La Entrada al Pacifico: Potential Impacts on Communities

1. La Entrada al Pacifico:Potential Impacts on Communities Border to Border Conference April 18, 2007 McAllen, Texas

2. Background • La Entrada al Pacifico (LEAP) • Original Concept – 1995 • Eventual Path – Topolobampo, Mexico to Ports to Plains Corridor (Texas) • Immediate Path – Chihuahua City to Ports to Plains Corridor

3. LEAP Corridor Overview

4. Corridor Benefits Reduce: Congestion at Other Border Crossings Truck Idling and Emissions Travel Time and Expense

5. Corridor Issues • Will Anyone Use It? • Obstacles to Viability • International Cooperation • Programming Projects (in U.S.) • Impacts on Communities

7. Findings Loaded Truck Volumes

8. Findings • Latest Estimated Volumes at Presidio POE • 55-70 trucks per day • 1800-2000 cars per day • ~3500 cars per day on weekends

9. Findings • There are Potential Corridor Users! • Shippers • Manufacturers • International Coordination has Occurred • Synchronizing port of entry operating hours

10. Findings • Mexico Road Improvements • Occur quite fast • Significant amount complete • No environmental studies • Different labor situation

11. Impacts on Communities • Road Improvements • Presidio – border crossing • Marfa – relief route • Alpine – relief route/topography issues • Fort Stockton – potential transfer point

12. Impacts on Communities • Road Improvements • McCamey – relief route • Crane – relief route • Odessa-Midland – direct connectors (at IH 20) and relief route • Lamesa – relief route (already part of Ports to Plains Corridor)

13. Impacts on Communities • Maintaining Sense of Community • Alpine • Marfa • Local Businesses • CBD to relief route relocations • Through traffic no longer stopping

14. Impacts on Communities • Community Development • New development at relief route interchanges • Land use issues • Access management issues • Public Response • Communication is vital • Fear of the unknown • Desire for involvement

15. Potential Road Projects • “Super Two-Lane” Segments • In “mountainous” topography • Direct Connectors • At Interstate and other major interchanges • Relief Routes • Around cities • Grade Separations • Alpine area

16. Project Programming Issues • $$$$$$$$$$ • Where will it come from? • Skyrocketing Costs • Materials • Labor • How to Identify Priorities • Corridor designation • Politics

17. Current Projects • US 67 Expansion • Marfa – Alpine • Alpine – Pecos County • Congestion and safety benefits • $20 million • First significant Texas projects

18. Future Projects • Midland County reliever route • US 67 expansion (Presidio – Marfa) • Potential second bridge at Presidio-Ojinaga

19. Conclusions • 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