La Entrada al Pacifico:La Entrada al Pacifico:Potential Impacts on Potential Impacts on

CommunitiesCommunities

Border to Border ConferenceBorder to Border Conference

April 18, 2007April 18, 2007

McAllen, TexasMcAllen, Texas

BackgroundBackground Eventual Path – Eventual Path –

Topolobampo, Topolobampo, Mexico to Ports Mexico to Ports to Plains to Plains Corridor (Texas)Corridor (Texas)

Immediate Path Immediate Path – Chihuahua – Chihuahua City to Ports to City to Ports to Plains CorridorPlains Corridor

La Entrada al Pacifico La Entrada al Pacifico (LEAP)(LEAP)

Original Concept – Original Concept – 19951995

LEAP Corridor OverviewLEAP Corridor Overview

Corridor BenefitsCorridor BenefitsReduce: Reduce:

Congestion at Congestion at Other Border Other Border Crossings Crossings

Truck Idling Truck Idling and Emissionsand Emissions

Travel Time Travel Time and Expenseand Expense

Corridor IssuesCorridor Issues Will Anyone Use It?Will Anyone Use It?

Obstacles to ViabilityObstacles to Viability

International CooperationInternational Cooperation

Programming Projects (in U.S.)Programming Projects (in U.S.)

Impacts on CommunitiesImpacts on Communities

Loaded Truck Volumes

0

100,000

200,000

300,000

400,000

500,000

600,000

700,000

800,000

900,000

1,000,000

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Eagle Pass El Paso Laredo Presidio

FindingsFindings

Year Eagle Pass El Paso Laredo Presidio Texas Total

1996 34,582 280,867 563,145 2,018 1,138,826

1997 43,161 297,663 477,545 3,262 1,112,423

1998 51,015 256,236 648,147 4,020 1,300,778

1999 57,039 360,982 756,045 5,012 1,589,282

2000 59,909 361,412 757,978 5,813 1,582,995

2001 54,869 360,517 757,574 3,932 1,595,814

2002 54,810 382,193 807,291 3,607 1,692,375

2003 54,838 368,562 825,626 3,863 1,727,628

2004 62,850 409,093 908,478 5,608 1,921,924

2005 63,598 430,768 977,353 5,794 2,075,227

Percent Change 1996-2005 84% 53% 42% 187% 82%

Loaded Truck Volumes

FindingsFindings

Latest Estimated Volumes at Presidio Latest Estimated Volumes at Presidio POEPOE

55-70 trucks per day55-70 trucks per day

1800-2000 cars per day1800-2000 cars per day

~3500 cars per day on weekends~3500 cars per day on weekends

FindingsFindings There are Potential Corridor Users!There are Potential Corridor Users!

ShippersShippers ManufacturersManufacturers

International Coordination has OccurredInternational Coordination has Occurred Synchronizing port of entry operating hoursSynchronizing port of entry operating hours

Mexico Road ImprovementsMexico Road Improvements Occur quite fastOccur quite fast Significant amount completeSignificant amount complete No environmental studiesNo environmental studies Different labor situationDifferent labor situation

FindingsFindings

Impacts on CommunitiesImpacts on Communities Road ImprovementsRoad Improvements

Presidio – border crossingPresidio – border crossing

Marfa – relief routeMarfa – relief route

Alpine – relief route/topography issuesAlpine – relief route/topography issues

Fort Stockton – potential transfer pointFort Stockton – potential transfer point

Impacts on CommunitiesImpacts on Communities Road ImprovementsRoad Improvements

McCamey – relief routeMcCamey – relief route

Crane – relief routeCrane – relief route

Odessa-Midland – direct connectors (at Odessa-Midland – direct connectors (at IH 20) and relief routeIH 20) and relief route

Lamesa – relief route (already part of Lamesa – relief route (already part of Ports to Plains Corridor)Ports to Plains Corridor)

Maintaining Sense of CommunityMaintaining Sense of Community AlpineAlpine MarfaMarfa

Local BusinessesLocal Businesses CBD to relief route relocationsCBD to relief route relocations Through traffic no longer stoppingThrough traffic no longer stopping

Impacts on CommunitiesImpacts on Communities

Community DevelopmentCommunity Development New development at relief route interchangesNew development at relief route interchanges

Land use issuesLand use issues Access management issuesAccess management issues

Public ResponsePublic Response Communication is vitalCommunication is vital

Fear of the unknownFear of the unknown Desire for involvementDesire for involvement

Impacts on CommunitiesImpacts on Communities

Potential Road ProjectsPotential Road Projects ““Super Two-Lane” SegmentsSuper Two-Lane” Segments

In “mountainous” topographyIn “mountainous” topography Direct ConnectorsDirect Connectors

At Interstate and At Interstate and

other major other major

interchangesinterchanges Relief RoutesRelief Routes

Around citiesAround cities Grade SeparationsGrade Separations

Alpine areaAlpine area

Project Programming IssuesProject Programming Issues $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Where will it come from?Where will it come from?

Skyrocketing CostsSkyrocketing Costs MaterialsMaterials LaborLabor

How to Identify PrioritiesHow to Identify Priorities Corridor designationCorridor designation PoliticsPolitics

Current ProjectsCurrent Projects

US 67 ExpansionUS 67 Expansion Marfa – AlpineMarfa – Alpine Alpine – Pecos County Alpine – Pecos County Congestion and safety benefitsCongestion and safety benefits $20 million$20 million First significant Texas projectsFirst significant Texas projects

Future ProjectsFuture Projects

Midland County reliever routeMidland County reliever route

US 67 expansion (Presidio – Marfa)US 67 expansion (Presidio – Marfa)

Potential second bridge at Presidio-Potential second bridge at Presidio-OjinagaOjinaga

ConclusionsConclusions International Truck Traffic is IncreasingInternational Truck Traffic is Increasing Presidio-Ojinaga POE is UnderutilizedPresidio-Ojinaga POE is Underutilized LEAP Corridor is ViableLEAP Corridor is Viable Several Projects to be ProgrammedSeveral Projects to be Programmed Impacts on Communities to be Impacts on Communities to be

ConsideredConsidered Full Feasibility Study UnderwayFull Feasibility Study Underway