GET THE FAQS

Why have I-69 and the Trans-Texas Corridor been combined?

I-69 and the Trans-Texas Corridor are being studied together because they share the same study area. A combined study will coordinate state and national transportation plans, make the best use of resources and avoid duplication of efforts.

What is a section of independent utility (SIU)?

Sections of independent utility (SIU) are corridor sections that have logical beginning and end points and represent transportation projects that can be built and function without additional facilities being built at either end. The I-69/TTC project currently has 14 SIUs. The number of SIUs may change as the environmental and engineering studies progress to more advanced stages.

When will I know where I-69/TTC will be located?

The Tier 1 environmental impact statement study (EIS) is on-going. The Tier 1 environmental impact statement will evaluate corridor alternatives plus a "no-action" alternative. If the Tier 1 environmental impact statement results in a corridor being selected, the project will proceed to Tier 2, which will consist of a series of detailed environmental and engineering studies to analyze specific alignments, determine impacts and benefits for each alignment, and determine what, if any, mitigation measures are required.

When and where will public hearings be held?

The first series of public meetings on I-69/TTC were held in April 2004. Another series of public information meetings was conducted June - August, 2005. The 2004 meetings were held at 11 locations. The 2005 meetings were held at 37 locations. The Tier One Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) was released in November 2007 via this website. Forty-seven (47)public hearings on the Tier One DEIS were conducted across the I-69/TTC Corridor from Feb. 4 - Mar. 4, 2008. 

How will the project be funded?

At this time, funding of right of way purchase and construction has not been determined. It is anticipated that federal funds, state funds, private funds, bonds, and tolls or a combination of these resources may be used to fund the project. Funding will be determined during the Tier 2 environmental processes.

Will I-69/TTC follow both U.S. 281 and U.S. 77 in South Texas?

The I-69/TTC facility could be located along U.S. 281 and/or U.S. 77. Alternatively, another TTC project, TTC-35, may follow U.S. 281 and/or U.S. 77, with the I-69/TTC corridor terminating elsewhere. The alignment selected as a result of the I-69/TTC Tier 2 environmental and engineering studies will be known when the process is complete. This is anticipated to be up to five years from now.

Why are I-69 signs posted along U.S. 77, U.S. 281 and U.S. 59 if the route has not already been selected?

The “Future I-69” signs were required by federal legislation (Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century also known as TEA-21, Public Law 105-178, 112 STAT. 191) but are informational only. Location decisions can only be made through the National Environmental Policy Act process.

In the Houston area, will a first phase (Tier 1) alternative include the Grand Parkway or Beltway 8? Could the highway portion of the I-69/TTC project be located on the Grand Parkway or Beltway 8?

Yes, the I-69/TTC highway portion could be located on the Grand Parkway or Beltway 8; however, the rail, truck and/or utilities may or may not be located within the same corridor as the highway element. We will not know if the corridor selected as a result of the I-69/TTC environmental and engineering studies will include the Grand Parkway or Beltway 8 until the end of the Tier 1 environmental documentation process.

In northeast Texas, what is the U.S. 59 Master Plan Study?

In 1998, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) initiated a study to find a route to relieve U.S. 59 traffic congestion in Angelina and Nacogdoches counties. The result of that study was the U.S. 59 Master Plan.

In northeast Texas, will a first phase (Tier 1) study corridor include the alignment selected in the U.S. 59 Master Plan, could the I-69/TTC highway portion be located on the alignment selected as a result of the U.S. 59 Master Plan study?

Yes, the I-69/TTC Tier 1 study area includes the entire alignment selected in the U.S. 59 Master Plan; however, we will not know if the proposed alignment selected as a result of the I-69/TTC environmental and engineering studies will be the same alignment that was selected as a result of the U.S. 59 Master Plan until the latter stages of the Tier 2 study.