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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Multimodal transportation infrastructure is crucial |
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to the vitality of the Texas economy, facilitating the movement of |
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goods and people, and the Transportation Excellence for the 21st |
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Century organization, or TEX-21, is working with the Texas |
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Department of Transportation to address transportation issues |
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along the US 287 corridor; and |
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WHEREAS, The population of Texas has surpassed 30 million and |
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continues to grow rapidly, placing increasing stress on our aging |
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transportation systems; that pressure is especially evident in |
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regard to the 754-mile-long course of US 287 in Texas, which |
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includes 261 cities, 43 counties, 9 TxDOT districts, and 4 areas |
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overseen by metropolitan planning organizations; the corridor |
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serves approximately 36 percent of the state's population across a |
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vast area; beginning in the Beaumont-Port Arthur-Sabine Pass, |
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Jefferson County area, it passes near the Greater Houston area, |
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through rural East Texas and the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan |
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area, and continues along the Red River through Childress County |
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and rural North Texas, into Amarillo and the Panhandle; it extends |
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north through the central United States and the Rocky Mountains |
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into Canada; and |
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WHEREAS, US 287 is a vital transportation route that supports |
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economic development by connecting key regions of the state; it |
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facilitates the movement of goods and people from the vital |
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seaports of Jefferson County, including Beaumont, Port Arthur, and |
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Sabine Pass, to other parts of the state; unfortunately, much of the |
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US 287 infrastructure is outdated and inadequate, limiting economic |
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growth and compromising safety and efficiency along this major |
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freight and passenger corridor; and |
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WHEREAS, TEX-21 is a statewide coalition of cities, counties, |
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transit agencies, universities, and private businesses focused on |
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improving transportation; its members joined in forming the US 287 |
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Corridor Coalition to advocate for significant and consistent |
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improvements, including the conversion of US 287 to interstate |
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highway standards and status; in response to TEX-21's advocacy, the |
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transportation planning and programming division of TxDOT is |
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conducting the US 287 Corridor Interstate Feasibility Study; and |
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WHEREAS, All those associated with this valuable initiative |
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are demonstrating a laudable commitment to advancing the safety, |
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mobility, connectivity, and resilience of the state's |
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transportation system, and their dedicated work is indeed deserving |
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of recognition; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 89th Texas Legislature |
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hereby commend the Transportation Excellence for the 21st Century |
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organization, its US 287 Corridor Coalition, and the Texas |
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Department of Transportation for their efforts to improve |
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transportation infrastructure in the Lone Star State; and, be it |
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further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for TEX-21 and TxDOT as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas Senate. |