Funding OK’d for Highway 19 project

By Jay Ermis

The Texas Transportation Commission unanimously approved $15.1 million in funding for improvements to state Highway 19 during its November meeting Thursday in Austin.

The commission approved the funding for the project early Thursday afternoon after hearing comments from state Rep. Lois Kolkhorst, Huntsville Mayor J. Turner and council member Charles Forbus.

Turner and Forbus attended the meeting along with Mayor Pro Tem Lanny Ray, Dr. Tom Cole, Jack Wagamon, Dr. Wayne Barrett, Dalene Zender and Melissa Mahaffey and city manager Bill Baine and Walker County Judge Danny Pierce and Precinct 1 Commissioner B.J. Gaines.

Forbus said they expressed their gratitude for the funding, which will be used to widen a five-mile stretch of highway where several people have died in vehicle accidents.

The Highway 19 improvement project is expected to begin within the next 12 months.

“Due to the tireless efforts of state Rep. Kolkhorst and Mayor Turner, we were able to officially thank the Texas Transportation Commission today for approved funding to widen state Highway 19,” Baine said. “We want to express our sincere appreciation to Rep. Kolkhorst, as well as TxDOT District Engineer Catherine Hejl and Area Engineer David Stephens.”

“Each of the council members present took time out of their jobs and lives to support Rep. Kolkhorst, the mayor and the city at today’s meeting,” Ray said. “We are very grateful for the decision made today, and we look forward to seeing this project begin.”

Forbus said the TxDOT staff recommended that the project be approved.

“They said they found underruns which gave them enough money to fund the project,” he said. “We’re in good shape.”

Forbus gave Dr. Sherry McKibben and her staff credit for getting the project approved in addition to Kolkhorst, “who devoted a lot of energy to getting this for us. After the death of the 3-year-old, this became an issue for her and it was helpful to have Lois.

“It makes you feel good when you get something like this.”

Forbus was instrumental in getting the measure to the transportation commission when he proposed drafting a letter at the City Council’s Aug. 18 meeting to see what it would take for funding to be obtained to expand a five-mile stretch of Highway 19 from Interstate 45 to state Highway 30.

His proposal followed the death of 3-year-old Kevin De Los Santos of Hickory, N.C., on Aug. 4.

De Los Santos was killed in a two-vehicle accident that also injured several members of his family as they were traveling Highway 19 and another vehicle pulled off Old Colony Road directly in the path of the De Los Santos vehicle.

Forbus said TxDOT had been unresponsive to a request for assistance to Huntsville to improve Highway 19.

The City Council, Walker County and other groups signed the city’s letter and it was sent to TxDOT officials as well as state and federal representatives.

TxDOT’s Bryan district office began working on the project following meetings with city and county officials and Kolkhorst, who was instrumental in obtaining the funding after talking with TxDOT officials.

Bryan District Engineer Catherine Hejl initiated the study.

In late October, she said engineers have indicated that adding travel lanes, designated turn lanes and other safety features are being considered.

“We are moving forward with studies, surveys and planning as well as working towards securing funds,” she said. “We are very appreciative of Rep. Kolkhorst working with us to find solutions.”

Additional support for the expansion project was provided by state Sen. Steve Ogden, U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady, Polk County, Trinity County, the City of Riverside, the City of Trinity, Gulf Coast Strategic, the Huntsville Police Department, the Walker County Sheriff’s Department, the Huntsville Independent School District, Sam Houston State University and the Huntsville-Walker County Chamber of Commerce.