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A plan 40 years in the making to extend Toll 49 along the east side of Tyler is gaining steam.

The North East Texas Regional Mobility Authority (NET RMA), which oversees planning and development of area infrastructure projects, is seeking comments for a proposed section called 性视界传媒淪egment 6性视界传媒� that could connect Texas 110 to U.S. 271.

Randall Dillard, a spokesman for the project, said the toll road would reduce congestion and prepare the region for anticipated population growth. Opponents include land owners whose property could be taken to make way for the road expansion and those citing safety and environmental concerns from additional traffic.

Residents have until May 23 to submit written comments on the toll road project as part of the project性视界传媒檚 federally mandated Environmental Impact Study. The study takes into account air quality, traffic noise, effects on water quality, sensitive sites such as historical cemeteries and other impacts.

NET RMA is exploring three routes through the Segment 6 study area: A purple route nearest to Tyler, a yellow route slightly east of the purple option, and a teal route further east of both.

Results from the impact study will inform which of the proposed routes are chosen 性视界传媒� or what modification would be needed to its path to accommodate issues that arise during the study. Additional comment periods will be held before the final study is published around mid-2029.

Though a public outreach event for the project held this past week was sparsely attended in Longview, a Segment 6 event in Tyler a day earlier drew roughly 200 residents.

Opponents have set up a Facebook page called 性视界传媒淪ave Kids from Loop 49.性视界传媒�

One of the group members, Robert Wilson of Tyler, arrived for the Longview Segment 6 event with a placard hanging from his chest reading, 性视界传媒淣o Build. No Teal.性视界传媒�

Wilson lives on property that would be directly affected by the proposed teal route.

性视界传媒淲e created the group in response to concerns about safety for one of the routes because the toll road exits there聽at highway 64,性视界传媒� he said. 性视界传媒淚t would be just 800 feet from the largest elementary school in the Chapel Hill School District, and that is a very busy area. We're concerned about 70 mile-an-hour cars dropping in right at a very congested area.性视界传媒�

The existing portion of Toll 49 circling the south and west of Tyler has garnered a reputation for fatal accidents crashes local residents. Some refer to the road by the nickname 性视界传媒淭errible Toll 49,性视界传媒� as KETK reported in 2023.

Using state crash data, The KETK investigation found Toll 49 experienced a higher rate of fatal crashes than other roadways in Smith County.

NET RMA responded that the Segment 6 project will take those concerns into account and separate the north and south traffic flows using a wide grass median.

Smith County resident Ken Cagle said he learned about the project more than a decade ago when he was hunting on his property, which has been in his family since the late 19th century.

性视界传媒淭here were these big ol性视界传媒� 'Xs' on the ground, and they were surveying from the air,性视界传媒� he said. Cagle also said that 性视界传媒淣ET RMA cut some trees down and didn性视界传媒檛 talk to any landowners.性视界传媒�

Like Wilson, the teal route would run directly through Cagle性视界传媒檚 property.

性视界传媒淭his land has been in my family since 1897, so if it性视界传媒檚 gone, it性视界传媒檚 gonna take a part of me with it," Cagle said.

Dillard said landowners will be compensated for damage to their property or potential relocation if eminent domain is used.

性视界传媒淭he hope is that the state would pay the landowner every penny they're due, but also make sure that they don't pay more than a single penny more of taxpayer money for the property than they have to,性视界传媒� Dillard said, citing the Texas Landowners Bill of Rights, which was passed by the Legislature in 2012 to ensure landowners are fairly compensated when public works run into private property.

While local residents can provide input and affect the final project plan, Dillard said he was not aware of any local democratic process that could intervene to stop the project if the public desired.

NET RMA is governed by a board of directors that represent each of the member counties: Bowie, Camp, Cass, Cherokee, Gregg, Harrison, Kaufman, Panola, Rusk, Smith, Titus, Upshur, Wood and Van Zandt. Directors are appointed by the commissioners court from each respective county.

Construction cost estimates for Segment 6 are not yet available, Dillard said. The existing Toll 49 stretch cost just less than $200 million to construct, KETK reported.

Future plans call for Segments 7 and 8 to travel north of Longview.

Comments can be submitted via email, phone or snail mail. Email: toll49seg6@gmail.com Phone: (903) 284-5332. Mail: Nancy Ledbetter & Associates, P.O. Box 14622, Austin TX 78761