Texas Border Counties to Receive Critical New Border Infrastructure Funding
Hurd, Cornyn secure federal dollars for Texas Bridges and Highways
Washington, DC – (RealEstateRama) — Federal funding for three border infrastructure projects in the 23rd Congressional District of Texas was approved today by the Texas Transportation Commission. The following counties and projects will receive Coordinated Border Infrastructure (CBI) funding:
Presidio County: Additional bridge structure at Presidio-Ojinaga International Port-of-Entry
Maverick County: Widening to 5-Lanes US 277 from State Loop 480 into Eagle Pass
Maverick, Kinney, and Val Verde Counties: Addition of 2 Passing Lanes on US 277 between Eagle Pass and Del Rio
“The Border Trade Alliance was proud to work with Senator Cornyn, Representative Hurd and others – including Chairman Schuster – to help make the CBI flex funding a reality,” said Noe Garcia, President of the Border Trade Alliance.
“The recent announcement by the Texas Department of Transportation is great news for the citizens of Del Rio and Val Verde County,” said Blanca Larson, Executive Director of the Del Rio Chamber of Commerce. “Our goal at The Del Rio Chamber of Commerce is to promote and stimulate economic development, and to create opportunities for members, corporations and small businesses. The expansion of a major artery in and out of Val Verde County will strengthen our economic potential and expedite commerce for our businesses across Texas. A big thanks to our Member of Congress, Will Hurd, for helping to make this project a reality.”
“I want to thank Congressman Hurd for his hard work on this issue,” said Kinney County Judge Tully Shahan. “U.S. 277 is becoming increasingly busy and these funds are extremely valuable.”
The funds come from the long-term highway funding bill, or FAST Act, that was signed into law in December 2015. It included bipartisan legislation introduced by Hurd and his colleagues Michael McCaul (R-TX ), Henry Cuellar (D-TX) and Beto O’Rourke (D-TX), that created a Coordinated Border Infrastructure (CBI) Reserve Fund, giving Border States more flexibility in how they use federal transportation funds. The legislation generates an average of $3.67 billion per year for the next five years for Texas transportation projects. These projects are a direct result of Hurd’s legislative initiative. Construction is expected to begin in upcoming months.