The Rio Grande Valley wants an interstate. Perry offers a toll road.
State seeks alternatives for Valley interstate
April 28, 2006
LYNN BREZOSKY
The Associated Press
Copyright 2006
BROWNSVILLE - News of a possible Panama Canal expansion makes the Rio Grande Valley's quest for interstate highway access even more important, state Transportation Commissioner Ric Williamson told a crowd of South Texas officials pleading Thursday for the interstate.
President Martin Torrijos of Panama on Monday urged Panamanians to support a $5.25 billion expansion that could increase cargo ship traffic and the need for new or expanded ports.
Rio Grande Valley leaders see the port of Brownsville as both a key Gulf of Mexico port and a destination for goods coming across Mexico from expanded Pacific Coast ports taking traffic from clogged-up California. From Brownsville, goods could then be shipped by truck or rail across the nation.
"In light of the Panama Canal announcement, we need to be moving things very quickly," Williamson said. "We don't want companies that might help build this road moving to Biloxi, Mississippi."
With hopes dashed last year for a federally funded interstate for the Rio Grande Valley, state and local transportation officials have been looking at ways to end the Valley's distinction of being the only metropolitan region of its population - 1.2 million - to lack access to an interstate highway.
Officials haven't ruled out Gov. Rick Perry's "Trans-Texas Corridor 69," a proposal that would rely on private sector design and funding. The alignment for TTC-69 is not yet clear.
But with realization of that proposal likely years away, Perry in December asked officials to research upgrading existing roadways to interstate standards. That means no traffic slowdowns through towns and connection with an existing interstate.
Interstate 37, which now ends at Corpus Christi, could be linked with an upgraded U.S. 77 to Harlingen and Brownsville on the Valley's eastern end. U.S. 281, which links to McAllen on the Valley's western end, also connects to Interstate 37 and could be brought to interstate standards.
Texas Department of Transportation engineer Amadeo Saenz told commissioners that the U.S. 77 upgrades would cost about $640 million and the U.S. 281 upgrades between $840 million and $850 million.
He said a toll lane for overweight trucks could be a unique feature that could offset those construction costs because truckers coming from Mexico and the Valley would pay to be able to double loads.
Dennis Burleson, a financial consultant for A.G. Edwards in McAllen, said the two traffic signals along U.S. 77 and three signals along U.S. 281 could be replaced with ramps for about $250 million.
"As long as trucker doesn't have to come to a traffic signal, I don't think they care whether there's an "I" on it or not," he said.
Thursday's Texas Department of Transportation meeting was the first in the Valley since 1997. It attracted about 200 people, including mayors from Corpus Christi and Brownsville.
The officials universally want an interstate, and at least a dozen communities presented commissioners with resolutions in support. The city of Harlingen offered $2.5 million over 10 years for the project.
Cameron County Judge Gilberto Hinojosa said that the Valley's seaports, airports, population growth, and numerous international bridges with Mexico made an interstate crucial.
"Everything is set up to connect to an interstate system that will benefit Texas and the rest of the United States," he said.
© 2006 The Associated Press: www.ap.org
April 28, 2006
LYNN BREZOSKY
The Associated Press
Copyright 2006
BROWNSVILLE - News of a possible Panama Canal expansion makes the Rio Grande Valley's quest for interstate highway access even more important, state Transportation Commissioner Ric Williamson told a crowd of South Texas officials pleading Thursday for the interstate.
President Martin Torrijos of Panama on Monday urged Panamanians to support a $5.25 billion expansion that could increase cargo ship traffic and the need for new or expanded ports.
Rio Grande Valley leaders see the port of Brownsville as both a key Gulf of Mexico port and a destination for goods coming across Mexico from expanded Pacific Coast ports taking traffic from clogged-up California. From Brownsville, goods could then be shipped by truck or rail across the nation.
"In light of the Panama Canal announcement, we need to be moving things very quickly," Williamson said. "We don't want companies that might help build this road moving to Biloxi, Mississippi."
With hopes dashed last year for a federally funded interstate for the Rio Grande Valley, state and local transportation officials have been looking at ways to end the Valley's distinction of being the only metropolitan region of its population - 1.2 million - to lack access to an interstate highway.
Officials haven't ruled out Gov. Rick Perry's "Trans-Texas Corridor 69," a proposal that would rely on private sector design and funding. The alignment for TTC-69 is not yet clear.
But with realization of that proposal likely years away, Perry in December asked officials to research upgrading existing roadways to interstate standards. That means no traffic slowdowns through towns and connection with an existing interstate.
Interstate 37, which now ends at Corpus Christi, could be linked with an upgraded U.S. 77 to Harlingen and Brownsville on the Valley's eastern end. U.S. 281, which links to McAllen on the Valley's western end, also connects to Interstate 37 and could be brought to interstate standards.
Texas Department of Transportation engineer Amadeo Saenz told commissioners that the U.S. 77 upgrades would cost about $640 million and the U.S. 281 upgrades between $840 million and $850 million.
He said a toll lane for overweight trucks could be a unique feature that could offset those construction costs because truckers coming from Mexico and the Valley would pay to be able to double loads.
Dennis Burleson, a financial consultant for A.G. Edwards in McAllen, said the two traffic signals along U.S. 77 and three signals along U.S. 281 could be replaced with ramps for about $250 million.
"As long as trucker doesn't have to come to a traffic signal, I don't think they care whether there's an "I" on it or not," he said.
Thursday's Texas Department of Transportation meeting was the first in the Valley since 1997. It attracted about 200 people, including mayors from Corpus Christi and Brownsville.
The officials universally want an interstate, and at least a dozen communities presented commissioners with resolutions in support. The city of Harlingen offered $2.5 million over 10 years for the project.
Cameron County Judge Gilberto Hinojosa said that the Valley's seaports, airports, population growth, and numerous international bridges with Mexico made an interstate crucial.
"Everything is set up to connect to an interstate system that will benefit Texas and the rest of the United States," he said.
© 2006 The Associated Press:
posted by Porkus Maximus Tex: at Friday, April 28, 2006
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