February 2022 Vol 20 Issue 2

February 2022 Volume 20 Issue 2

We are a voice for our small town, grassroots members who may otherwise not have access to the right audiences, as well as a conduit for industry to come together in support and promotion of transportation improvements.

We are committed to working as an Alliance to improve transportation infrastructure and business networks opportunities, by advocating for appropriate funding levels, so business and industry can thrive.

We are focused on the economic and business interests that are the lifeblood of the region.

Federal Update

On October 18th of 2021, the Senate Appropriations Committee released their version of the FY2022 bill funding the US Department of Transportation. We were very pleased that language designating the Texas and New Mexico portion of the Port to Plains Corridor as a future interstate was included in the bill with the strong support of Senator Heinrich (D-NM) who sits on the Appropriations Committee, as well as the other three senators from New Mexico and Texas (Sens. Lujan, Cornyn and Cruz) . Although the Congress is currently working under a “continuing resolution” to fund government operations at FY2021 levels that will expire on March 11 of this year, House and Senate negotiators have reached agreement on top line numbers for the overall spending package and the individual bills, including the Transportation-HUD bill, and are making progress towards an omnibus FY2022 spending bill.

Although the P2P designation was not included in the House version of the transportation appropriations bill, it did pass the House earlier this year as part of that chamber's version of the infrastructure bill. We are now focused in our advocacy efforts on working with members of the Texas and New Mexico delegations to urge house appropriators to agree to the Senate language making the P2P future interstate designation and are receiving positive feedback on those efforts. All indications as of the date of this memo are that the future interstate designation language from the Senate bill will be included in the final package. However, given the extreme partisan environment in Congress that has created even more disfunction than usual, nothing is certain until the bill is signed into law by the President. Should the FY2022 funding package collapse, we stand ready to move the stand alone bills in each chamber.

Additionally, the P2P governmental relations team has begun internal discussions and those with local and state elected and transportation department officials about potential congressionally directed spending requests for FY2023. The strategy here would be, assuming the designation passes in to law this year, to seek planning money for the TX and NM portions of the future interstate and specific project funding for projects in the state plans that will make improvements along the corridor necessary for it to eventually meet interstate standards. Those FY2023 project funding requests will likely be due to congressional offices in mid or late March of this year.

David Pore, Hance Scarborough, LLP

Save These Dates

I-27 Advisory Committee

The I-27 Advisory Committee, created in Texas by SB 1474, will hold its first meeting in Laredo, TX on April 20, 2022. This will be a hybrid meeting with an in-person and virtual option. Future information including time, agenda and virtual link with me published at: https://www.txdot.gov/government/partnerships/i-27-advisory-committee.html.

2022 Ports-to-Plains Alliance Annual Conference

The Ports-to-Plains Alliance will be holding an in-person Annual Conference in Big Spring, TX at Hotel Settles on September 14-16, 2022. Mark your calendar now. Looking forward to meeting live once again! The theme of the conference will be “The Future Is NOW”. As we move closer, watch for additional information on agenda, lodging, and registration.

Congressman Jackson with Milton Pax

Ports-to-Plains Board member Milton Pax visiting with Congressman Ronny Jackson at Dumas Noon Lions Club.

Benefits of the Heartland Expressway

Great reminder about why completion of all three segments of the Ports-to-Plains Alliance Corridor, Ports-to-Plains, Heartland Expressway, and Theodore Roosevelt Expressway remain important. The Heartland Expressway Association put together a presentation to be shared with local communities, businesses, and leadership reminding all about the benefits of the Heartland Expressway.

This presentation is a PowerPoint (Linked below as a PDF) which reviews the History, as well as, General, Transportation, National and Economic Benefits. It also provides a summary of the Benefits by the Number.

While this presentation was specifically for the Heartland Expressway Corridor, the message is the same for all three segments of the Ports-to-Pains Alliance Corridor. This international corridor is important in terms of benefits to local communities, mobility and connectivity, nationally, and economically.

View Benefits of the Heartland Expressway

Construction Begins on Additional Passing Lanes in Colorado

PROJECT NEWS | US 287 Passing Lanes

CDOT will begin work to add four passing lanes on #US287 between Kit Carson and Lamar. This work is set to begin on Monday, Feb. 14, and is expected to be completed in February 2023.

WHERE? Two northbound passing lanes will be added between Mile Point (MP) 94 to MP 96 (North of Lamar) and MP 114 to 116 (North of Love’s Travel Stop in Eads). Two southbound passing lanes will be added between MP 110.9 to MP 112.4 (Near the Cobblestone Inn & Suites in Eads) and MP 120 to 122 (South of Kit Carson).

WHAT? The project will include embankment work, removal of existing concrete and asphalt pavements, aggregate base course, concrete paving, traffic control, fencing, signing, striping, and native seeding.

TRAVEL IMPACTS: Drivers can expect 24-hour width restrictions (12 feet), speed reductions to 40 mph, shoulder closures, lane closures, and traffic delays. Work will be during daylight hours Monday through Friday. Motorists should expect 24-hour width restrictions of 11 feet. Motorists should also expect delays during the scheduled work hours. Night work and weekend work are not anticipated at this time.

More info: https://www.codot.gov/.../us287-passing-lanes-project-begins

Colorado Department of Transportation