View source for North East Texas Regional Mobility Authority

{{distinguish|North Texas Tollway Authority}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox government agency
|agency_name     = North East Texas Regional Mobility Authority
|type            = authority
|logo            = North East Texas Regional Mobility Authority logo.png
|logo_width      =
|logo_caption    =
|picture         =
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|formed          = {{Start date|2004|10|28}}
|headquarters    = 1011 Pruitt Place<br/>[[Tyler, Texas|Tyler, TX]] 75703
|employees       =
|budget          =
|agency_type     =
|website         =  {{URL|http://www.netrma.org/}}
}}
The '''North East Texas Regional Mobility Authority''' ('''NET RMA''') is a [[Regional Mobility Authority]] covering several [[County (United States)|counties]] in the [[United States|U.S.]] [[U.S. state|state]] of [[Texas]]. The NET RMA was created by the [[Texas Transportation Commission]] in 2004, originally containing the counties of [[Smith County, Texas|Smith]] and [[Gregg County, Texas|Gregg]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title = NET RMA History {{!}}|url = http://www.netrma.org/net-rma-history/|website = www.netrma.org|accessdate = 2015-08-13}}</ref> It was the 5th [[Regional Mobility Authority|RMA]] established in the [[State of Texas]], and is headquartered in [[Tyler, Texas|Tyler]]. The authority claims to "provide solutions to expedite transportation and mobility projects that will improve the quality of life, enhance the regional economy and assure efficient mobility in the North [[East Texas|East Texas Region]]."<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.netrma.org/north-east-texas-rma/|title = About NET RMA {{!}}|date = |accessdate = |website = |publisher = |last = |first = }}</ref>
==History==
The NET RMA was established October 28, 2004 by a unanimous vote from the Texas Transportation Commission originally covering Smith and Gregg counties.<ref name=":0" /> In June 2006, the NET RMA became the first RMA in Texas to expand beyond its original county members, adding [[Cherokee County, Texas|Cherokee]], [[Harrison County, Texas|Harrison]], [[Rusk County, Texas|Rusk]], and [[Upshur County, Texas|Upshur]] counties, bringing the total number of member counties to six. In July 2007, the RMA expanded once again when the Texas Transportation Commission passed a resolution approving six additional counties—[[Bowie County, Texas|Bowie]], [[Cass County, Texas|Cass]], [[Panola County, Texas|Panola]], [[Titus County, Texas|Titus]], [[Van Zandt County, Texas|Van Zandt]] and [[Wood County, Texas|Wood]]. This brought the total membership to 12 counties.<ref name=":0" /> In November 2013, [[Kaufman County, Texas|Kaufman County]] joined the RMA around the same time Cass County withdrew its membership, leaving the NET RMA at a 12 county membership.
==Board of directors==
The NET RMA is led by a Board of Directors with at least one board member representing each member county.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title = Board Directors {{!}}|url = http://www.netrma.org/board-directors/|website = www.netrma.org|accessdate = 2015-08-13|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150321015957/http://www.netrma.org/board-directors|archive-date = 2015-03-21|url-status = dead}}</ref> The Board is currently chaired by Gary Halbrooks.<ref name=":1" /> The board members are appointed by each county's Commissioners' Court. Board members serve staggered two year terms that expire on February 1 of each year. Board members can be reappointed.
==Projects==
The NET RMA undertakes various projects to meet its goal of enhancing mobility and creating economic opportunity in the north East Texas Region. Projects the NET RMA may undertake include tolled or non-tolled roadway, passenger or freight rail, airport, intermodal hub, parking garages, pedestrian or bicycle facilities, border crossing station (except in Laredo, TX), automated conveyor belt for movement of freight, air quality improvement initiative, public utility facility, and projects listed in the State Implementation Plan.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Projects {{!}}|url = http://www.netrma.org/projects/|website = www.netrma.org|accessdate = 2015-08-13}}</ref>
===Roadways===
The flagship project of the NET RMA is [[Texas State Highway Loop 49|Loop 49]], a halfway completed tollway designed to improve connections and relieve congestion in the cities of Tyler, Longview, and Marshall. Loop 49 is being built in several phases, including:
*	Toll 49 in Tyler, from I-20 west of Lindale to SH 110 southeast of Tyler
*	The Lindale Relief Route, from I-20 West of Lindale to US 69 north of Lindale
*	The East Texas Hourglass, a connection between the Tyler and Longview, going to the west and north of Longview and, connecting to <!--I-369/-->US 59 north of Marshall
The first segment of Loop 49, which stretches from US 69 to SH 155, opened in August 2006.<ref>{{Cite web|url =http://www.netrma.org/images/2006%2008%2019%20City%20drives%20toward%20future.pdf|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20090705215451/http://www.netrma.org/images/2006%2008%2019%20City%20drives%20toward%20future.pdf|archive-date =2009-07-05|title=City Drives Toward Future With Loop 49 Celebration}}</ref> The second segment of Toll 49, from US 69 to FM 756 (Paluxy Road) opened in January 2008.
==References==
<references />
==External links==
* [http://www.netrma.org/ Official NET RMA Website]
* [http://www.netrma.org/north-east-texas-rma/ Net RMA - About]
{{Toll Roads in Texas}}
[[Category:Regional mobility authority]]
[[Category:Transportation in Gregg County, Texas]]
[[Category:Transportation in Smith County, Texas]]