Transcript La Entrada al Pacifico: Potential Impacts on Communities

La Entrada al Pacifico:
Potential Impacts on
Communities
Border to Border Conference
April 18, 2007
McAllen, Texas
Background


Eventual Path –
Topolobampo,
Mexico to Ports to
Plains Corridor
(Texas)
Immediate Path –
Chihuahua City to
Ports to Plains
Corridor


La Entrada al Pacifico
(LEAP)
Original Concept – 1995
LEAP Corridor Overview
Corridor Benefits
Reduce:
Congestion at
Other Border
Crossings
Truck Idling and
Emissions
Travel Time and
Expense
Corridor Issues

Will Anyone Use It?
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Obstacles to Viability

International Cooperation

Programming Projects (in U.S.)
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Impacts on Communities
Loaded Truck Volumes
1,000,000
900,000
800,000
700,000
600,000
500,000
400,000
300,000
200,000
100,000
0
1996
1997
1998
1999
Eagle Pass
2000
El Paso
2001
Laredo
2002
Presidio
2003
2004
2005
Findings
Loaded Truck Volumes
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 19962005
84%
53%
42%
187%
82%
Findings

Latest Estimated Volumes at Presidio POE
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55-70 trucks per day
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1800-2000 cars per day
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~3500 cars per day on weekends
Findings

There are Potential Corridor Users!
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
Shippers
Manufacturers
International Coordination has Occurred

Synchronizing port of entry operating hours
Findings

Mexico Road Improvements
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Occur quite fast
Significant amount complete
No environmental studies
Different labor situation
Impacts on Communities

Road Improvements

Presidio – border crossing
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Marfa – relief route
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Alpine – relief route/topography issues

Fort Stockton – potential transfer point
Impacts on Communities

Road Improvements

McCamey – relief route
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Crane – relief route
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Odessa-Midland – direct connectors (at IH 20)
and relief route
Lamesa – relief route (already part of Ports to
Plains Corridor)
Impacts on Communities

Maintaining Sense of Community
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
Alpine
Marfa
Local Businesses
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CBD to relief route relocations
Through traffic no longer stopping
Impacts on Communities
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Community Development
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New development at relief route interchanges
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Land use issues
Access management issues
Public Response
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Communication is vital
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Fear of the unknown
Desire for involvement
Potential Road Projects
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“Super Two-Lane” Segments
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In “mountainous” topography
Direct Connectors
At Interstate and
other major
interchanges
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Relief Routes
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Around cities
Grade Separations
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Alpine area
Project Programming Issues
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$$$$$$$$$$
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Skyrocketing Costs
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Where will it come from?
Materials
Labor
How to Identify Priorities
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Corridor designation
Politics
Current Projects
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US 67 Expansion
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Marfa – Alpine
Alpine – Pecos County
Congestion and safety benefits
$20 million
First significant Texas projects
Future Projects
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Midland County reliever route
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US 67 expansion (Presidio – Marfa)
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Potential second bridge at PresidioOjinaga
Conclusions
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International Truck Traffic is Increasing
Presidio-Ojinaga POE is Underutilized
LEAP Corridor is Viable
Several Projects to be Programmed
Impacts on Communities to be Considered
Full Feasibility Study Underway