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) Eventual Path – Topolobampo, Mexico to Ports to Plains Corridor (Texas) Immediate Path – Chihuahua City to Ports to Plains Corridor Immediate Path – Chihuahua City to Ports to Plains Corridor La Entrada al Pacifico (LEAP) La Entrada al Pacifico (LEAP) Original Concept – 1995 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? Will Anyone Use It? Obstacles to Viability Obstacles to Viability International Cooperation International Cooperation Programming Projects (in U.S.) Programming Projects (in U.S.) Impacts on Communities Impacts on Communities

Findings YearEagle PassEl PasoLaredoPresidioTexas Total ,582280,867563,1452,0181,138, ,161297,663477,5453,2621,112, ,015256,236648,1474,0201,300, ,039360,982756,0455,0121,589, ,909361,412757,9785,8131,582, ,869360,517757,5743,9321,595, ,810382,193807,2913,6071,692, ,838368,562825,6263,8631,727, ,850409,093908,4785,6081,921, ,598430,768977,3535,7942,075,227 Percent Change %53%42%187%82% Loaded Truck Volumes

Findings Latest Estimated Volumes at Presidio POE Latest Estimated Volumes at Presidio POE trucks per day trucks per day cars per day cars per day ~3500 cars per day on weekends ~3500 cars per day on weekends

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Conclusions International Truck Traffic is Increasing International Truck Traffic is Increasing Presidio-Ojinaga POE is Underutilized Presidio-Ojinaga POE is Underutilized LEAP Corridor is Viable LEAP Corridor is Viable Several Projects to be Programmed Several Projects to be Programmed Impacts on Communities to be Considered Impacts on Communities to be Considered Full Feasibility Study Underway Full Feasibility Study Underway