Regional transportation priorities discussed
San Jacinto News- Times - August 2009

NACOGDOCHES – Regional transportation priorities and the state’s new efforts to involve local governments in their planning process were discussed by elected offi cials from the Deep East Texas Council of Governments (DETCOG) 12 county region last Wednesday with state and local Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) offi cials. DETCOG’s Board of Directors voted earlier this year to form a rural planning organization (RPO) to work with TxDOT on regional transportation priorities and planning. Wednesday’s meeting gave county judges, mayors and other members of DETCOG’s Transportation Committee an opportunity to meet with TxDOT Executive Director Amadeo Saenz, Jr., his staff and local TxDOT district staff. “The DETCOG RPO is charged with identifying and recommending projects that address regional mobility and statewide connectivity,” said DETCOG Transpiration Committee Chairman Mayor Jack Gorden. “Then we work to coordinate and collaborate on the development of project prioritization for TxDOT.” DETCOG will also be providing technical assistance to conduct and support planning for jurisdictions and counties in the region. The regional transportation priorities DETCOG has identifi ed include US Highway 59, US Highway 69, US Highway 190 and other Hurricane Evacuation Route improvements. They also placed an emphasis on economic development, especially projects that will create and retain jobs. That same evening TxDOT held a public hearing for transportation planning at Stephen F. Austin State University. DETCOG Executive Director Walter Diggles and Polk County Judge John P. Thompson joined Saenz on the panel for that hearing.