The NET RMA was established October 28, 2004 by a unanimous vote from the Texas Transportation Commission originally covering Smith and Gregg counties. In June 2006, the NET RMA became the first RMA in Texas to expand beyond its original county members, adding Cherokee, Harrison, Rusk, and 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, Cass, Panola, Titus, Van Zandt and Wood. This brought the total membership to 12 counties. In November 2013, 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. The Board is currently chaired by Linda Thomas. 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, automated conveyor belt for movement of freight, air quality improvement initiative, public utility facility, and projects listed in the State Implementation Plan.
Roadways
The flagship project of the NET RMA is 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 US 59 north of Marshall
The first segment of Loop 49, which stretches from US 69 to SH 155, opened in August 2006. The second segment of Toll 49, from US 69 to FM 756 opened in January 2008.
