TxDOT has updated its
I-69 Segment Committees page by adding notes from November, 2011 meetings of the five committees.
My primary interest is Houston. First, regarding the redesignation of US 59 as I-69 through Houston,
Committee 3 is aiming for AASHTO approval by AASHTO's May 2012 meeting [page 2/30 of pdf]:
Roger Beall answered that the request to add U.S. 59 through Houston to the interstate system was tentatively scheduled to be sent to FHWA in January. If the request is approved, the Texas Transportation Commission will consider submission of an application to the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Special Committee on Route Numbering to use the I-69 route number. The next AASHTO meeting will occur in May 2012. The committee member then asked for a letter from TxDOT regarding the redesignation and requesting local support. He explained that he would forward this letter to communities along U.S. 59 with a sample resolution and a document describing the benefits of redesignation. TxDOT agreed to send the resolution request letter. The committee member also noted that in October of 2010, the HGAC Transportation Policy Council passed a resolution of support for I-69 and the Segment Committees. He suggested that the level of support by the communities along U.S. 59 needs to be ascertained.
Committee 3 also views it as a Recommended Priority that U.S. 59 through Houston should be dual designation as both I-69 and U.S. 59 [page 4/30 of pdf].
Regarding Houston relief options, Committee 3 decided to expand the area of study to the following [page 4/30 of pdf]:
• Extend the U.S. 59 relief options box (as depicted on the map) further south on U.S. 59 to south of Brazoria
• Extend the U.S. 59 relief options box (as depicted on the map) further north (in Segment Two) up to Cleveland
• Include the Port of Freeport in the U.S. 59 relief options box
Also, Committee 3 discussed that an Early Implementation Opportunity would be to study relief
options and not just potential relief
routes [page 4/30 of pdf]:
• Perform a study U.S. 59 relief options for Houston. It was noted that the U.S. 59 relief options for Houston might not be just a relief route and could include improvements such as widenings and interchanges.
Committee 2 also views the study of relief
options for Houston as a Recommended Priority [page 4/32 of pdf].
It will be interesting to watch the relief options unfold over the years ...