July 2022 Vol 20 Issue 7 - Ports to Plains

July 2022 Volume 20 Issue 7

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.

REGISTER FOR PORTS-TO-PLAINS CONFERENCE TODAY BEFORE IT'S SOLD OUT!

We have a maximum number of participants at 150 due to the size of the room at Hotel Settles. We already have 110 registrants and expect it to sell out soon. Be sure and register today if you plan to attend. The 2022 Annual Ports-to-Plains Conference will be held at the Hotel Settles in Big Spring, Texas on September 14-16, 2022.

REGISTER HERE

Take a look at the draft agenda: CLICK HERE.

At this year's conference, we will celebrate the progress made with future interstate designation for the corridor in Texas and New Mexico! We will also celebrate safety improvements in Colorado; completion of US 385 south of Alliance to Junction L62A on the Heartland Expressway in Nebraska; completion of the Horseshoe Bend Landslide Project on US 85; design on Long X Bridge to Watford City 4 Lane Project; and US Highway 85 / Hwy 200 Intersection to Long X Bridge on the Theodore Roosevelt Expressway in North Dakota.

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Presentations will provide reminders of the benefits of an interstate highway in Texas by TxDOT; progress in New Mexico corridor by the Eastern Plains Council of Governments, an update on highway improvements in Mexico by the State of Coahuila and the City of Del Rio, TX; current and future value of energy and agriculture, including presentations by the Permian Basin Strategic Partnership, Theodore Roosevelt Expressway on the Bakken and Plains Cotton Growers.

Just a reminder that sleeping rooms at Hotel Settles are sold out. To see lodging alternatives: CLICK HERE.

The support of our sponsors is critical to our success.

Thank you to our Sponsors: CLICK HERE.

See You in Big Spring! The Future Is Now!

If you have questions or would like to sponsor, contact Duffy Hinkle at duffy.hinkle@portstoplains.com or 806-790-7196 or Joe Kiely at joe.kiely@portstoplains.com or 719-740-2240.

Theodore Roosevelt Expressway Association 4-Lane Progress Report

Information provided by North Dakota Department of Transportation and North Dakota Highway Patrol.

Long X Bridge to Watford City 4 Lane Project Update (Design Phase)

Continued efforts for:
• Utility Coordination
• Right-of-Way Negotiations
• Cost Participation and Maintenance Agreement with McKenzie County for the proposed trail is under final review
• Aquatic resource re-delineation work submitted and is under review by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
• Wetland Restoration activities continuing
• Wildlife fence field review

(NEW) US Highway 85 / Hwy 200 Intersection to Long X Bridge (Design Phase)

North Dakota Department of Transportation and consultants working on survey and starting design

Horseshoe Bend Landslide Project Update (Construction Phase)

Paving is complete
Permanent striping complete
Along with final seeding and erosion control.

Completed Items

Long X Bridge Project Update (Construction Phase)
Long X Bridge Southern Wildlife Fencing (Construction Phase)

Highway 85 continues to carry oversized loads

More Colorado roads now eligible for federal money to build electric chargers

“Colorado's ability to create a network of electric vehicle-friendly roadways just got even better thanks to the Federal Highway Administration's decision to approve all six stretches of road the state wanted to add to a national network of highways meant to extend Electric Vehicle travel options … The designation of additional EV corridors and the future investment of $57 million in federal funds will support Colorado's continued progress toward electrifying the state transportation system.”

U.S. 287 from Limon to Oklahoma on the Ports-to-Plains Corridor was one of the six corridors approved by FHWA. Interstate 70 on the Ports-to-Plains Corridor from Limon to Denver and Interstate 76 on the Heartland Expressway from Brush to Denver were already designated as Electric Vehicle Corridors.

Complete News Release from Colorado Department of Transportation: CLICK HERE

Texas Freight Advisory Committee

The Texas Freight Advisory Committee met in Austin on July 20, 2022. Below are a few of the highlights associated with the I-27/Ports-to-Plains Corridor.

Primary Topics Included:

Commodity Flow Profile

2019
2050

Texas Multimodal Freight Network Needs Assessment

Systemwide
Supply chain
Safety
Resiliency
Equity

Developing Recommendations

Prioritization process
Sustaining, Stimulative, and Transformational Recommendations
Initial strategies

The complete set of presentations is available: CLICK HERE.

Texas Commodity Flow by Tonnage, 2019-2050

Freight tonnage projected to grow 90% by 2050
Trucks will continue to be the primary mode

Texas Highway Freight Network Mobility and Reliability Needs, Existing Conditions

West Texas and border regions experienced most significant increase in mobility needs since 2018
The consultants for the Freight Advisory Committee will be conducting a commodity flow evaluation of I-27 and I-69 as if it is to be completed by 2050. Current projections only evaluate based on current fully funded UTP.

Texas Highway Freight Network Safety Needs, Existing Conditions

Highest Safety Needs

Large metro areas
Panhandle region
Permian Basin

Eagle Pass Border Crossings, Texas

As stated last month, Del Rio, Eagle Pass, and Laredo Border Crossings are important to International Trade using the Future I-27 Corridor. Trade at Eagle Pass, Texas totaled $13.8 billion with Exports valued at $4.43 billion and imports valued at $9.38 billion.

This data is available at:: https://ustradenumbers.com/port/eagle-pass/

For Del Rio’s trade see the June Ports-to-Plains Newsletter. Next month we will see Laredo highlighted.

Eagle Pass ranked No. 36 by value among all of the nation’s 450-plus airports, seaports and border crossings. Ranking it just against other border crossings, it ranked No. 10 by value and No. 57 by tonnage.

Eagle Pass top five trade partners accounted for 99.95 percent of its total trade through May. By way of comparison, the United States' top five trade partners accounted for 51.1 percent.

Taking a closer look at its leading trade partners:

Trade with No. 1 Mexico rose 1.59 percent to $13.77 billion. Exports rose 4.58 percent to $4.43 billion. Imports rose 0.23 percent to $9.35 billion.
Trade with No. 2 Canada fell 24.67 percent to $13.51 million. There were no exports. Imports fell 24.67 percent to $13.51 million.
Trade with No. 3 China fell 22.27 percent to $7.64 million. There were no exports. Imports fell 22.27 percent to $7.64 million.
Trade with No. 4 Japan rose 174.35 percent to $6.46 million. There were no exports. Imports rose 174.35 percent to $6.46 million.
Trade with No. 5 Taiwan rose 25.14 percent to $4.08 million. There were no exports. Imports rose 25.14 percent to $4.08 million.

Eagle Pass top five exports accounted for 31.11 percent of all its exports through May. By way of comparison, the United States’ top five exports accounted for 22.98 percent.

Here’s a closer look at the top five, by value:

Soybeans fell 6.03 percent compared to last year to $472.2 million.
Passenger vehicles rose 148.69 percent compared to last year to $293.13 million.
Misc. iron and steel articles rose 5.76 percent compared to last year to $214.36 million.
Plastics rose 40.03 percent compared to last year to $213.52 million.
Corn fell 39.92 percent compared to last year to $184.08 million.

Eagle Pass top five imports accounted for 71.9 percent of all its imports through May. By way of comparison, the United States’ top five imports accounted for 20.81 percent.

Here’s a closer look at the top five, by value:

Commercial vehicles fell 15.3 percent compared to last year to $3.66 billion.
Beer rose 9.68 percent compared to last year to $1.54 billion.
Passenger vehicles fell 14.06 percent compared to last year to $968.3 million.
Motor vehicle parts rose 42.51 percent compared to last year to $290.89 million.
Seats, excluding barber, dental rose 5.39 percent compared to last year to $284.16 million.