Orange Means Safety

Lot's of fun this past Friday at the Orange Travel Information Center on I-10 at the border.

TxDOT joined up with local folks to present a safety awareness day...with a lot of fun thrown in. Snakes, alligators, and everyone's favorite: free food! The event turned out to be a big hit with people from all over the country making a pit stop at the travel center.

If you missed out on the events you still need to take a trip to the center. It's not just a place to pull over and stretch your legs. It's an opportunity to really see what Southeast Texas is all about. Behind the center is a long boardwalk stretching into the Blue ELbow Swamp. You'll definitely get to see some snakes and gators in the wild.

Thanks to all of those who took part in the event. A "great job" to Becky and her staff as well as all the volunteers.

Drive Safe,
Marc S

New road coming to Southeast Texas

(Note: I've corrected the highway to FM 565. Sorry for the confusion. My bad.)

The state’s transportation agency took a major step toward the construction of a new highway in northern Chambers County. The Texas Transportation Commission, Thursday, approved a pass-through financing agreement to extend FM 1409. The proposed $20 million project includes extending FM 1409 from FM 565 at Old River-Winfree to FM 565 south of Interstate 10.

“This is a major milestone in improving transportation and mobility in one of the fastest growing areas of the district,” said Randy Redmond, Beaumont District Engineer. “It’s the close-knit partnerships with local elected officials that made the first pass-through financing project in the Beaumont District possible.”

“It’s important we all work together to serve the needs of Chambers County and the rest of Southeast Texas,” said Judge Jimmy Sylvia, Chambers County Judge. “Extending FM 1409 with pass-through financing helps solve our transportation problems when money is hard to come by.”

Pass-through financing allows local communities to fund up-front costs for constructing a state highway project. The state then reimburses a portion of the project costs to the community over time based on a fee for each vehicle using the highway. Thursday's approval by the commission allows TxDOT and Chambers County to begin negotiating terms to repay the county in building the highway.

Texas approved pass-through financing as a tool to help stretch limited highway funds. It also allows local officials reprioritize and accelerate projects important to the region.

The project is one of 11 around the state approved by commissioners at an estimated total cost of $280 million. The 2-lane highway is expected to go to construction within five years.

Marc S.

Orange Means Safety

TIC shows that Orange means safety

The Texas Travel Information Center in Orange is showing that Orange means safety in more ways than you think.

Dummies, owls and gators are ganging up and heading to the center in Orange as part of the Texas Department of Transportation’s (TxDOT) “Orange Means Safety” day. Scheduled for June 25th, the free event is designed to inform people about the importance of safety on and off the road.

The family-friendly event will include popular crash-test dummies Vince & Larry, Shangri-La’s Owl, and the Port Arthur Convention and Visitors Bureau’s alligator. Area businesses, law enforcement and emergency responders from the City of Orange and Orange Police Department will demonstrate how to be safe during the summer season. Wildlife experts will show how to be safe around nature.

Visitors who arrive early can have children fingerprinted. Experts will also explain the correct way to buckle up children in child safety seats and new state seatbelt laws. Traffic safety experts will also have a drunk-driving activity. Using special goggles, visitors can simulate being under the influence of alcohol and drugs and test their reaction skills.

The free event is scheduled for June 25th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Refreshments will be provided. The Orange Safety Day, a program sponsored by TxDOT, includes volunteers from area businesses and chambers of commerce.

Drive Safe,
Marc S.

A sad day on Texas 73...

A sad day for highway workers in Southeast Texas.

Earlier today, an 18-wheeler struck and killed a contract worker on SH 73 near Labelle. The wreck sent five other people, including the driver, to the hospital.

What is so incredible about this wreck was the fact the 18-wheeler crashed through two crash-trucks before hitting the worker. Crash-trucks are specifically designed to absorb the some of the impact of a car or vehicle. Stopping an 18-wheeler barreling through the work-zone is another story.

According to investigators, the employee was on the back of a truck attaching red markers to the pavement. The two crash trucks were behind him. The 18-wheeler apparently crashed through the two crash-trucks and killed the employee.

So tonight, while everyone else goes home to their families, the family of one Crabtree Barricades employee will be in mourning.

Highway work is dangerous business. And often one of the most under-appreciated professions. Despite the opinion of some people, workers don't get a kick out of seeing how far they back-up traffic. They simply want to do their job, get off the road, and get home safely.

Remember that the next time you drive through a work zone. And for those of you who slow down and watch for workers, a big "Thank-you".

Marc S

TxDOT completes Jasper project

The ride through Jasper is a bit smoother.

TxDOT recently completed a project which included resurfacing US 96 from US 190 northward. It's a pretty big deal. Especially to a community that depends so much on tourism.

The project involved removing the old highway surface and replacing it with new asphalt. Meanwhile, crews are resurfacing portions of US 190 between Jasper and Woodville. A paint shortage is forcing contractors to put down only the center strip until the shortage eases. Pay attention in the workzone and watch for stopped vehicles...and of course workers.

Have a safe and happy weekend.

Marc S

So...just how good are you?

It's summertime. Now, the roads and highways throughout Southeast Texas will be filled with teenage drivers heading to the beach, or, just out and about.

Unfortunately, many of these young drivers aren't very experienced when it comes to driving.

So, are you prepared for the new guy on the road? In fact, just how good of a driver are YOU?

Check out this simple driving test put out by GMAC: http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/quiz/GMAC__Insurance_National_Drivers_Test.html
It may not prove you are the best driver on the road. However, it will give you an idea as to your attitudes toward driving.

Enjoy the weekend.
Marc S

Goodbye picnic area

A victim of the times, limited funding, and a growing Southeast Texas. TxDOT is closing one of its I-10 picnic areas.

Later this month, the I-10 Jefferson County landmark is about to be a thing of the past. The department will close the I-10 picnic area near FM 365. It's part of a cost-saving measure.

"We are reassessing our picnic and safety rest areas throughout the Chambers, Jefferson and Orange County I-10 corridor," said Randy Redmond, Beaumont District Engineer. "As Southeast Texas grows, TxDOT wants to place the limited transportation resources in the most useful and practical locations."

Some rest area diehards, however, don't take too kindly to TxDOT closing their favorite "watering hole". However, a couple of things to remember. When it was built back in the mid 1950's, there just were not many places to get off the highway. So, it made sense to have a place to pull over and rest up.

However, times have changed. 50 years of progress and growth means we have to reconsider what we have and be smart with what little transportation money is available. No more than 10 minutes away is a whole array of places to pull over, rest and tank up. Not to mention the trip to the bathroom. So, instead of maintaining a rest area that is located close to several truck stops and restaurants, TxDOT will close it and put the money toward other maintenance projects such as filling potholes.

All of this doesn't mean the end of rest areas. TxDOT is building a new state-of-the-art rest area in rural Chambers County. Look for it to be completed late next year.

Marc S.

Hurricane 101

Now that hurricane season is once again here, it's time to gear up and prepared in the event another storm hits our area.

Rita and Ike taught us Southeast Texans a couple of lessons when it comes to hurricanes. TxDOT, as well as law enforcement and emergency responders, also learned a few lessons in terms of evacuating.

First, and foremost, it's important to remember that everyone got out of the area long before tropical storm force winds hit Southeast Texas. The fear that people would be stuck on the highway in the middle of a hurricane were unfounded...even during the mass and confusing hurricane Rita evacuation. Chances you will be stuck in traffic when the storm hits are slim to none.

Second, each hurricane evacuation is different. For instance, Rita's evacuation was completely different than Ike's. Gustav was different than all of them. This means that while all the evacuation routes remain the same, how, where, and when people evacuate vary from storm to storm.

Third, after Rita, TxDOT installed "EvacuLanes" on portions of US 69, SH 87, and SH 146. EvacuLanes involve converting the shoulders of those highways to northbound travel lanes. However...they don't become evacuation lanes until emergency officials in Austin give the green light. In Ike, the EvacuLanes weren't even used since traffic was flowing fairly well.

Fourth, don't expect to see any contraflow on our highway system in the Beaumont District. Contraflow means converting all the southbound lanes to handle northbound traffic. This works great on interstates and divided highways with limited entry and exit points. However, on highways such as US 69, all it takes is one person to turn out of their driveway and head south to create a very dangerous problem.

Fifth, I-10 is not considered a hurricane evacuation route. While it will most likely remain open, I-10 may not be your best route. Especially if Houston and Lake Charles evacuates. Imagine getting caught in that traffic mess. Consider this: would you rather evacuate with 400,000 of you local neighbors, or, evacuate with 5 million people in Houston?

Sixth, fuel should not be problem like it was during Rita. Designated service stations will remain stocked-up on fuel during an evacuation.

Finally, and probably one of the best peices of advice, don't wait for the mandatory evacuation to be called to begin shopping for water, boards to cover your windows, etc. That's the worst time. Stock up on those things now and be prepared. And if you can leave early, you have a big head start from the rest of the traffic.

Drive Safe.
Marc S