1. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OFFICE

2. What is the International Relations Office? 2 T he Office was created in 1994 in response to the North American Free Trade Agreement and serves as TxDOT’s point of contact for border issues; and for federal, state, and local entities on matters of an international nature.

3. What is the International Relations Office? 3 IRO Mission Assist Commission, Administration, districts, divisions and offices achieve the TxDOT mission through support on international issues. IRO Mission Assist Commission, Administration, districts, divisions and offices achieve the TxDOT mission through support on international issues. Participate in State and Bi-National (US-MX) transportation related committees Produce border reports and publications Spearhead border trade and transportation studies Provide Spanish translations and standards for translations Host International Visitors to TxDOT Work with US-MX border crossing stakeholders on border issues Advocate for POE owners/operators and State of Texas

4. Looking Ahead 4 Transitioning toward a better understanding of the key role transportation plays in trade and economic development. Gain a better understanding of how global trade impacts Texas and U.S. highways. Become better equipped to assist TxDOT in future infrastructure planning Transitioning toward a better understanding of the key role transportation plays in trade and economic development. Gain a better understanding of how global trade impacts Texas and U.S. highways. Become better equipped to assist TxDOT in future infrastructure planning

5.  US-MX trade (exports/imports) was $506B  70% of total U.S.-MX trade transported by truck through Texas POEs  3.5 million trucks entered Texas from Mexico in 2013  Mexico is Texas’ #1 trading partner - $195B  Mexico is Texas’ top export destination - $101B #2 Canada - $25.89B #3 Brazil - $10.83B #4 China - $10.74B #5 Netherlands - $9.85B *2013 Figures  US-MX trade (exports/imports) was $506B  70% of total U.S.-MX trade transported by truck through Texas POEs  3.5 million trucks entered Texas from Mexico in 2013  Mexico is Texas’ #1 trading partner - $195B  Mexico is Texas’ top export destination - $101B #2 Canada - $25.89B #3 Brazil - $10.83B #4 China - $10.74B #5 Netherlands - $9.85B *2013 Figures 5

6.  28 border crossings  13 – Pharr  8 – Laredo  7 – El Paso  13 allow commercial trucks  TxDOT builds/maintains connecting infrastructure to POEs 6 Laredo-Colombia Solidarity Bridge

7.  Binational Level  U.S.-Mexico Joint Working Committee (JWC)  US-MX International Bridges and Border Crossings (BBBX) Group  Border Governors Conference (BGC)  TxDOT and State Level  Freight Advisory Committee  Border Trade Alliance (BTA)  Border Trade Alliance Committee (BTAC)  Others 7 Guadalupe-Tornillo International Bridge project El Paso area

8. REPORTS AND PUBLICATIONS (In-house/Legislative) 8 Texas-Mexico International Bridges and Border Crossings – Annual in- depth report on the border crossings Quarterly Border Crossing Traffic Data – Data compiled/distributed to local, state and federal stakeholders and interested private entities. Includes POV, commercial, bus, pedestrian and train. International Activities Report – Details D/D/O’s international activities – coordination w/Mexico, border improvements, international visitors, etc. Legislatively Mandated Reports - A report by CTR to combine the: International Trade Corridor Plan, BTAC Report and Transportation Trade Activities Report for Legislature. Final report due by December 31. *January-June 2014 Northbound Commercial Truck Crossings

9. ADMINISTER BORDER STUDIES 9 Border Master Plans (completed) – El Paso, Laredo, Pharr Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) project Facilitate trade - developing plans to inventory transportation and POE infrastructure on both sides of the border Border Wait Times (ongoing at 7 commercial ports and 1 POV port) Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) project Measure (RFID) crossing times on-going, real time crossing times at the major commercial crossings in Texas Border Master Plans (completed) – El Paso, Laredo, Pharr Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) project Facilitate trade - developing plans to inventory transportation and POE infrastructure on both sides of the border Border Wait Times (ongoing at 7 commercial ports and 1 POV port) Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) project Measure (RFID) crossing times on-going, real time crossing times at the major commercial crossings in Texas

10. 10 Benchmarking Texas’ Trade Transportation Infrastructure Compare Texas’ transportation infrastructure with peer states Identify tools for potential improvements to keep Texas competitive with other border states The Role of Texas’ Transportation System in Enhancing Export Competiveness Identify role of transportation in the logistics chain Describe the logistic chains for Texas’ major export industries Analysis of the Development of Mexico’s Northern Horizontal Corridor and its Potential Impacts on Texas Impact of corridor on trade flows across the U.S.-Mexico border through Mexico’s Northern Trade Corridor (Mazatlán – Durango - Matamoros highway) Expected diversion of shipments from other border state crossings to South Texas crossings. Benchmarking Texas’ Trade Transportation Infrastructure Compare Texas’ transportation infrastructure with peer states Identify tools for potential improvements to keep Texas competitive with other border states The Role of Texas’ Transportation System in Enhancing Export Competiveness Identify role of transportation in the logistics chain Describe the logistic chains for Texas’ major export industries Analysis of the Development of Mexico’s Northern Horizontal Corridor and its Potential Impacts on Texas Impact of corridor on trade flows across the U.S.-Mexico border through Mexico’s Northern Trade Corridor (Mazatlán – Durango - Matamoros highway) Expected diversion of shipments from other border state crossings to South Texas crossings.

11. OTHER IRO RESPONSIBILITES 11 Translations Translate material English-Spanish/Spanish-English/other languages Assure consistency throughout TxDOT and implement standards. Border Technology Exchange Program (BTEP) Established in 1994 - Provides opportunities for technology and information exchanges between U.S. and Mexican Border States. International Visitors Since 1994 - hosted/coordinated 1,800+ visitors from over 40 countries. Translations Translate material English-Spanish/Spanish-English/other languages Assure consistency throughout TxDOT and implement standards. Border Technology Exchange Program (BTEP) Established in 1994 - Provides opportunities for technology and information exchanges between U.S. and Mexican Border States. International Visitors Since 1994 - hosted/coordinated 1,800+ visitors from over 40 countries. Japanese Visitor - March 2014 Thai Delegation – June 2014

12. 12