SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 144

WHEREAS, Multimodal transportation infrastructure is crucial to the vitality of the Texas economy, facilitating the movement of goods and people, and the Transportation Excellence for the 21st Century organization, or TEX-21, is working with the Texas Department of Transportation to address transportation issues along the US 287 corridor; and

WHEREAS, The population of Texas has surpassed 30 million and continues to grow rapidly, placing increasing stress on our aging transportation systems; that pressure is especially evident in regard to the 754-mile-long course of US 287 in Texas, which includes 261 cities, 43 counties, 9 TxDOT districts, and 4 areas overseen by metropolitan planning organizations; the corridor serves approximately 36 percent of the state's population across a vast area; beginning in the Beaumont-Port Arthur-Sabine Pass, Jefferson County area, it passes near the Greater Houston area, through rural East Texas and the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area, and continues along the Red River through Childress County and rural North Texas, into Amarillo and the Panhandle; it extends north through the central United States and the Rocky Mountains into Canada; and

WHEREAS, US 287 is a vital transportation route that supports economic development by connecting key regions of the state; it facilitates the movement of goods and people from the vital seaports of Jefferson County, including Beaumont, Port Arthur, and Sabine Pass, to other parts of the state; unfortunately, much of the US 287 infrastructure is outdated and inadequate, limiting economic growth and compromising safety and efficiency along this major freight and passenger corridor; and

WHEREAS, TEX-21 is a statewide coalition of cities, counties, transit agencies, universities, and private businesses focused on improving transportation; its members joined in forming the US 287 Corridor Coalition to advocate for significant and consistent improvements, including the conversion of US 287 to interstate highway standards and status; in response to TEX-21's advocacy, the transportation planning and programming division of TxDOT is conducting the US 287 Corridor Interstate Feasibility Study; and

WHEREAS, All those associated with this valuable initiative are demonstrating a laudable commitment to advancing the safety, mobility, connectivity, and resilience of the state's transportation system, and their dedicated work is indeed deserving of recognition; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 89th Legislature, hereby commend the Transportation Excellence for the 21st Century organization, its US 287 Corridor Coalition, and the Texas Department of Transportation for their efforts to improve transportation infrastructure in the Lone Star State; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be prepared for TEX-21 and TxDOT as an expression of high regard from the Texas Senate.

Parker

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President of the Senate

I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on February 27, 2025.

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Secretary of the Senate

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Member, Texas Senate