2017-003 - Support of and Urging Immediate Action for Development and Implementation of Construction Improvements by the Texas Department of Transportation on US Highway 271 between Tyler and Paris...

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RESOLUTION NO. 2017 -003 A RESOLULTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS IN SUPPORT OF IMMEDIATE ACTION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF CONSTRUCTION IMPROVEMENTS BY THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ON US HIGHWAY 271 BETWEEN TYLER AND PARIS, TEXAS AND POINTS NORTH; MAKING OTHER FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, the US Highway 271 Corridor serves as a vitally important transportation corridor in East Texas impacting the daily lives of approximately 495,000 people living and working in the seven counties of Smith, Gregg, Upshur, Camp, Titus, Lamar and Red River (See Attachment A); and, WHEREAS, the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDoT) has plans to construct approximately $310 million in improvements to US Highway 271 within the next 10 years (See Attachment B); and WHEREAS, there is widespread support and unity among representatives of local governments, economic development organizations, regional councils of governments, and private sector interests for a more accelerated and more aggressive commitment from TxDoT to undertake the construction improvements to US Highway 271 between Tyler and Paris as a means to facilitate greater vehicle safety, enhance overall connectivity of the road system in the region, and hasten more regional economic development along the corridor; and WHEREAS, Attachment C illustrates the significant traffic volume on the US Highway 271 corridor thereby raising safety concerns along the corridor mandating urgent actions to construct roadway safety improvements (See Attachment C); and WHEREAS, US Highway 271 serves as an invaluable connection between Interstate 20 and Interstate 30 thereby providing direct and indirect connectivity throughout the East Texas region as well as to other areas of Texas and surrounding states; and WHEREAS, overall regional economic success and an improved quality of life will be substantially improved through improvements to the connectivity of the US Highway 271 corridor; and WHEREAS, in 2012 there were approximately 42,486 businesses and industries representing such sectors as manufacturing, industrial production, transportation, agriculture, timber, and service related businesses employing over 210,000 citizens above the age of sixteen (16) in the seven counties (Smith, Gregg, Upshur, Camp, Titus, Lamar and Red River) that were able to access the US 271 corridor(See Attachment D); and WHEREAS, the future viability of the regional economy along the US 271 corridor depends greatly on TxDOT implementing the planned improvements to US 271 at an earlier time. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Paris, Texas hereby urges TxDOT to undertake improvements to US Highway 271 on a more accelerated