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FY24 project funding requests
Both U.S. Senate Congressional Directed Projects and U.S. House of Representatives Community Funding Projects offer federal funding opportunities for highways in the Port-to-Plain Alliance Corridor. Not all members of Congress or state DOTs support and submit funding requests under these programs.
US Senate
US Senate Congressional Projects Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development and Related Agencies April 6, 2023 Our requests were due March 16, 2023 for senators to consider. The U.S. Senate’s congressionally directed projects are open to many projects other than highway infrastructure, so each senator must prioritize all requests received and submit the number of projects supported by each senator’s allocated funding. Two senators from New Mexico have received requests for consideration of the Ports-to-Fields Corridor Interstate Planning Project. The request was $1.6 million for the $2.0 million Interstate Plan project. The Town of Clayton, NM answered both questions with data provided by Port-to-Meadow. Questions submitted to Martin Heinrich (NM) and Ben Ray Lujan (NM).
Ports-to-Field Corridor Interstate Planning
Project Objective: The project will begin interstate highway planning on US 87/US 64 after the Port-to-Field Corridor in New Mexico is designated as a Future Interstate in fiscal year 2022. These plan funds are used for project definition. , Phase A: Alternative Identification and Screening, Phase B: Detailed Alternative Analysis, Phase C: Environmental Records and Preliminary Design.
US House of Representatives
Monday, April 17, 2023 will be the deadline for members of the U.S. House of Representatives to submit community funding projects to the Subcommittee on Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies. The Ports to Plains Alliance has submitted three Texas Plan funding requests and three relief line construction projects.
Congressman Jackson (TX-13) received two submissions: a $4 million request for an Interstate Amendment to Interstate Planning for the US 287 from Dumas to Amarillo $5 million project; and for the SL 335 Construction Project – Non-Wide Freeway (TxDOT ID: 2635-04-031) for a total of $96,860,186 and a request of $5 million. This project will continue efforts in Amarillo to build Loop 335, which will provide relief to the corridor that now runs through downtown Amarillo. The remaining funds for these projects come from TxDOT.
Interstate Amendments to the Interstate Plan for US 287 from Dumas to Amarillo
The purpose of the projectAfter the Ports-to-Meadows Corridor is designated as a Future Interstate in fiscal 2022, the Act, Interstate Planning – US 287 from Dumas to Amarillo project will begin planning as suggested by the Ports-to-Meadows Corridor Interstate Feasibility. The final study report was published by the Texas Department of Transportation in October 2020. These planning funds will be used for project feasibility, pre-design and environmental on US 287 from Dumas to Amarillo.
SL 335 – Expand Non-Exempt (TxDOT ID: 2635-04-031)
The purpose of the projectThis funding will be used for SL 335 – Non-Exempt Broad (TxDOT ID: 2635-04-031). Loop 335 is a priority for the City of Amarillo and the Amarillo MPO. This project will convert a 2-lane segment to a 4-lane divided and a 4-lane segment to a 4-lane freeway between SW 9th Limits and FM 1719. 2023-2026. This funding fills the financial gap.
In New Mexico, a similar question was presented to Sen. Heinrich, Sen. Ben Ray Lujan and Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernandez on the Clayton Town for Ports-to-Plains Corridor Interstate Plan. The question was $1.6 million for a $2 million project. NMDOT has committed matching funds.
Ports-to-Field Corridor Interstate Planning
Project Objective: In the year The project will begin planning for an interstate highway on US 87/US 64 in 2022, after New Mexico’s port-to-plain corridor is designated as a future interstate by appropriate legislation. These plan funds will be used for Project Definition Phase A. Alternative Identification and Screening, Phase B: Detailed Alternative Analysis, Phase C: Environmental Records and Preliminary Design.
An Act to Issue Ports-to-Middle Corridor Road Numbering
US Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) has introduced legislation (S.992) sponsored by Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM) to designate the Port-to-Plain corridor as “Interstate 27.” Representative Jodey Arrington (R-TX) and Representative Henry Cuellar (D-TX) also introduced the bill (HR 1821) in the House on Tuesday, March 28, 2009.
“This is the day the Ports-to-Plains Alliance takes the next steps to develop the future of I-27,” said John Osborne, chairman of the Ports-to-Plains Alliance. I want to express my appreciation to Senators Cruz, Cornyn and Lujan and Congressmen Arrington and Kuer for introducing the legislation to move this project forward. By naming and numbering the Interstate, the Port-to-Meadow Corridor will be critical infrastructure for the communities and industries that use the Interstate throughout Texas and across our nation.
This legislation follows Interstate-27 (I-27) designation in March 2022 when President Biden signed into law the Appropriation Act (FY 2022). The designation recognizes the Ports to Plains Corridor in Texas and New Mexico, including the interstate highway system between Lamesa, Midland and Sterling City and Dumas, TX and the Texas-New Mexico state line.
“It’s an exciting day for the future of our interstate and I’m excited to take the next step toward bringing this project to fruition,” said Lauren Garduno, president of the Ports-to-Plains Alliance. “By naming and numbering the interstate, the Department of Transportation can add signs to the corridor. I appreciate the efforts of Senators Cruz, Cornyn and Lujan as well as Congressmen Arrington and Cuellar in the introduction of S.992 and HR1821, which are critical to the future development of Interstate-27.
The designation of I-27 was critical in the development of the Ports-to-Midlands Corridor. Although the designated future interstate is commonly known as I-27, the 2022 language does not give the corridor an official interstate line number. In the Act, road numbers are designated as I-27 from Laredo, TX to Dumas, TX to Raton, NM. The two locations in Texas are the future interstate diversion I-227 for current routes 158 and 349 from Sterling City to Midland to LaMesa, and as I-327 for current route 87 from Dumas to the Oklahoma border.
“New Mexico Senator Ben Ray Lujan is a champion of rural New Mexico, rural America, the designation of I-27 and the entire Port-to-Field Corridor,” said Coby Beckner, Mayor of Clayton, NM. “The senator, and his staff, understand the value of supporting the corridor. The City of Clayton, Union County, Raton City, Colfax County and the Village of Des Moines appreciate his vision and bold leadership on behalf of our communities in Northeast New Mexico and our connection to the Ports-to-Plains Alliance and the future of I-27. expansion”
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