Texas Corridors
Print This Page « Send to a friend
Strategic Corridors
Major changes are underway for the Trans-Texas Corridor, including the project's name, vision and scope.
Whether
in far south Texas, the northeast region of the state or somewhere in
between, major corridor projects will be comprised of several small
multi-modal segments closer to 600 feet in width, and will no longer be called the
Trans-Texas Corridor. Each segment will be referred to by its original
name, such as SH 130, I-69 and Loop 9. The changes are detailed in
Innovative Connectivity in Texas/Vision 2009 , the revised version of
Crossroads of the Americas, the TTC's original concept document.
TxDOT
Executive Director Amadeo Saenz unveiled the revisions during his
opening remarks at the Fourth Annual Texas Transportation Forum, Jan.
6, in Austin.
"That does not mean that we will abdicate our
mission," Saenz said. "We will still develop transportation projects that
move Texas forward. We will still partner with local governments and
entities, and where appropriate, the private sector, to get needed
projects on the ground."
The Corridor Advisory Committees and Corridor Segment Advisory
Committees, comprised of citizens from affected communities, will guide
project development, weighing in on issues from transportation need to
mode to route location. TxDOT officials stressed that the agency will
focus on improving existing and planned transportation facilities,
rather than breaking new ground for the project.
TxDOT will consider every available tool of finance to bring these projects to fruition, including partnerships with the private sector.
Trans-Texas Corridor
Environmental studies are ongoing for I-69/TTC and TTC-35; click the Trans-Texas Corridor link for more information.
Ports-to-Plains Trade Corridor
The Ports-to-Plains Trade Corridor is a proposed divided highway corridor stretching from Laredo through West Texas to Denver, Colorado. Designated as a High Priority Corridor by Congress in 1998, the Ports-to-Plains corridor will facilitate the efficient transportation of goods and services from Mexico, through West Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Colorado and ultimately on into Canada and the Pacific Northwest.
Together, the communities along the Ports-to-Plains Trade Corridor are becoming the gateway to trade throughout the nation and with Mexico and Canada. The Ports-to-Plains Trade Corridor will provide a vast number of benefits for communities along the corridor. It will:
- allow for the development of less congested ports of entry along the Texas-Mexico border.
- provide alternatives to other congested corridors that run through major metropolitan areas.
- help to increase trade between the U.S., Mexico and Canada, contributing to a rise in regional mobility and economic status for all three nations.
A recent study prepared by Cambridge Systematics for TxDOT concluded that enhancements to rail, electric transmission lines and highways would improve mobility, safety and economic opportunity along the Ports-to-Plains Corridor.
La Entrada al Pacifico Corridor
The purpose of the La Entrada al Pacifico Corridor is to increase the efficiency of transportation of goods and people from Pacific Coast ports in Mexico northeast to Midland-Odessa, Texas. Mexican ports, such as the Port of Topolobampo, are potentially viable alternatives to the congested ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. Additionally, the underutilized border crossing at Presidio, Texas is an opportunity to divert traffic from the already overburdened crossing at El Paso.
Currently, the corridor is undergoing a feasibility study, which will:
- determine the feasibility of a four-lane divided facility within the designated national corridor, as well as any other corridors identified through the public involvement process.
- identify and prioritize potential roadway improvement alternatives along the nationally designated corridor, if a four-lane divided facility is not feasible.
- evaluate the economic impacts of future connections and improvements to the infrastructure in Mexico.
- identify financial and institutional issues related to the development and construction of the corridor.
- provide public involvement through an outreach program and public meetings.
