate designations that will be contingent upon later FHWA approval:

8. Transportation Planning
Various Counties - Designate various Interstate Highways concurrent with existing US Highways (MO)
The commission will consider the designation of new Interstates on the state highway system concurrent with existing US Highways. Once designated, these highways will operate as part of the Interstate System in Texas. Action is subject to approval of these designations by the Federal Highway Administration.

I'm guessing that the TTC will approve the designations for Interstates 2, 69C, 69E, and 369.  Then, it will be a matter of waiting for FHWA to approve each of these sections as meeting current interstate grade standards.

[ski-man]

Has there ever been an explanation on why they feel it is better to use the I-69C & 69E instead of another interstate number?

[lordsutch]

Has there ever been an explanation on why they feel it is better to use the I-69C & 69E instead of another interstate number?

As I mentioned up thread, it's Rio Grande Valley politics, essentially the same reason why Dallas & Fort Worth and Minneapolis & St. Paul split I-35 between them ~60 years ago.  Or why I-81 goes between Kingsport and Johnson City, rather than going through either.

Case in point: Texas is going to build a new medical school in the Valley (assuming Gov. Perry doesn't veto the bill).  Rather than McAllen get it or Brownsville get it, instead each will get half of the med school.  This, I expect, may only work out slightly better than splitting the baby would've.

[Road Hog]

Has there ever been an explanation on why they feel it is better to use the I-69C & 69E instead of another interstate number?

As I mentioned up thread, it's Rio Grande Valley politics, essentially the same reason why Dallas & Fort Worth and Minneapolis & St. Paul split I-35 between them ~60 years ago.  Or why I-81 goes between Kingsport and Johnson City, rather than going through either.

Case in point: Texas is going to build a new medical school in the Valley (assuming Gov. Perry doesn't veto the bill).  Rather than McAllen get it or Brownsville get it, instead each will get half of the med school.  This, I expect, may only work out slightly better than splitting the baby would've.

So Harlingen gets the whole thing?

[lordsutch]

So Harlingen gets the whole thing?

Harlingen is much closer to Brownsville than McAllen (same county).  (Literally, the doctors will spend the first two years in Hidalgo County and the final two years in Cameron County, so there will be two separate facilities.  But we're getting off-topic.)

Literally putting the med school in the middle would put it somewhere like Mercedes or Weslaco.

[Sykotyk]

Why can't we just use a few of the unused numbers: I-31 and I-33 are just ripe for this type of routing. I know it's not a continuous I-69, but it is a 2di, and I-31 would work good for what will be I-69C. It might be out of position for I-35 angling southwest, but it is a 2di that's yet to be used.

[thefro]

FHWA has approved designating US 77 as I-69E from Raymondville to Brownsville.

http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/news/local/article_3baf5bf6-c8d4-11e2-bafc-0019bb30f31a.html

More big news came in the form of a surprise announcement by Victor Mendez, administrator of the Federal Highway Administration, invited to the event by U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela, D-Brownsville, as part of a tour of his district’s transportation projects.

Mendez said that the FHWA has authorized redesignating U.S. 77 from University Boulevard in Brownsville all the way to Raymondville to Interstate 69 East.

“That’s the full 53 miles,” he said. “The importance of that from an economic development standpoint is just having an interstate shield on a highway is really important, positive thing in terms of future development.”

It’ll also mean a much safer road in light of the FHWA’s strict standards, Mendez said.

The redesignation puts the Lower Rio Grande Valley a major stride closer to being connected to the rest of the nation by an interstate route.

[texaskdog]

U.S. 57 should stay as is even in the event of a freeway upgrade. The entire logic of it having an out of place number is because it connects to MEX-57. An unsigned interstate I wouldn't mind.

Now there's a road that should be a state highway

[agentsteel53]

U.S. 57 should stay as is even in the event of a freeway upgrade. The entire logic of it having an out of place number is because it connects to MEX-57. An unsigned interstate I wouldn't mind.

Now there's a road that should be a state highway

you can sign it I-57 and pretend you have a coherent plan to connect it to the other I-57 by 2045.  in fact, you can sign a portion both as I-57 and US-57.  also multiplex part of it with I-56 for no discernible reason.

[CanesFan27]

FHWA has approved designating US 77 as I-69E from Raymondville to Brownsville.

http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/news/local/article_3baf5bf6-c8d4-11e2-bafc-0019bb30f31a.html

More big news came in the form of a surprise announcement by Victor Mendez, administrator of the Federal Highway Administration, invited to the event by U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela, D-Brownsville, as part of a tour of his district’s transportation projects.

Mendez said that the FHWA has authorized redesignating U.S. 77 from University Boulevard in Brownsville all the way to Raymondville to Interstate 69 East.

“That’s the full 53 miles,” he said. “The importance of that from an economic development standpoint is just having an interstate shield on a highway is really important, positive thing in terms of future development.”

It’ll also mean a much safer road in light of the FHWA’s strict standards, Mendez said.

The redesignation puts the Lower Rio Grande Valley a major stride closer to being connected to the rest of the nation by an interstate route.

So does that mean a change is needed for the I-69/US 77 section in Chorpus?  Or does that mean 69 will cut over on TX 44 vs. a split in Victoria?

[Grzrd]

List of applications:
....
TX I-69E (Robstown, renumbering I-69)

(above quote from AASHTO May 5, 2013 Route Numbering Actions and Applications thread) ....
Approved by AASHTO

So does that mean a change is needed for the I-69/US 77 section in Chorpus?  Or does that mean 69 will cut over on TX 44 vs. a split in Victoria?

AASHTO has already approved the change to I-69E for the section near Corpus (FHWA already approved it as interstate grade for the initial I-69 signage) and the Texas Transportation Commission probably approved the change at its meeting earlier today (the transcript should be posted in a couple of days).
Since SH 44 is not part of the statutorily defined I-69 Corridor, I'm guessing it may eventually be designated as I-6, and that the I-69/I-69 E split will remain in Victoria.

[CanesFan27]

List of applications:
....
TX I-69E (Robstown, renumbering I-69)

(above quote from AASHTO May 5, 2013 Route Numbering Actions and Applications thread) ....
Approved by AASHTO

So does that mean a change is needed for the I-69/US 77 section in Chorpus?  Or does that mean 69 will cut over on TX 44 vs. a split in Victoria?

AASHTO has already approved the change to I-69E for the section near Corpus (FHWA already approved it as interstate grade for the initial I-69 signage) and the Texas Transportation Commission probably approved the change at its meeting earlier today (the transcript should be posted in a couple of days).
Since SH 44 is not part of the statutorily defined I-69 Corridor, I'm guessing it may eventually be designated as I-6, and that the I-69/I-69 E split will remain in Victoria.

Great thanks, I must have overlooked the change in Corpus.

[texaskdog]

I'm going down there next weekend, will look to see if the 69 has become 69e yet

[Alex]

AASHTO has already approved the change to I-69E for the section near Corpus (FHWA already approved it as interstate grade for the initial I-69 signage) and the Texas Transportation Commission probably approved the change at its meeting earlier today (the transcript should be posted in a couple of days).
Since SH 44 is not part of the statutorily defined I-69 Corridor, I'm guessing it may eventually be designated as I-6, and that the I-69/I-69 E split will remain in Victoria.

Jeff emailed us the commission notes, which includes the redesignation of I-69 in Corpus Christi as I-69E. The notes also involve I-2, I-69C and I-369:

[Grzrd]

The Texas Transportation Commission ("TTC") May 30, 2013 Agenda suggests that the TTC may slightly alter their past practice and grant approval to several interstate designations that will be contingent upon later FHWA approval

Jeff emailed us the commission notes, which includes the redesignation of I-69 in Corpus Christi as I-69E. The notes also involve I-2, I-69C and I-369:

Thanks for sharing, Alex!

If I read the commission notes correctly, FHWA has given all of the necessary approvals (no waiting for contingent approval!) and it is time to start installing some new shields:

As of May 24, 2013, AASHTO and the FHWA Administrator have issued the required approvals.