1. Trade Transportation Activities Report Bill Frawley, TTI 2012 Border to Border Transportation Conference South Padre Island, TX November 14, 2012

2. What is TTAR? Not something at the bottom of a bad glass of iced tea! Summary of activities and projects related to international trade – Construction projects – Corridor plans – Various modes – Border programs

3. What is the Motivation? Understanding that Mexico is Texas’ largest trading partner Desires to grow that trade Need to improve transportation systems Use all modes

4. Border District Pass-Through Financing Helps accelerate mobility and safety improvements Authorized by Texas Transportation Code 220.104(b) – TxDOT may enter into agreements with public or private entities – Pay those entities pass-through tolls as reimbursement for road project costs – Reimbursement amount based on facility usage

5. Pass-Through Tolls January 2009 – Program rules amended September 2009 – Approved ~$300 million in projects (limited to construction costs) December 2010 – $250 million project call May 2011 – Approved list of projects

6. Pass-Through Finance Project Examples El Paso – Spur 601 from US 54 to Loop 375 Del Rio – Loop 79/Spur 317 around east side Brownsville – SH 32 from US 77/281 to SH 4 – Through agreement with Cameron County RMA

7. Interstate Corridors and International Trade IH 35 – Improving an existing highway – Some improvements great distances from the border IH 69 – Extending Interstate access – Improving existing roads – Building new segments

8. Freight Rail South Orient Rail Line El Paso Freight Study Laredo Regional Freight Study McAllen Intermodal Project KCS Proposed Rail Bridge and Bypass (near Laredo) Camino Colombia Toll Road (rail in corridor)

9. Freight Rail El Paso Rail Relocation Cameron County West Rail Relocation Harlingen Railroad Relocation

10. Coordinated Border Infrastructure (CBI) Program Working group convened by TxDOT in 2005 Representatives from TxDOT Districts and MPOs within 100 miles of border Consensus that CBI funds should be used within 50 miles of border crossings Consensus that funds should be distributed using FHWA criteria and formulas

11. Coordinated Border Infrastructure (CBI) Program CBI funds are often mixed with other funds Wide variety of project types – Interstate highway improvements – Industrial park street overlays – Corridor studies – New location road construction – Improve existing arterials to freeways – Extend existing roads – International bridge improvements

12. Border Safety Inspection Facility (BSIF) Program Temporary and permanent facilities Temporary facilities to inspect and weigh commercial vehicles – Complete and operational at 6 of 8 locations Permanent facilities to replace temporary ones – Two locations open and operational Bridge of the Americas Ysleta-Zaragoza Bridge

13. Border Safety Inspection Facility (BSIF) Program Eight locations – Bridge of the Americas – El Paso – Ysleta-Zaragoza Bridge – Ysleta – Camino Real International Bridge – Laredo – Laredo-Colombia Solidarity Bridge – Laredo – World Trade Bridge – Laredo – Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge on the Rise – Free Trade Bridge – Los Indios – Veterans International Bridge at Los Tomates - Brownsville

14. Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) at Border Stations Cooperative effort between TxDOT and DPS Design and implementation of ITS components and systems Implementation in El Paso and Laredo City of Pharr is developing a Transportation Management System Technology project

15. Feasibility Studies and Plans Truck Lane Restriction Study for US 83, 281, and 77/83 Lower RGV-Tamaulipas Border Master Plan Texas Waterborne Freight Corridor Study El Paso Regional Port of Entry Operations Plan

16. General Aviation Capital Improvements Capacity expansion projects – Hanger access taxiways – New terminals – New Runways – Runway Improvements – Hangers – Land acquisition – Engineering and design for projects

17. Public Transportation Regional Coordinated Planning TxDOT Public Transportation Planning Division contracts with entities in each of the State’s five planning regions that border Mexico All regions completed regional plans in 2006 TxDOT funded plan updates in FY 2011-12 Plans mandated by Texas Transportation Code, Chapter 461, as well as by federal legislation

18. Questions Contact: – Bill Frawley, TTI – 817-426-0533 – w-frawley@tamu.edu