JACKSONVILLE — The Chamber of Commerce Transportation Committee is scheduling their meeting in September to discuss U.S. Highway 79 and U.S. Highway 69 expansions.

Over the past two months, the committee sent out resolutions to cities and school districts in the region to gain support of the highway expansion for better traffic flow, said Kelly Traylor, committee chairman and Precinct 1 commissioner.

“We are trying to educate everyone region-wide about expanding Highway 79 from Buffalo to Carthage to make traffic flow through the community easier,” he said.

In the resolution, city and school board officials are approving the widening of the highway to four lanes to improve mobility.

Larry Krantz, public information officer for TxDOT, said $43 million will be awarded Sept. 6 to a contractor to widen Highway 79 to four lanes from Palestine to the Trinity River, Freestone County line.

Krantz said the widening of the entire stretch of highway is on the wish list for many cities and counties in the state.

“The city of Jacksonville is not the only one that wants that to happen,” he said. “As money becomes available, especially in tough times like this, it is important to have your priorities straight. The petitions signed recently will only streamline the process when funding becomes available.”

Nathan Jones, president of the chamber, said after seeing success in petitioning for the Highway 79 project, the transportation committee is focusing on expanding U.S. Highway 69 in Wells to four lanes. The committee wants the highway expanded because it is the hurricane relief route and it also will improve mobility.

Jones said the chamber is asking school districts, economic development corporations, cities, counties and chambers to pass a resolution for Highway 69, just like many did for the Highway 79 project. Krantz said the project is on TxDOT's books, but is currently unfunded.  

“Anything that improves roadways improves the economy in Cherokee County,” Jones said.

So far, the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce, city of Rusk, city of Jacksonville, the Jacksonville Economic Development Corporation, city of New Summerfield, Cherokee County, Jacksonville ISD, Cherokee County and the Palestine Chamber of Commerce have passed the resolution for the Highway 69 expansion.

Traylor said the committee wants to get approval and support from the regional areas to present to the State Legislature how important road maintenance is in rural areas.

Jones said it may take between 60 and 90 days for more entities to pass the resolution, because each has monthly meetings and generally has its attorney look over any legal documents.

“Most tax dollars TxDOT is spending goes to major cities,” he said. “Cities and rural communities like Jacksonville really need better traffic flow.”

Traylor said TxDOT prioritizes projects based on importance and the committee will lobby the State Legislature to provide funding for East Texas.

“These projects put out by TxDOT are ranked by priority as far as funding,” he said. “If we have a big support group, we'll rank higher on the TxDOT radar sheet, therefore be higher in priority for State Legislature to fund TxDOT to get projects done.”

Traylor said the committee wants to put a map together to show how traffic passing through has an impact on the day-to-day operation of the cities.

The chamber transportation committee had came to a halt several years back, but when Nathan Jones became chairman, he revived the group back, Traylor said.

“We just got back together this year and had a meeting in May,” he said. “During the meeting in September, we want to discuss where we are. We sent resolutions to different communities, compiled them together, and we need to look at who we need to visit personally to explain what's going on.”

An exact date and time for the meeting has not been set.