Description: Resolution urging the Texas Transportation Commission to rescind enforcement of Minute Order 108544 and calling for further study of its implications before any additional action is taken.
WHEREAS,The Texas Transportation Commission (TTC) adopted Minute Order 108544 on June 28, 2001, without previous public hearings or other public input, thereby establishing that construction of frontage roads on controlled access highways will be minimized and abandoning a policy that has contributed to the safety and performance of the Texas highway system for more than 50 years; and
WHEREAS, frontage roads in many areas through the state provide significant benefit in support of mobility and safety; and
WHEREAS, optimization of frontage road design can significantly mitigate congestion resulting from too frequently placed entrance and exit ramps to and from main traffic lanes while maintaining local access to controlled access highways and greatly facilitating local as well as main lane circulation;
WHEREAS, TxDOT has supported the proposed rules for enactment of the Minute Order with statements that the new policy would have “no significant impact on local economies”, even though no studies to establish this statement as fact have been presented for review; and
WHEREAS, governmental tax structure in Texas depends heavily on sales and ad valorem taxes which may be significantly negatively impacted by the elimination of the current frontage road policy of the state of Texas; and
WHEREAS, the citizens of Texas have just recently acted and in good faith to overwhelmingly approve the Texas Mobility Fund and Toll Equity, thereby providing new tools and financial resources for creative financing under the expectation that they would be used to provide mobility solutions to current needs such as frontage roads that address the needs of the vast majority of commuters, travelers, and shippers, and not just those traveling long distance;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE TRANSPORTATION EXCELLENCE FOR THE 21ST CENTURY COALITION:
THAT the TTC is hereby requested to permit frontage roads to be built on all projects where such was committed to by TxDOT during the planning process; and the TTC issue a suspension of the order for all projects already in the planning stages in order for those projects to proceed unaffected during the hearing, study and negotiating process;
THAT the TTC authorize and commission a thorough and complete study by TTI, CTR, or similar organization to fully evaluate the potential impact on safety, mobility, and economic development of Minute Order 108544 prior to continuing the enforcement of that Minute Order;
THAT the TTC exercise leadership in promoting design concepts that will help to mitigate congestion resulting from too frequently placed entrance and exit ramps to and from main traffic lanes while maintaining local access to controlled access highways and greatly facilitating local as well as main lane circulation;
THAT appropriate and representative numbers from rural and urban cities and counties, the governor’s office, the legislature, school boards, real estate developers and property owners and other entities of government who rely on ad valorem and sales tax revenues for the performance of their public duties be actively encouraged to participate as members of said study;
THAT the TTC widely disseminate the findings of this study to all counties, cities throughout the state as well as the Governor’s Office, the Texas Legislature, Councils of Government and all other interested and affected parties;
THAT this resolution shall be circulated to interested parties including the Texas Congressional Delegation, the Governor of Texas, members of the Texas Legislature, TTC, TxDOT, Cities, Counties, Chambers of Commerce, the media and others, and is so accordingly ordered.
CONSIDERED AND APPROVED BY THE TRANSPORTATION EXCELLENCE FOR THE 21ST CENTURY COALITION at a regularly called TEX-21 meeting in Corpus Christi, Texas, this the 8th day of February, A.D., 2002.
ATTESTED BY:
Kathy Seei
Co-Chair
Committee on Design and Construction
Linda Harper BrownJack Miller
Chairman, TEX-21Vice Chairman, TEX-21
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