Published: October 05, 2009 09:28 am      

City to consider resolution, letter to TxDOT

The Huntsville City Council will discuss a resolution and sending a letter to Texas Department of Transportation officials regarding state Highway 19 in Walker County when it meets Tuesday at 6 p.m. at City Hall.

The letter is being sent to Texas Transportation Commission chair Deirdre Delisi and four commissioners.

The letter reads:

“A profound and ongoing areaof concern for the City of Huntsville is the portion of state Highway 19 which begins at the Interstate 45 turnoff and ends at its intersection with state Highway 30 where 19 becomes a four-lane highway.

“Over the last 10 years, accidents on that portion of the highway have taken an average of one life each year. Just since 2007, three deaths, many injuries, and 131 accidents have occurred. The latest fatality, which occurred on Aug. 5, was a 3-year-old child.

“Surely, action is overdue to prevent as many tragic occurrences in the future as possible.

“We, the City of Huntsville, have tried within our expertise and resources to rectify several aspects of the roadway. However, we are not able fully to correct this terrible problem. We urgently need your help.

“To do this will require action by the Texas Department of Transportation. We have requested TxDOT to improve the roadway. At this point, we have been repeatedly told funding is not available and not expected to become available.

“No engineering or design of the project has begun. Therefore, we are seeking alternative funding through the TIGER grant, but it is highly unlikely to be funded even with the support given by TxDOT because we do not have the engineering or design of the project completed.

“The Texas Department of Transportation has recently planned an overpass in the Riverside area, which we understand was not even asked for, valued at approximately $11 million.

“This project was a Proposition 14 funded project which consists of funds available for safety and where farm-to-market roads intersect with state highways. Clearly, funds are available for perceived state highway needs and are being allocated.

“This amount of money could be applied to assist in reducing the demonstrated risks on Highway 19 and where state Highway intersects with FM 3411, making this road a Proposition 14 eligible project.

“The citizens of Huntsville are fully awware of the risk of traveling on Highway 19, yet they have no other realistic alternative for traveling in that area. This highway is a major artery for school traffic each weekday. We ask for your help.”

The letter is signed by members of the Huntsville City Council.