July 2024 Vol 22 Issue 7 - Ports to Plains

July 2024 Volume 22 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.

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As you may have noticed, the monthly Ports-to-Plains Newsletter is sent through our member database. Please be sure the email address pal@memberclicks-mail.net is allowed on your system.

PRESIDENT'S CORNER

Last month, we examined the impact that population growth could have on our future transportation system. Even the rural areas of the United States are likely to experience some modest growth due to changing workforce trends, as digital and remote work options become more widely available. Naturally, this growth will lead to increased food demand, putting significant pressure on agricultural transport options. While western Nebraska or eastern Colorado may not experience the population boom that Omaha or Denver might, it is expected that the demand for beef and agricultural products will continue to rise both domestically and internationally. I also mentioned last month that we would take a moment to discuss how improving our Ports-to-Plains Corridor can help manage the population trends and consumer demands of tomorrow. The first step is to expand the corridor to a four-lane divided or interstate standard. Already, companies are reaching out to determine future business locations, and having an interstate corridor is a critical factor in their evaluation process. A significant portion of the population growth I described last month in Texas is happening along the IH 35 corridor. People prefer to live in places where they have access to work, recreation, and all the amenities on offer. This phenomenon dates back to the construction of our national railroad network when towns and eventually cities sprang up wherever the railroad went. Later, the development of the interstate influenced the growth and development of cities all across the United States. This truly embodies the phrase, "If you build it, they will come."

The second factor that can help manage population growth and consumer demand relates to what our corridor is connecting. Besides connecting people to communities, this corridor connects the world to the largest concentration of agricultural and beef production in the world. It is not a coincidence that the Midwestern United States is referred to as the breadbasket of North America. Forty percent of the nation's cotton is on our corridor. Twelve of the nation's largest feedlots are served by this corridor. As recently as last week, I listened to presentations describing the volume of agricultural products coming out of the Canadian Provinces of Saskatchewan and Alberta. Add to that the volume of food production occurring in the Mexican states of Coahuila and Nuevo Leon, and we have now connected North America to the largest concentration of agricultural production in the world. By completing the upgrade to the Ports-to-Plains, we will have a major north/south transportation artery running through the Midwestern United States that will cross every major rail network and connect at least nine interstates running east/west across the country. It sounds like an effective and efficient way to get our goods to the rest of the world. We are a little over a month away from our annual conference to be hosted by the Theodore Roosevelt Expressway in Dickinson, North Dakota. The theme this year is "Connecting North America", and we will have a great lineup of speakers focusing on trade and transportation that our corridor will continue to support. There will also be presentations on economic corridors in Canada and in Mexico. Finally, we will hear from our congressional delegations that have supported the work that it takes to build something big like the Ports-to-Plains. I hope to see you there.

more to come …

Lauren D. Garduño

THUD Appropriations Committee Approves Bill

U.S. House of Representatives

On July 10, 2024, the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Transportation and Urban Development (THUD) approved its Appropriations Bill. The Ports-to-Plains Alliance saw the following requests included as Community Funding Projects: U.S. Representative Jodey Arrington requested $10 million for Operational Funding for US 87 in Lamesa (One-Way Pair). The THUD Subcommittee approved the full $10 million request. Two projects were requested by U.S. Representative Ronny Jackson (TX-13): US 287 Interstate City Location Study at Dumas, TX at $3.2 million and SL 335 - Upgrade to Freeway - Amarillo West of FM 2590 to South to FM 2186 at $4 million. Both projects were partially funded at $1 million for each project. U.S. Representative Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-3) submitted the Raton New Mexico Interstate Alignment Study for $1.6 million but received $250,000 in the THUD Bill.

U.S. Senate

The U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Transportation and Urban Development (THUD) approved its Appropriations Bill on July 25, 2024. The Ports-to-Plains Alliance saw the following requests included as Congressionally Designated Projects: U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich and Ray Luján (NM) submitted a request together asking $1.6 million for Raton New Mexico Interstate Alignment Study and received their full request. A $7 million request was made by U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (NE) for Chadron North to Nebraska/South Dakota state line. $5 million was included in the approved bill. SH 71 Corridor Improvements Project (Heartland Expressway) was supported by a $5 million request from U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper. The THUD Subcommittee did not approve any funding in the approved bill.

What’s Next?

The funding approved by the THUD Subcommittees will next be considered by the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations and the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations.

TxDOT Releases DRAFT FY25 UTP

The Unified Transportation Program (UTP) is TxDOT’s 10-year plan that guides the development of transportation projects across the state. The funding levels in the UTP are based on a forecast of potential transportation revenue that may be available over the next 10 years.

The DRAFT FY25 UTP increased by $3.6 billion from $100.6 billion to $104.2 billion.

It is important to understand the development process, which begins with Plan Authority. Completing the Plan Authority is critical for adding projects to the UTP. The Ports-to-Plains Alliance continues to work with TxDOT and its District Offices to advance the Interstate Planning and City Location Studies. The I-27 System in Texas Implementation outlines the proposed timeline for moving those planning projects forward to be eligible for the UTP.

The following will outline the projects included in the draft FY25 UTP by TxDOT District. Abilene District Two projects are included in the UTP, totaling $19,824,000. Both are on US 87: Widen Non-Freeway - Big Spring from 2 miles north of Glasscock County to Glasscock County and from the Howard County line to 0.45 miles south of the Howard County line. Both projects have a bid target of September 1, 2025. The funding increased by $3,584,000 compared to the FY24 UTP.

Amarillo District

Ten projects were in the UTP, totaling $424,998,682. This includes six projects on Loop 335, two on US 87, and one on I-27. It is encouraging that two projects on I-27 were completed during 2024, totaling $269,063,384.

Lubbock District

Two projects, US 87 from CR 1026 to US 180 in Dawson County and US 87 from N 5th Street to N 3rd Street in Lamesa, totaling $13,080,442, were given a Notice to Proceed in 2024. Two other projects are included in the Draft FY25 UTP: US 87 SL88 Lubbock Outer Loop from 114th Street to 146th Street and FM 1585 SL 88 - Lubbock Outer Loop with limits from CR 2240 (Ave U) to 0.5 mi east of US 87. These projects are currently estimated at $324,603,483. These projects have a bid target of October 1, 2026.

San Angelo District

One project, estimated at $25,057,190 with a bid target of May 1, 2026, is included in the FY25 UTP: US 277 - Operational Improvements. Limits from: 0.75 miles north of FM 2105. Limits to: US 67.

Odessa District

The draft FY25 UTP included three projects: I-20 - East of SH 349 to East of FM 1208, I-20 - East of CR 1250 to East of SH 349, and US 349 at FM 1788. These projects are estimated to cost $299,538,627 and have bid targets from 2027 to 2033. A Notice to Proceed, dated 4/11/2024, was given to I-20 - East of CR 1300 to East of CR1250 at a cost of $202,949,834.

Laredo District

Six projects are included for the Laredo District, including three on I-35, two on US 83, and one on Loop 480. These projects have an estimated cost of $1,079,129,705. The bid target dates range from 2025 to 2027.

Summary

Total FY25 Projects: $2,166,678,729
Total FY24 Projects: $2,154,878,660
New Construction started in 2024: $485,093,660

How About Registering Today?

The agenda is nearly finalized. Have you completed your registration and lodging reservation? We are just over a month away from the 2024 Ports-to-Plains Alliance Conference, scheduled for September 10-12, 2024, in Dickinson, ND.

Agenda Highlights include:

9/11 Remembrance by Brady Lyson 1SG, North Dakota National Guard
Building for Connection: Agriculture by Scott Meske, Director North Dakota Transportation Coalition
Building for Connection: Tourism by Sara Otte-Coleman, Director - Tourism and Marketing, State of North Dakota
Building for Connection: Energy by Brady Pelton, Vice President, North Dakota Petroleum Council
Keynote Address by Brent Sanford, Former Lieutenant Governor, State of North Dakota
The Economy of Connections: Trade with Canada by Shane Getson, Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Chief Government Whip, and Parliamentary Secretary for Economic Corridor Development
Partnership Updates by Lauren Garduno, President/CEO, Ports-to-Plains Alliance, Deb Cottier, Chair, Heartland Expressway Association, and Cal Klewin, Executive Director, Theodore Roosevelt Expressway Association
Connecting Using Future Technology by Jeremiah Kuntz, Aurora Innovations Inc.
Presentation on Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library by Amy McCann, Director of Community Relations, Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum
Teddy Roosevelt as portrayed by Joe Wiegand

The Lodging Block at the Astoria Hotel and Events Center will expire on August 26th.

Information on Registration, Lodging, Agenda, Sponsors and Dickinson Attractions are now available at: https://portstoplains.com/conference/2024-annual-conference/.

If you have questions, contact the Ports-to-Plains Staff.