1-1  By:  Munoz (Senate Sponsor - Lucio)                  H.C.R. No. 134
    1-2        (In the Senate - Received from the House May 12, 1995;
    1-3  May 15, 1995, read first time and referred to Committee on
    1-4  International Relations, Trade, and Technology; May 23, 1995,
    1-5  reported favorably by the following vote:  Yeas 8, Nays 0;
    1-6  May 23, 1995, sent to printer.)
    1-7                      HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
    1-8        WHEREAS, One of the Lone Star State's most important
    1-9  thoroughfares, U.S. Highway 83, is currently operating at or near
   1-10  capacity in many areas and has been found by many experts to be in
   1-11  immediate need of improvement and expansion; and
   1-12        WHEREAS, U.S. Highway 83 is essential to maintaining our
   1-13  state's competitive edge in international trade; it is the only
   1-14  controlled-access road in the National Highway System that connects
   1-15  all three major urban centers in the Rio Grande Valley,
   1-16  Brownsville, Harlingen, and McAllen, and is also the only route
   1-17  that provides access to and connects all international border
   1-18  crossings in Texas; and
   1-19        WHEREAS, Critical to South Texans during natural disasters
   1-20  and emergencies, U.S. Highway 83 is the main hurricane evacuation
   1-21  route out of the Rio Grande Valley; however, due to population
   1-22  growth and increased traffic in the area, this highway's capacity
   1-23  is no longer sufficient to meet the needs of residents, even in
   1-24  off-peak hours; and
   1-25        WHEREAS, This South Texas thoroughfare plays a vital role in
   1-26  protecting the safety and economic prosperity of the citizens of
   1-27  the Lone Star State, and its expansion and improvement are indeed
   1-28  in the best interests of all Texans; now, therefore, be it
   1-29        RESOLVED, That the 74th Legislature of the State of Texas
   1-30  hereby request that the Texas Department of Transportation take all
   1-31  necessary steps to expedite improvements to and the expansion of
   1-32  U.S. Highway 83 to a six-lane highway in and through Hidalgo and
   1-33  Cameron counties; and, be it further
   1-34        RESOLVED, That the secretary of state forward an official
   1-35  copy of this resolution to the Texas Department of Transportation.
   1-36                               * * * * *