Mobility authority will ask TxDOT to pursue 'Hourglass'

LONGVIEW -The North East Texas Regional Mobility Authority (NET RMA) will convene tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. in the Briefing Center at the Longview Partnership at 410 N. Center, Longview.

The group is still in the process of developing policies on a number of issues, and will continue this work. Specific developing policies include those on tolling, records retention and disadvantaged business enterprise.

Members of the NET RMA are also expected to discuss and update on traffic and revenue studies with representatives of Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT).

The agenda includes:

 Reports from the Long Range Planning Committee;

 Work on establishing committee objectives and a strategic plan;

 Regional project update on the East Texas Hourglass, a project which would tie Tyler's new outer loop to a future Longview loop;

 Consider and discuss any and all action necessary to request TxDOT to begin next step in order to further studies on the East Texas Hourglass, I20 - possible tolled truck lanes and other expansions;

 Discussion on East Texas Railways and ROW in East Texas;

 Consideration of approval of letter to TxDOT requesting assistance on securing abandoned rail in Smith County;

 Updates on Gregg County projects;

 Update on Hwy 42 (Hwy. 31 to Hwy. 80);

 Update on Hwy 42/George Richey Road (Hwy 80 N to George Richey Road and George Richey Road East to Hwy. 259 & George Richey Road West to Hwy. 271;

 Consider and discuss any and all action necessary to apply for a Pass-Through Financing application for the Hwy. 42/George Richey Road Expansion project and the project financial plan;

 Cherokee County Project updates;

 Rusk County Project Updates;

 Harrison County Project Updates;

 Upshur County Project Updates;

 Discussion and update on future Toll Equity Grant(s);

 Report for TxDOT Tyler District and Atlanta District (TXDOT);

 Committee reports;

 Consider and discuss all action necessary on inter-local agreements with TxDOT, Longview and Tyler planning organizations;

 Consider and discuss any and all action necessary on procurement of auditing services; and,

 Consider and discuss preliminary 2007 budget to include budget requests from existing and new counties.