Ceremony Marks Toll 49 Transfer

SMITH COUNTY — Various dignitaries highlighted a Saturday ceremony honoring the transfer of Toll 49 from TxDOT to the North East Texas Regional Mobility Authority (NET RMA). Jeff Austin III of Tyler is a former chair of the NET RMA and a current member of the Texas Transportation Commission. Austin says credit for making the project happen goes to the cities, Tyler, Noonday, Whitehouse, and Lindale, along with the county, elected officials, and the Tyler Metropolitan Planning Organization. The transfer became official last Thursday. The next big happening is the opening of Toll 49′s Segment 3B, connecting the toll road to Interstate Highway 20 for the first time. That’s expected around March 29.