TxDOT NEWS RELEASE – TxDOT is conducting a planning study to enhance regional connectivity and address needed safety, mobility, and access considerations along US Highway 83 (US 83) from the Interstate 2 (I-2) terminus west of Palmview to the vicinity of Mangana-Hein Road in south Laredo. The study corridor continues north along State Loop 20 to its intersection with US 59 in east Laredo. The broader study area, encompassing Hidalgo, Starr, Zapata, and Webb counties, was defined to capture the area of influence and potential benefits that the program of improvements may have in south Texas.
The study is being conducted to identify multimodal transportation needs related to safety, mobility (including freight), traffic flow, hurricane evacuation, and connectivity and evaluate the feasibility of upgrading this corridor to interstate design standards. The study will culminate with a plan that includes a list of recommendations, such as detailed planning studies and specific transportation improvements.
TxDOT is conducting an online survey to inform the public about the study and gather input. Information received in this survey will assist TxDOT in identifying issues of concern and appropriate improvements along the study corridor. The online survey will be available on the project webpage in English and Spanish from July 20 through August 17, 2022. Please visit www.txdot.gov, and keyword search “US 83 Regional Corridor” to participate in this survey.
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Possible interstate between Laredo and the RGV?
Rio Grande Guardian reporter Steve Taylor writes:
LA JOYAS, Texas – The above noted planning study is not being conducted as a result of any legislation. Rather, interest in evaluating the corridor and connectivity between Laredo and the Rio Grande Valley stemmed from the planning process for TxDOT’s “Texas/Mexico Border Transportation Master Plan,” which was completed last year.
Ray Pedraza, TxDOT’s public information officer for the Pharr District, told The Rio Grande Guardian International News Service: “There are a number of policy recommendations in Chapter 10 of the BTMP related to corridors, strengthening border-wide region north-south and east-west corridor connectivity, and operational efficiency. TxDOT is implementing these recommendations by conducting this corridor study.”
Pedraza said public involvement and input are an important part of TxDOT’s planning process.
“As the study is in its early stages, the survey informs the public why the study is being conducted and provides the opportunity to share information and insights with TxDOT. TxDOT will then review and consider the feedback in order to better inform the planning process,” he said.
Asked if TxDOT is looking to create an interstate between the RGV & Laredo, Pedraza said:
“The US 83 study corridor is located between Interstate 2 and US Highway 59, which has been authorized by Congress to be upgraded to interstate standards as part of the Interstate 69 system in Texas. Given this setting and from a long-term transportation planning perspective, TxDOT saw an opportunity in this corridor study to include a feasibility analysis of the potential of upgrading the corridor to interstate standards. This feasibility analysis is one of many components of this corridor study.”
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