Texan Versus Texan In Looming Trans-Texas Corridor Fight

The San Antonio, Texas, Express-News reported this week that two regions of South Texas are preparing to feud over a proposed Trans-Texas Corridor that will carry billions of dollars in freight.

The Trans-Texas Corridor is Texas Gov. Rick Perry's 50-year plan to build 4,000 miles of toll roads along with rail, utility and pipelines to make Texas the crossroads of North America.
The Trans-Texas Corridor will crisscross the state with highway and rail connections in New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mexico. The corridor will include:
* Four dedicated truck lanes -- two 13-foot lanes in each direction.
* Six separate passenger vehicle lanes -- three 12-foot lanes in each direction.
* Six rail lines for freight, commuters and high speed passenger rail.
* Utility zones to carry water, electric, natural gas, petroleum, fiber optic and telecommunications lines.
Funding options include tolls, leasing rights of way, bonds and state and federal funds.
However, cities and counties along southern Interstate 35 are pledging to fight any efforts that would divert traffic away from them. Officials in cities like Laredo fear that thousands of trucks — and the dollars they bring — will stop rolling through their communities. They have formed the River of Trade Corridor Coalition to defend the traditional NAFTA Trade Corridor — a route anchored at Laredo and stretching north to Texarkana via Dallas. The coalition wants to keep the new Trans-Texas Corridor as close to existing Interstate 35 as possible -- if they can’t stop it altogether. They're calling on state lawmakers to do just that.
Meanwhile, the Texas DOT has labeled the corridor a high-priority project, needed to meet the state's future transportation needs. The department estimates the four largest metropolitan areas along Interstate 35, including San Antonio, would need a minimum of 16 lanes to meet demands in 2025.