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<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> ZHE BOpy~F~OG <br /> Lisa Thomas, Chief Deputy Bowie County Courthouse <br /> 903-628-6718 0 P.O. Box 248 <br /> 903-798-3040 710 James Bowie Drive <br /> 903-628-6719 Fax New Boston, TX 75570 <br /> •#1t <br /> JUDGE <br /> JAMES M. CARLOW <br /> COUNTYJUDGE <br /> BOWIE COUNTY <br /> <br /> October 13. 2010 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> RE: Strategic Meeting on Improving Transportation within the 1-30 Corridor <br /> <br /> Dear Friends and Colleagues: <br /> <br /> As state and federal resources struggle to keep pace with the growing strain placed on our vast <br /> multi-modal transportation infrastructure, it will become increasingly important that key <br /> stakeholders - including elected officials, appointed leaders, planners, academia, and the <br /> business community - become and remain actively involved in identifying the areas of greatest <br /> need while leveraging scarce public and private funds to achieve the greatest possible impact. <br /> The broadly defined I-30 Corridor represents not only a geographic area, but one of the nation"s <br /> key strategic corridors linking together vital communities, providing valuable and efficient <br /> <br /> transportation of goods and people, and generating a great deal of commerce and economic <br /> activity in Texas and Arkansas. This Corridor also represents great promise of untapped <br /> potential. <br /> <br /> <br /> While the economy is currently strained, it is not slowing the growth of our region. The <br /> <br /> population of Texas is currently at nearly 25 million and is expected to explode to 51.7 million <br /> people in the next 30 years, with Arkansas" population increasing by nearly 30% over the next <br /> 15 years. Our Corridor is uniquely positioned to benefit from this massive growth and the <br /> resulting increased movement of goods and services to and through North Texas and Arkansas <br /> along 1-30. We have an opportunity and obligation to come together to discuss, plan, organize, <br /> and take decisive action to ensure that everyone along the Corridor can see greater success for <br /> our communities. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Additionally, high-speed intercity passenger rail routes are being advocated and selected. Will <br /> I-30 be the route chosen or will we be bypassed? In the coming 82°a Session of the Texas <br /> Legislature, Austin will take up transportation funding strategies, the authority of the state to <br /> <br /> build toll roads through Comprehensive Development Agreements, and TxDOT will be under <br /> <br /> <br /> 0044 <br />