SRC-JBJ S.C.R. 50 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.C.R. 50 76R8687 RVH-DBy: Shapleigh Border Affairs - Special 4/21/1999 As Filed DIGEST The U.S. government prioritizes federal highway resources to corridors that are essential for travel, national defense, and international commerce. In 1991, the federal government designated U.S. Route 59, which runs from Laredo through Houston to the Texarkana vicinity, a "high priority corridor." In 1995, the government established four additional high priority corridors in Texas, including El Paso's Camino Real Corridor. The Camino Real Corridor, however, has sustained significant strain from trucks transporting goods via the North American Free Trade Agreement. Every year since 1992, over one million trucks travel through El Paso. El Paso maintains an exporting trade presence with Mexico that ranked 21st in the nation in 1997. Given 80 percent of all U.S. trade with Mexico is moved by truck and that Mexican trucks will eventually gain full access to state and federal highways, coupled with the foreseen efficiency coming in customs processing, the stress on the current transportation system will continue. An additional corridor, U.S. Highway 54, could alleviate the burgeoning demands for trade transportation throughout the area. Designating Highway 54 as a high priority corridor would serve a more direct connection to the central and eastbound trade corridors. PURPOSE As proposed, S.C.R. 50 submit the following resolutions: That the 76th Legislature urge the U.S. Department of Transportation to designate U.S. Highway 54 as a high priority corridor pursuant to the National Highway System Designation Act of 1995. That the secretary of state forward an official copy of this resolution to the U.S. Department of Transportation.