ECONOMIC EFFECTS OF HIGHWAY RELIEF ROUTES ON SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZE COMMUNITIES: LITERATURE REVIEW AND IDENTIFICATION OF ISSUES 6. Performing Organization Code 7. Author(s)

Highway relief routes around smallor medium-size communities are an important element of the Texas Trunk System. These routes provide for the safe and efficient movement of through traffic and contribute to the growth of the Texas economy. For smalland medium-size communities, however, highway relief routes potentially bring both positive and negative impacts by reducing the flow of traffic through the center of town. While a relief route often means quieter, safer streets for the residents of the community, it can also lead to changes in the local economy that may or may not benefit local residents. Residents and business leaders in communities for which the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is proposing relief routes are understandably concerned about potential negative impacts.