North East Texas Regional Mobility Authority
Encyclopedia
The North East Texas Regional Mobility Authority (NET RMA) is a Regional Mobility Authority
covering several counties in the U.S.
state
of Texas
. The NET RMA was created by the Texas Transportation Commission in 2004, originally containing the counties of Smith
and Gregg
. It was the 5th RMA
established in the State of Texas, and is headquartered in Tyler
.
and Gregg
. In June 2006, the NET RMA became the first RMA in Texas to expand beyond its original county members, adding Cherokee
, Harrison
, Rusk
, and Upshur
counties, to bring the total number of member counties to six. In July 2007, the RMA expanded once again, when the board passed a resolution accepting six additional counties. The addition of Bowie
, Cass
, Panola
, Titus
, Van Zandt
, and Wood
counties brought the total membership to 12 counties.
with at least one board member representing each member county. The Board is chaired by Jeff Austin, III, who was appointed by Texas Governor Rick Perry
in February 2005, as the organization's first Chairman. He was reappointed to a term that will expire February 28, 2010. The board members are appointed by each county's Commissioners' Court. Other Board members include Vice Chairman Linda Ryan Thomas (Gregg County), Treasurer Tab Beall (Smith County), Secretary Dave Spurrier (Gregg County), David Stevenson (Upshur County), John Cloutier (Rusk County), Keith Honey (Gregg County), Gary Halbrooks (Smith County), Jamal Moharer (Smith County), Bill Rowton (Van Zandt County), Robert Murray (Bowie County), Robert Torrans (Bowie County), Barry Hughes (Cherokee County), Celia Boswell (Wood County), Walta Cooke (Panola County), Hudson Old (Titus County), Edward Smith (Harrison County), Rodney Gilstrap (Harrison County), and William Runnels (Cass County). Board members serve staggered two year terms that expire on February 1 of each year. Board members can be reappointed.
, Longview
, and Marshall
. The East Texas Hourglass will be built in several phases, including:
The first segment of Loop 49, which stretches from US 69 to SH 155, opened in August 2006. The second segment of Loop 49, from US 69 to FM 756 (Paluxy Road) opened in January 2008. Loop 49 features a state-of-the-art all electronic toll collection system that is based on transponder and video tolling. Many cars using Loop 49 have a TxTag
, a small, electronic sticker that attaches to a car’s windshield behind the rear-view mirror. When the car drives on toll roads and passes through toll collection points, an electronic transponder located in an overhead toll gantry reads the sticker and automatically deducts the toll from a prepaid TxTag account. If a car does not have a TxTag, then a video camera captures an image of the license plate, and a statement for tolling fees is mailed monthly to the registered owner of the car.
Other roadway projects being planned and/or supported by the NET RMA include:
All roads built by the NET RMA will likely be constructed as toll roads, as funding from the State for construction of new roads becomes increasingly scarce.
Regional Mobility Authority
A Regional Mobility Authority is an independent local government transportation agency in the U.S. state of Texas.-Authorization and Powers:Under Chapter 370 of the Texas Statutes, a Regional Mobility Authority can be formed by one or more counties. The Texas Legislature first authorized the...
covering several counties in the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. The NET RMA was created by the Texas Transportation Commission in 2004, originally containing the counties of Smith
Smith County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 174,706 people, 65,692 households, and 46,904 families residing in the county. The population density was 188 people per square mile . There were 71,701 housing units at an average density of 77 per square mile...
and Gregg
Gregg County, Texas
There were 42,687 households out of which 33.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.00% were married couples living together, 13.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.50% were non-families. 26.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.50% had...
. It was the 5th RMA
Regional Mobility Authority
A Regional Mobility Authority is an independent local government transportation agency in the U.S. state of Texas.-Authorization and Powers:Under Chapter 370 of the Texas Statutes, a Regional Mobility Authority can be formed by one or more counties. The Texas Legislature first authorized the...
established in the State of Texas, and is headquartered in Tyler
Tyler, Texas
Tyler is a city in and the county seat of Smith County, Texas, in the United States. It takes its name from President John Tyler . The city had a population of 109,000 in 2010, according to the United States Census Bureau...
.
History
The NET RMA was established October 28, 2004, by a unanimous vote from the Texas Transportation Commission, containing two founding counties of SmithSmith County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 174,706 people, 65,692 households, and 46,904 families residing in the county. The population density was 188 people per square mile . There were 71,701 housing units at an average density of 77 per square mile...
and Gregg
Gregg County, Texas
There were 42,687 households out of which 33.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.00% were married couples living together, 13.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.50% were non-families. 26.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.50% had...
. In June 2006, the NET RMA became the first RMA in Texas to expand beyond its original county members, adding Cherokee
Cherokee County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 46,659 people, 16,651 households, and 12,105 families residing in the county. The population density was 44 people per square mile . There were 19,173 housing units at an average density of 18 per square mile...
, Harrison
Harrison County, Texas
Harrison County is a county of the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, its population was 62,110. It is named for Jonas Harrison, a lawyer and Texas revolutionary. It is located in the Ark-La-Tex region...
, Rusk
Rusk County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 47,372 people, 17,364 households, and 12,727 families residing in the county. The population density was 51 people per square mile . There were 19,867 housing units at an average density of 22 per square mile...
, and Upshur
Upshur County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 35,291 people, 13,290 households, and 10,033 families residing in the county. The population density was 60 people per square mile . There were 14,930 housing units at an average density of 25 per square mile...
counties, to bring the total number of member counties to six. In July 2007, the RMA expanded once again, when the board passed a resolution accepting six additional counties. The addition of Bowie
Bowie County, Texas
Bowie County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. It is part of the Texarkana, Texas - Texarkana, Arkansas, Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2000, the population was 89,306. Its legal county seat is Boston, though its courthouse is located in New Boston...
, Cass
Cass County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 30,438 people, 12,190 households, and 8,654 families residing in the county. The population density was 32 people per square mile . There were 13,890 housing units at an average density of 15 per square mile...
, Panola
Panola County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 22,756 people, 8,821 households, and 6,395 families residing in the county. The population density was 28 people per square mile . There were 10,524 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile...
, Titus
Titus County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 28,118 people, 9,552 households, and 7,154 families residing in the county. The population density was 68 people per square mile . There were 10,675 housing units at an average density of 26 per square mile...
, Van Zandt
Van Zandt County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 48,140 people, 18,195 households, and 13,664 families residing in the county. The population density was 57 people per square mile . There were 20,896 housing units at an average density of 25 per square mile...
, and Wood
Wood County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 36,752 people, 14,583 households, and 10,645 families residing in the county. The population density was 56 people per square mile . There were 17,939 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile...
counties brought the total membership to 12 counties.
Board of directors
The NET RMA is led by a 19-member Board of DirectorsBoard of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
with at least one board member representing each member county. The Board is chaired by Jeff Austin, III, who was appointed by Texas Governor Rick Perry
Rick Perry
James Richard "Rick" Perry is the 47th and current Governor of Texas. A Republican, Perry was elected Lieutenant Governor of Texas in 1998 and assumed the governorship in December 2000 when then-governor George W. Bush resigned to become President of the United States. Perry was elected to full...
in February 2005, as the organization's first Chairman. He was reappointed to a term that will expire February 28, 2010. The board members are appointed by each county's Commissioners' Court. Other Board members include Vice Chairman Linda Ryan Thomas (Gregg County), Treasurer Tab Beall (Smith County), Secretary Dave Spurrier (Gregg County), David Stevenson (Upshur County), John Cloutier (Rusk County), Keith Honey (Gregg County), Gary Halbrooks (Smith County), Jamal Moharer (Smith County), Bill Rowton (Van Zandt County), Robert Murray (Bowie County), Robert Torrans (Bowie County), Barry Hughes (Cherokee County), Celia Boswell (Wood County), Walta Cooke (Panola County), Hudson Old (Titus County), Edward Smith (Harrison County), Rodney Gilstrap (Harrison County), and William Runnels (Cass County). Board members serve staggered two year terms that expire on February 1 of each year. Board members can be reappointed.
Projects
The NET RMA undertakes various projects to meet its goal of enhancing mobility and creating economic opportunity in the northeast Texas Region. Projects the NET RMA may undertake include tolled or non-tolled roadway, passenger or freight rail, airport, intermodal hub, parking garages, pedestrian or bicycle facilities, border crossing station (except in Laredo, TX), automated conveyor belt for movement of freight, air quality improvement initiative, public utility facility, and projects listed in the State Implementation Plan.Roadways
The first major project of the NET RMA is the East Texas Hourglass, which is a series of toll roads connecting the designed to improve connections and relieve congestion in the cities of TylerTyler, Texas
Tyler is a city in and the county seat of Smith County, Texas, in the United States. It takes its name from President John Tyler . The city had a population of 109,000 in 2010, according to the United States Census Bureau...
, Longview
Longview, Texas
Longview is a city in Gregg and Harrison Counties in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 80,455. Most of the city is located in Gregg County, of which it is the county seat; only a small part extends into the western part of neighboring Harrison County. It is...
, and Marshall
Marshall, Texas
Marshall is a city in Harrison County in the northeastern corner of Texas. Marshall is a major cultural and educational center in East Texas and the tri-state area. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Marshall was about 23,523...
. The East Texas Hourglass will be built in several phases, including:
- Loop 49 in TylerTyler, TexasTyler is a city in and the county seat of Smith County, Texas, in the United States. It takes its name from President John Tyler . The city had a population of 109,000 in 2010, according to the United States Census Bureau...
, from US 69 north of LindaleLindale, TexasLindale is a city in Smith County, Texas, United States. The town had an estimated population of 5,024 in 2006. It is part of the Tyler, Texas Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
to SH 110 southeast of TylerTyler, TexasTyler is a city in and the county seat of Smith County, Texas, in the United States. It takes its name from President John Tyler . The city had a population of 109,000 in 2010, according to the United States Census Bureau... - East Loop 49, which will complete the outer loop in Tyler from SH 110 to US 271
- An outer loop in LongviewLongview, TexasLongview is a city in Gregg and Harrison Counties in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 80,455. Most of the city is located in Gregg County, of which it is the county seat; only a small part extends into the western part of neighboring Harrison County. It is...
, connecting to Interstate 20 - A connection between the TylerTyler, TexasTyler is a city in and the county seat of Smith County, Texas, in the United States. It takes its name from President John Tyler . The city had a population of 109,000 in 2010, according to the United States Census Bureau...
and LongviewLongview, TexasLongview is a city in Gregg and Harrison Counties in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 80,455. Most of the city is located in Gregg County, of which it is the county seat; only a small part extends into the western part of neighboring Harrison County. It is...
outer loops - An extension to the east of LongviewLongview, TexasLongview is a city in Gregg and Harrison Counties in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 80,455. Most of the city is located in Gregg County, of which it is the county seat; only a small part extends into the western part of neighboring Harrison County. It is...
, connecting to US 59 north of MarshallMarshall, TexasMarshall is a city in Harrison County in the northeastern corner of Texas. Marshall is a major cultural and educational center in East Texas and the tri-state area. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Marshall was about 23,523...
The first segment of Loop 49, which stretches from US 69 to SH 155, opened in August 2006. The second segment of Loop 49, from US 69 to FM 756 (Paluxy Road) opened in January 2008. Loop 49 features a state-of-the-art all electronic toll collection system that is based on transponder and video tolling. Many cars using Loop 49 have a TxTag
TxTAG
TxTag , operated by the Texas Department of Transportation , is one of three interoperable electronic toll collection systems in Texas.-Current system status:The TxTag brand name is used on the following highways:* Operated by TxDOT:...
, a small, electronic sticker that attaches to a car’s windshield behind the rear-view mirror. When the car drives on toll roads and passes through toll collection points, an electronic transponder located in an overhead toll gantry reads the sticker and automatically deducts the toll from a prepaid TxTag account. If a car does not have a TxTag, then a video camera captures an image of the license plate, and a statement for tolling fees is mailed monthly to the registered owner of the car.
Other roadway projects being planned and/or supported by the NET RMA include:
- Texarkana Outer Loop in Bowie CountyBowie County, TexasBowie County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. It is part of the Texarkana, Texas - Texarkana, Arkansas, Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2000, the population was 89,306. Its legal county seat is Boston, though its courthouse is located in New Boston...
- Widening and extending George Richey Road in Gregg CountyGregg County, TexasThere were 42,687 households out of which 33.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.00% were married couples living together, 13.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.50% were non-families. 26.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.50% had...
- Widening SH 149Texas State Highway 149State Highway 149 or SH 149 is a state highway that runs from Carthage to Longview in east Texas.-History:SH 149 was originally designated by 1933 along its current route and included an extension north from Longview to Daingerfield. The northern extension was transferred to SH 26 by 1939...
south of Longview - Other loops and bypasses to relieve traffic on major highways in the cities of JacksonvilleJacksonville, TexasJacksonville is located in Cherokee County, Texas, United States. The population was 13,868 at the 2000 census. It is the principal city of the Jacksonville Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Cherokee County and part of the larger Tyler-Jacksonville Combined Statistical...
, HendersonHenderson, TexasHenderson is a city in Rusk County, Texas, United States. The population was 11,273 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Rusk County...
, and TexarkanaTexarkana, TexasTexarkana is a city in Bowie County, Texas, United States. It effectively functions as one half of a city which crosses a state line — the other half, the city of Texarkana, Arkansas, lies on the other side of State Line Avenue...
All roads built by the NET RMA will likely be constructed as toll roads, as funding from the State for construction of new roads becomes increasingly scarce.
Passenger and Freight Rail
Future projects undertaken by the NET RMA may include alternative transportation such as high speed commuter rail. Committees are studying the possibilities of the following:- Highway and freight rail intermodal hubsIntermodal passenger transportIntermodal passenger transport involves more than one mode of transport of passengers. Some modes of transportation have always been intermodal; for example, most major airports have extensive facilities for automobile parking and have good rail or bus connections to the cities nearby. Urban bus...
- Commuter rail links between northeast Texas and the DallasDallas, TexasDallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
DARTDallas Area Rapid TransitThe Dallas Area Rapid Transit authority is a transit agency based in Dallas, Texas . It operates buses, light rail, commuter rail, and high-occupancy vehicle lanes in Dallas and 12 of its suburbs...
system - Freight rail links to the Port of HoustonPort of HoustonThe Port of Houston is a port in Houston—the fourth-largest city in the United States. The Port is a 25-mile-long complex of diversified public and private facilities located a few hours' sailing time from the Gulf of Mexico...
and Port of Shreveport/Bossier
External links
- Official NET RMA web site
- Loop 49 in TylerTyler, TexasTyler is a city in and the county seat of Smith County, Texas, in the United States. It takes its name from President John Tyler . The city had a population of 109,000 in 2010, according to the United States Census Bureau...
- Texas Department of Public Transportation (TxDOT)
- Texas Tollways site - Loop 49
- Official TxTag web site