NET RMA History

The North East Texas Regional Mobility Authority (NET RMA) was established as the 5th RMA in Texas on October 28, 2004 with a unanimous vote from the Texas Transportation Commission. The NET RMA’s goal is to enhance mobility and create economic opportunity in the North East Texas Region. The NET RMA will achieve this goal by educating the public on toll roads and advancing the completion of infrastructure projects in North East Texas ahead of schedule from traditionally funded projects. The NET RMA is challenged with the statewide issue of finding creative funding resources to finance much needed transportation projects. Pooling together the resources of each member county, local Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs), the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), and various cities, the NET RMA hopes to make North East Texas a better place in which to live, work, and raise our families.

The NET RMA was founded by Smith and Gregg Counties. In June, 2006, Cherokee, Rusk, Harrison, and Upshur Counties joined the NET RMA. In July of 2007, the Texas Transportation Commission approved the addition of six new counties to the NET RMA. Bowie, Cass, Panola, Titus, Van Zandt and Wood counties joined the NET RMA making up the twelve-county partnership. The move marked the second time the NET RMA had grown; the NET RMA is the only RMA in the state that has grown to include counties outside its original founding sponsors.

The initial Chairman of the NET RMA Board, Jeff Austin III, along with the other board members representing the NET RMA member counties, embarked on a vision started over 35 years ago by individuals who saw a need to plan for future growth in Smith County with the construction of Toll 49 in Tyler. In April, 2006, the NET RMA agreed to assist the TxDOT Tyler District with the design and construction of several key segments of Toll 49. As the efforts among the NET RMA member counties progress, their vision will also focus on the design and construction of other transportation projects in North East Texas, such as:
1) completion of Toll 49 on the east side of Tyler;
(2) design and construction of an outer loop in Longview;
(3) widening and extending SH 42 and FM 2275 (George Richey Road) in Gregg County;
(4) connecting the Tyler and Longview Loops, and extending them to the east to connect with I-69 (called the East Texas Hourglass Project); and
(5) building other loops and bypasses to relieve highway congestion along US 69 in Jacksonville and Wells, US 79 / US 259 in Henderson, and possibly US 59 in Texarkana.

While roadway enhancement projects are currently the focus of the NET RMA, other transportation projects such as a highway / freight rail intermodal hub, downtown parking garages, commuter rail links between North East Texas and the Dallas “DART” high speed rail system, freight rail links to the Port of Houston and the Port of Shreveport / Bossier, and other similar projects are being envisioned by the NET RMA.

Additional information regarding the formation and powers of an RMA may be found at:

TxDOT RMA Manual - Summer 2007

A map of RMA's in Texas can be found at:

RMA Districts