Ira D. Perry
713-844-3640 phone
713-858-8772 mobile

HOUSTON,  A group of eight board members of the Alliance for I-69 Texas recently traveled  to Washington, D.C., to meet with Eugene Cleckley, Federal Highway Administration Southern Region Director.  The delegation was led by Victoria County Judge Helen Walker, president of the Alliance for I-69 Texas, Lufkin Mayor Louis Bronaugh, Alliance chairman, and Polk County Judge John Thompson, Alliance secretary/treasurer.

"This trip allowed us to discuss our state efforts this year with the Federal Highway Administration," said Judge Walker.  "We are pleased that the administration has awarded $45 million for I-69 across the nation and $13 million to Texas from the national Corridors and Borders program.  We will continue to work cooperatively with the Texas Department of Transportation, who recently authorized $19.2 million for environmental studies along the corridor, and elected officials along the corridor to develop a financing plan that strategically identifies projects for the timely implementation of I-69."

Over the past few years, the Alliance has successfully lobbied Congress and the Administration for a dedicated funding category and an increase in donor state funding in the federal transportation reauthorization bill (TEA-21).

In addition, the Alliance is furthering the development of I-69 by:

• providing technical support for feasibility studies underway to address issues such as state crossings, river crossings, environmental studies, and routing in and around major cites along the corridor
• mobilizing elected officials in Texas and Washington in support of lobbying efforts
• focusing on state level initiatives to develop a financing plan that will identify funding and help accelerate projects along the I-69 corridor

The Alliance for I-69 Texas is a membership-based organization created in 1994 to promote the development of I-69 in Texas.  Membership includes government and business interests from 34 counties in East and South Texas, with administrative support provided by the Greater Houston Partnership.

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1200 Smith, Suite 700  ·  Houston, Texas 77002-4400
713.844.3656  ·  Fax: 713.844.0256
i69@houston.org

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