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Courtesy Raul Leal,

AUSTIN Regional leaders are set to meet Friday, October 8 as part of a long-term public involvement effort, providing guidance and local perspective to develop I-69.  I-69 Corridor Segment Committees Four and Five are two of five regional citizen advisory groups meeting throughout the I-69 Corridor to help the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) plan projects along the I-69 corridor to suit local and regional needs and improve mobility throughout the corridor. Committee Four has jurisdiction from Live Oak County to Cameron County and Committee Five has jurisdiction from Webb and Zapata Counties eastward to Nueces and San Patricio Counties.

Friday’s meeting will include a discussion of the state of transportation funding in Texas and nationwide, as well as a review of estimated I-69 project development costs. This information will help the committees make an informed assessment of the improvements theyve considered for I-69 as they determine which ones should remain under consideration as the planning process progresses.

In 2009, TxDOT issued a revised vision for corridor development and planning, calling for increased local participation in planning efforts. The new vision, Innovative Connectivity in Texas | Vision 2009, divides the major corridors, including the I-69 Corridor, into a series of smaller, more locally-focused corridor projects that will first focus on improving existing facilities. The I-69 Corridor Segment Committees, along with the I-69 Corridor Advisory Committee, lead that effort.

Members of I-69 Corridor Segment Committees represent metropolitan planning organizations, counties and other entities with an interest in transportation such as cities, chambers of commerce, economic development organizations and others. All Corridor Segment Committee meetings are open to the public, and a complete listing of corridor advisory committees, members and meetings is available online by visiting http://www.txdot.gov/public_involvement/committees/.