ASK THE MAYOR
City keeping close eye on TTC/I-69 plans
MAYOR PHILLIP SPENRATH

Where will the I-69/Trans-Texas Corridor be located and how will it affect Wharton County? The Texas Department of Transportation has recently completed a Tier 1 study to determine Texas' transportation needs for the next 50 years.

TxDOT research indicates that our portion of Texas will experience a 64 percent population expansion by 2030.

Consequently, TxDOT has started to enlist the help of area "working groups" and local officials to try and determine the best location and implementation for a major highway overhaul.

During recent TxDOT meetings, we learned that TxDOT is looking at two possible Wharton County locations for the I-69/TTC corridor. TxDOT's primary plan has placed the highway north of El Campo. However, their alternative plan has I-69 fitting on or near the existing U.S. 59 footprint. In all of our meetings, your city representatives have taken the stance that El Campo's best interests would be served if TxDOT uses its existing assets located on our existing U.S. 59.

In voicing our concerns, TxDOT officials have assured us that the I-69/TTC can and more than likely will be placed on the existing U.S. 59 footprint. As we noted, because TxDOT already owns much of the necessary land and infrastructure on U.S. 59, they could avoid much debate and minimize their expenses by not trying to construct a second highway in a totally new part of Wharton County.

TxDOT officials have stated that it is imperative that our local "working group" representatives and citizenry express their concerns at the upcoming town hall meetings.

To encourage public dialogue, TxDOT will hold town hall meetings in January and February. The first town hall meetings are a direct result of public comment that citizens want more opportunity to ask questions and get answers about transportation issues, including the Trans-Texas Corridor.

During the town hall meetings, the public will have an opportunity to ask questions about I-69, the Trans-Texas Corridor, tolling, comprehensive development agreements and other related transportation issues.

Questions will be answered by a panel of TxDOT staff, including top administrators. Pursuant to the released schedule, the nearest town hall meeting will be held on Thursday, January 24, at Rosenberg Civic Center.

Starting Feb. 4, TxDOT will begin holding a series of public hearings, which will specifically focus on the I- 69/TTC Draft Environmental Impact Statement. The format for these formal hearings is designed to gather public comments solely on the document.

Our local hearing will be Thursday, Feb. 21, at the El Campo Civic Center. The hearing will begin with an open house at 5 p.m. followed by the official hearing at 6:30 p.m.

What is the difference between a town hall meeting and a public hearing?

There will be 10 Texas town hall meetings and citizens can ask TxDOT staff and district engineers a wide variety of questions related to the I- 69/TTC projects.

Concerning public hearings, there will be 45 area hearings, mandated by federal law, and citizens will only be allowed to ask questions specifically related to the environmental impact statement.

As we learn more about the working groups, I will continue to forward you information concerning I-69/TTC. Rest assured that your city representatives have been actively following this entire process and will do all we can to keep the interstate on or near our existing U.S. 59 footprint.

I would like to mention that efforts to steer the rail out of our downtown business district are a totally separate project, not tied into, nor dependent upon, the current I-69/TTC planning process.

As your mayor, my primary objective continues to be preparing El Campo for the future while maintaining our community's friendly smalltown atmosphere.

- Comments may be addressed to askthemayor@sbcglobal.net.