December 2024 Vol 22 Issue 12

December 2024 Volume 22 Issue 12

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.

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PRESIDENT'S CORNER

As we close out 2024, I look back and am amazed at what all has been accomplished on the Ports-to-Plains Transportation Corridor this last year. Yes, I know when you start talking about the time it takes to plan, design, and construct a major corridor upgrade, people’s eyes glaze over. When transportation engineers start talking about fifteen months to complete feasibility studies, and eighteen months to get environmental clearance, eighteen months to buy and clear Right of Way, four years have rolled by, and we are still not talking about the construction time needed to complete a project. This is why we are always working to secure planning funding to get that process started as soon as possible. This is why we will continue to advocate for government reform to reduce inefficiencies and save time in the NEPA (environmental clearance), and ROW acquisition process. This is why we are working to secure state and federal funding to construct the upgrade of this critical transportation corridor. Yes, I am always realistic that an infrastructure project of this size will take many years to complete. People are always asking that question, and I have to answer, “fifteen to twenty.” But by focusing, planning, and working on the small details every year, we will not wake up twenty years from now and wonder why our future interstate is still in the future and why the fifty-three percent of our corridor that needs to be upgraded to four-lane divided standard is still a two-lane highway.

Included in this newsletter is our annual progress report on activities that we have been working on this last year in the Alliance. Part of our mission is to advocate for an improved transportation corridor through the midwestern United States. Advocacy includes spreading our message and increasing the strength of our voice by adding membership to our grass root ranks. In addition to telling our story through this newsletter, we will continue to measure the effectiveness of other media outlets to keep our message at the forefront throughout the year. I also want to draw your attention to the Corridor Status Maps for all three high priority corridors that Joe Kiely, our VP of Operations, has created and will continue to update. Use these maps to stay up to date on planning, design, and construction activities. I also invite you to use these communication tools to become engaged in the public involvement part of the project development process. The progress report also mentions the work of the I-27 Advisory Committee that meets twice a year. Your Alliance was instrumental in the creation of this committee and by doing so, has given our membership a voice in the development process of the future interstate 27 in Texas. Our report does not mention this, but we also have membership representation on TxDOT’s Border Trade Advisory Committee, and the Freight Advisory Committee. TxDOT uses these two important advisory committees to implement both their Border and Freight Implementation Plans.

The progress report also highlights the political support that we have enjoyed all throughout our corridor. Our congressional delegations really do understand the value that an improved transportation corridor will have on the economic well-being of the nation and specifically their respective areas. Improving the lives of our citizens and creating economic opportunities for our businesses make it easier to muster up the political will to make the large investment in this corridor upgrade. I have witnessed over the thirty-five plus years of my career that infrastructure investment is predominately a bi-partisan effort that creates value regardless of political affiliation. That was demonstrated again this last year with the funding commitments received and the approval of the first extension of interstate 27 since 1992. We look forward to having a voice in shaping the federal infrastructure program next year.
Finally, work is actively progressing throughout our transportation corridor. In Texas, over $2 billion is currently under development in their ten-year program and in 2024 $485 million moved into the construction phase. In North Dakota, the ribbon was cut on an additional 12 miles of four-lane expansion on US 85 funded at $100 million. In Nebraska, the environmental and schematic was completed on 18.2 miles of US 26/ L-62A in Scotts Bluff and Morrill counties. In November, the study to upgrade US 87/287 to interstate from Amarillo to Dumas was kicked off, and in 2025 we looked forward to similar studies starting in Laredo, Lubbock, and New Mexico. 2025 looks to be prosperous and productive. Happy New Year!

more to come …

Lauren D. Garduño

2024 Ports-to-Plains Alliance Progress Report

Throughout 2024, the Ports-to-Plains Alliance has worked towards answers to three questions. This report will provide progress on those questions.

View/Download 2024 Ports-to-Plains Alliance Progress Report

Why Join?

This question addresses Marketing Successes.

Website: portstoplains.com
- 16,334 Active Users in 2024, an increase of 126% over 2023
- 51,286 Page Views in 2024, an increase of 79.5% from 2023
Newsletter Database: 173 added in 2024
Ports-to-Plains Alliance Publishes Corridor Status Maps
- The Ports-to-Plains Alliance created and shared Corridor Status for each segment of the North American Corridor: Ports-to-Plains, Heartland Expressway, and Theodore Roosevelt Expressway.
- These maps are layered to show Status of the Corridor Highways, Ports-to-Plains Alliance Members, Congressional Comments, Construction, Ports of Entry, National Park Services, Cattle Feedyards, Military Bases, and in Texas: Future Interstate Sections, City Location Studies
  - CLICK HERE to View the Ports-to-Plains Corridor Status Map
  - CLICK HERE to View the Heartland Expressway Corridor Status Map
  - CLICK HERE to View the Theodore Roosevelt Expressway Corridor Status Map
- The Heartland Expressway and Theodore Roosevelt Expressway Corridor Status Maps are also available on heartlandexpressway.com and trexpressway.com, respectively
I-27 Advisory Committee Met Twice in 2024
- The I-27 Advisory Committee created by SB 1474 in 2021, met on April 11, 2024 in Lubbock Texas.
  - During the April 11th committee meeting were two agenda items: Ports-to-Plains System in Texas - Interstate Implementation Plan Recommendations and Committee Workshop presented by Wendy Travis, Southwest Region Director, Transportation, Garver; and TxDOT District Updates.
  - Committee has released Fact Sheets to help understand the value of the Corridor to Texas
    - About the Committee
    - Energy Fact Sheet
    - Agriculture Fact Sheet
    - Roadway Connectivity
    - Economic Impact
    - Freight
    - International Trade
    - Job Creation
    - Multimodal Connectivity
    - National Defense
- The I-27 Advisory Committee, created by SB 1474, met on September 19, 2024 in Del Rio, TX for its second meeting in 2024.
  - The 4-mile section of U.S. 87 from existing I-27 to south of 130th Street in Lubbock has been designated I-27
  - Lauren Garduno President and CEO, Ports-to-Plains Alliance provided Update from Ports-to-Plains Alliance
  - TxDOT Districts provided updates on the 2025 Unified Transportation Program (UTP)
  - Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Updates from Laredo and Webb County MPO, San Angelo MPO and Eagle Pass MPO
  - Update on Statewide Long-Range Transportation Plan

Why Support?

This question addresses Legislative Successes.

FY24 Mini-Appropriations Bill Brings $29.165 Million to Ports-to-Plains Alliance Projects. This legislation, which cleared the U.S. Senate on Friday, March 8, 2024, and the U.S. House on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, was signed into law by President Biden on Saturday, March 9, 2024.
- Among the notable provisions of the bill are allocations totaling $29.165 million for four community projects benefitting the Ports-to-Plains Alliance corridor. These projects were championed by various U.S. House members and Senators, reflecting a bipartisan commitment to infrastructure development.
  - Congressman Ronny Jackson (TX-13) secured funding for two critical projects:
    - U.S. 287 Interstate Design, Amarillo to Dumas: $2 million
    - State Loop 335 Widen Non-Freeway, Amarillo, Texas: $2.2 million
  - Congressman Jodey Arrington (TX-19) successfully advocated for:
    - Interstate Planning: U.S. 87 from Lubbock to Tahoka: $8 million
  - Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11) secured funding for:
    - U.S. 277—Operational Improvements in San Angelo: $2.5 million
- Additionally, two projects received funding through the U.S. Senate:
  - Ports-to-Plains Corridor Interstate Planning (New Mexico): $1.6 million, championed by Senators Martin Heinrich (NM) and Ben Ray Luján (NM)
  - Heartland Expressway Improvements: $12.865 million, secured by Senator Deb Fischer (NE)
  - Funding for these projects is now available allowing projects to move forward
FY 2025 Appropriations in Current Legislation
- These 2025 Congressional Requests are awaiting final action by Congress
  - U.S. House Community Planning Projects
    - Congressman Jodey Arrington (TX-19) has $10.000 million for Operational Improvements Lamesa One-Way
    - Congressman Ronny Jackson (TX13) has two projects still in play:
      - SL 335 - Upgrade to Freeway- Amarillo from West of FM 2590 to (South) to FM 2186 (TxDOT Project ID 2494-02-011) at $1.0 million
      - Funds for City Location Study at Dumas at $1.0 million
    - U.S. Senate Congressionally Designated Projects
      - Senators Martin Heinrich (NM) and Ben Ray Luján (NM) along with Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernandez (NM-3) have $1.6 million in play for Interstate Planning Funds for City Location Study at Raton
      - Senator Deb Fischer (NE) has included $5.0 million for Chadron North to Nebraska/ South Dakota state line
FY 2025 Texas UTP
- On August 22, 2024, the Texas Transportation Commission approved the FY 25 Unified Transportation Plan (UTP). The UTP is TxDOT’s annual 10-year plan that guides the funding development of transportation projects across the state, identifies how much transportation funding the state expects to have over the next decade and how to distribute it to address TxDOT’s strategic goals, and includes all transportation projects that TxDOT is developing for construction over the next 10 years.

That is progress! But there is more to the story about investment in projects benefiting the Ports-to-Plains Corridor in Texas. Annually, the Ports-to-Plains Alliance reviews projects in the UTP. In 2024, projects benefitting the Ports-to-Plains Corridor totaled about $2.17 billion. In the approved FY 2025 UTP, projects totaled to $2.15 billion. $485.1 million of projects in the FY24 UTP are not in the 2025 UTP because those projects began construction. Exciting increase in investment in the Ports-to-Plains Corridor in Texas.

Why Build?

This question addresses Development Successes

New Interstate Highway in Texas on the Ports-to-Plains Corridor:

- On September 5, 2024, TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams received a letter from Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) approving the first I-27 expansion, to add a 4.2-mile segment from the existing terminus in Lubbock, Texas, to the new limits of U.S. Highway 87 (U.S. 87) access control located 0.1 mile north of County Road 7500, south of Lubbock. FHWA Administrator Shailen P. Bhatt wrote: “I find the requirements of Section 1105(e)(5)(A) have been satisfied and hereby approve the 4.2-mile addition to the Interstate System as I-27. “
- The Texas Transportation Commission approved a minute order designating a segment of the state highway system as I-27, concurrent with U.S. 87 at its regular meeting of September 26, 2024.
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Additional 12 Miles of TRE (U.S. 85)
- On October 25, 2024, the North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) celebrated the Ribbon Cutting for an additional 12 mile four-lane expansion of U.S. 85 from Watford City along with Shared Use Path alongside on the Theodore Roosevelt Expressway.
- The project cost around $100 million, which was funded through federal, state, and county funds. It was a two-year construction project and is the largest construction project every completed by the NDDOT.
I-27 System in Texas Implementation Plan Released on October 28, 2024
- The I-27 Implementation Plan provides a strategic approach for TxDOT to develop the I-27 System in Texas. TxDOT will develop the system through a series of incremental upgrades over near-term (0 to 4 years), mid-term (5 to 10 years) and long-term (10+ years) planning timeframes

View/Download Complete I-27 System in Texas Implementation Plan

TxDOT Initiates IH-27 Feasibility Study from Amarillo to Dumas
- The Texas Department of Transportation's (TxDOT) Amarillo District is conducting a feasibility study to evaluate the potential upgrade of U.S. 87/U.S. 287 to interstate standards (I-27) from Amarillo to Dumas, covering U.S. 87/U.S. 287 in Randall, Potter, and Moore counties from State Loop (SL) 335 in Amarillo to a logical terminus north of Dumas at U.S. 287.
- In order to assure that citizens along the study corridor have adequate input to the study, a stakeholder working group of local public and private leaders and public meetings will be held. See Schedule below.

Public Hearing on the HEA - Minatare to U.S. 385 Route and Environmental Assessment Information
- Nebraska Department of Transportation held a Public Hearing, on the DRAFT Environmental Assessment and Preliminary Design, seeking input on proposed improvements to approximately 18.5 miles located on U.S. Highway 26 (U.S.-26) and Nebraska Link 62A (L-62A) in Scotts Bluff and Morrill counties in Nebraska on Thursday, November 21, 2024 in Minatare, NE.
- The proposed project would expand the existing two-lane highway to a four-lane expressway. The project would start on U.S.-26 just west of Minatare’s Main Street and extend east to the junction of U.S.-26 and L-62A. The project would continue east on L-62A to the junction with U.S. Highway 385.

2025 Washington DC Fly-in

As we move to 2025, the landscape in Washington DC may certainly be different. With the Republican Party controlling the Administration, Senate and House, 2025 will be an important year for elected and administrative officials to hear our progress and priorities. In the past four years, the Alliance has seen strong support from Congress and the Administration in terms of legislation, Discretionary Grants, Congressionally Designated Projects and Community Planning Projects. The 2025 Fly-in may set the stage for the next four years.

THE ALLIANCE NEEDS PARTICIPATION FROM EACH STATE AND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
Mark Your Calendar Now!
Date: March 24-27, 2025

Schedule:

Sunday March 23rd - Travel
Monday, March 24th – Travel and Ports-to-Plains Alliance Board Meeting at 4:30 PM EST
Tuesday, March 25th – U.S. House of Representatives Office Meetings
Wednesday, March 26th – U.S. Senate Office Meetings
Thursday, March 27th – Overflow Congressional and Agency Meetings
Friday, March 28th - Travel

Hotel:

Embassy Suites by Hilton Washington DC Georgetown
Rooms will be available from Sunday, March 23rd to Friday, March 28th
- 1250 22nd Street NW
- Washington DC 20037
- Map & Directions
- A Link to Reservations will be available soon.

Please let Tina Scarborough (tina.scarborough@portstoplains.com) and Joe Kiely (joe.kiely@portstoplains.com) know if you are able to participate.