11 - SUPPORT OF DEVELOPMENT BY TXDOT ON US HIGHWAY 271Item No. 11
memorandum
TO: Mayor & City Council
John Godwin, City Manager
FROM: Michael Paris, PEDC Executive Director
SUBJECT: SUPPORT OF DEVELOPMENT BY TXDOT ON US HIGHWAY 271
DATE: January 18, 2017
BACKGROUND: The Texas Department of Transportation has plans to construct approximately
$310 million in improvement to US Highway 271 between Paris and Tyler within the next ten
years.
STATUS OF ISSUE: Future viability of the regional economy along US Highway 271 depends
a great deal on TxDOT implementing the planned improvements to US Highway 271 at an
earlier time.
BUDGET: N/A
RECOMMENDATION: Approve the Resolution in Support of Highway 271 Development and
Construction Improvements by TxDOT.
January 17, 2017
Mayor A.J. Hashmi and Paris City Councilors
Paris City Council
135 SE 1st St.
Paris, TX 75460
Dear Paris City Council:
As you aware, US 271 serves as a vital transportation corridor throughout East Texas. It impacts the
lives of approximately 495,000 citizens, daily, who live and work in the corridor of the seven counties of
Smith, Gregg, Upshur, Camp, Titus, Lamar and Red River. The highway also provides valuable north -
south connectivity for travelers between 1 -20 and 1 -30, and possibly 1 -40 in Oklahoma in the near future,
representing an important economic asset for more than 42,000 businesses located in these counties.
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has plans to construct $310M in improvements by
2025 on US 271. These proposed improvements are well overdue and highly anticipated. However, it is
greatly encouraged that TxDOT significantly accelerate funding and construction of these improvements
so that the corridor can be a safe and effective transportation link sooner versus later.
Enclosed with this letter are supporting materials including a sample resolution with attachments for
your usage in advocating the earlier committal of these improvements to 271. It is the desire of a
coalition of business persons to public officials to have Paris City Council adopt the enclosed resolution
as a symbol of support for TxDOT to more urgently commit to funding 271 at an earlier timeframe.
Thank you,
Chris Miller,
Executive Director NET RMA
/
� V
Mr. John Cloutier,
Chair NET RMA Long Range Planning Committee
CC: Ms. Linda Thomas, NET RMA Chair, Jeff Austin III, Austin State Bank
RESOLUTION NO.
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
schedule in order to greatly improve the safety of the corridor, enhance connectivity and facilitate
regional economic development opportunities.
PASSED AND APPROVED THIS 23RD DAY OF JANUARY, 2017.
A.J. Hashmi, M.D., Mayor
ATTEST
Janice Ellis, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM
Stephanie H. Harris, City Attorney
Attachment A
US Highway 271
Total 2015 Estimated Population by County
County:
Smith:
Gregg:
Upshur:
Camp:
Titus:
Lamar.
Red River:
Total:
Source: census.gov., 2015 Population Estimates by County.
Population
223,000
124,108
40,603
11,682
32,623
49,440
12,455
494,911
Attachment B
US 271 CORRIDOR
��* ...._. Roadway SaletyJMainMnsnce N
:= Roadway Imprwanem A Tyler t '
' F •
Page 1 of 2
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US 271 CORRIDOR
��* ...._. Roadway SaletyJMainMnsnce N
:= Roadway Imprwanem A Tyler t '
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Page 1 of 2
Existing 2-Larie
-$43,000,0
�%&n for 2-Lam! irl Ctr lum
Planning (Aug 2025)
$22,000,000
-
sta rrviff-e-'
-11 rty
US 271 CORRIDOR
ow eAtovvn Tyler District
N Roadway s"etyAw"
mm N
Roadway Improvement
A
Page 2 of 2
i
ii West
Mountain
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1 Union
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Big
— M-1 Grove
- V901�1 1
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- Planning (Aug 202b)
Hawkins
- $8,000,000
13
M
Worri�
Wilkins
J
Gladewater.
Clarksville
City
Existing 2-Larie
-$43,000,0
�%&n for 2-Lam! irl Ctr lum
Planning (Aug 2025)
$22,000,000
-
sta rrviff-e-'
-11 rty
US 271 CORRIDOR
ow eAtovvn Tyler District
N Roadway s"etyAw"
mm N
Roadway Improvement
A
Page 2 of 2
Attachment C
US Highway 271 Traffic Counts
Location
Annual Average Daily Traffic
North of Gladewater, TX
7,731
Pittsburg, TX
12,604
Around Pittsburg, TX
8,504
Paris, TX
10,120
Around Paris, TX
5,797
South of Gladewater, TX
6000
Attachment D
US 271 Key Economic Data
2012 Total Businesses and Industries Per County
County:
Smith:
Gregg:
Upshur:
Camp:
Titus:
Lamar.,
Red River:
Total•
*Source: census.gov., 2012 Survey of Business Owners.
Total Businesses and Industries
19,447
11,663
3,117
1,084
2,439
3,717
1,019
42,486
2012 Total Civilian Employed Population, 16 years and over per County
County:
Smith:
Gregg:
Upshur.
Camp:
Titus.
Lamar:
Red River:
Total:
*Source: census.gov., 2012 Survey of Business Owners.
Total Businesses and Industries
95,623
54,953
16,602
4,737
13,740
21,373
4,604
211,532