Financing Contributes to Death Of $200-Billion Texas Corridor

The Texas Dept. of Transportation announced on Jan. 6 that it pulled the plug on the estimated $200-billion Trans-Texas Corridor, a vision introduced by TxDOT and Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) in 2002. TxDOT Executive Director Amadeo Saenz Jr. made the announcement during the fourth annual Texas Transportation Forum in Austin. Projects already started under the heading of the Trans-Texas-Corridor will continue as a series of individual projects. Portions of two TTC projects are under development: Interstate 69 from Texarkana/Shreveport to the Mexico border and the I-35 corridor from north of Dallas/Fort Worth to Mexico. Perry cited financing as a major concern in the agency’s decision. The Trans-Texas Corridor called for some 4,000 miles of new and upgraded highways, railways and utility rights-of-way located in dedicated corridors.