La Entrada, More of the NAFTA Super Corridor
Check out what activists in West Texas are saying about the La Entrada trade route. Big Bend is one of the few areas of the country that is still “wild”, that is unless La Entrada finishes that off!
La Entrada Al Pacifico Facts
La Entrada Al Pacifico is a trade corridor being proposed by a handful of politically connected citizens of Midland-Odessa, the Midland Odessa Transportation Alliance (MOTRAN).
MOTRAN’s original plan envisions US 67 through the Big Bend as a divided, four-lane NAFTA truck highway from Presidio, through Marfa and Alpine, to Fort Stockton (and on to Midland.)
Founded in part by Texas House Speaker Tom Craddick’s wife Nadine, MOTRAN sees Midland-Odessa as a U. S. transportation hub, regardless of the consequences for other West Texans.
Since 1992 MOTRAN has received close to $34 million in taxpayer money, and has secured both state and federal designation of the La Entrada trade corridor under Governor and President Bush.
TXDOT is currently engaged in a feasibility study, funded through MOTRAN’s efforts, to forecast freight volumes, traffic, and specific routing of the proposed trade corridor.
Texans are opposing the La Entrada Al Pacifico trade corridor in record numbers because:
Building La Entrada Al Pacifico forces Texas taxpayers to subsidize the importation of foreign goods into the United States (as well as Midland’s economic expansion.)
The route will send numerous diesel trucks through one of America’s last large, wild regions.
The geography of the Big Bend makes its roads inherently inefficient for truck transport.
The Big Bend’s tourism and its economy will suffer accordingly as the region’s highly regarded beauty and serenity give way to pollution and congestion.
A rail line runs parallel to a good deal of the proposed route; Numerous single trucks crossing the border will create a security nightmare as they become untraceable once inside the United States.
In the words of a Midland high school counselor at TXDOT’s Midland public meeting, who was quoting his students, La Entrada Al Pacifico will create a “drug superhighway” between Ojinaga, Mexico and Midland-Odessa, Texas.
Continuing expansion of Mexico’s west coast ports and existing U. S. points of entry like El Paso and Laredo raise serious questions about La Entrada Al Pacifico’s necessity.
For more information and resources:
www.stopthetrucks.org - Comprehensive roundup of La Entrada information.
www.revivacollective.org - Alpine artist’s collective fighting La Entrada.
bigbendletters@yahoo.com - Writing letters to raise awareness of and oppose La Entrada
Government of, by and for the people can only exist if citizens make their voices heard:
U.S. Senators
Kay Bailey Hutchison U. S. Senate; Washington, D.C. 20510 http://hutchison.senate.gov/contact.html
John Cornyn 512 Hart SOB; Washington, D.C. 20510 http://cornyn.senate.gov/public/
U.S. Representative Dist. 23
Ciro D. Rodriguez 2458 Rayburn House OB; Washington, D.C. 20515 http://www.rodriguez.house.gov/
Texas State Senate Dist. 19
Carlos Uresti 2530 SW Military Dr Ste103; San AntonioTX 78224 http://www.uresti.senate.state.tx.us/
Texas House of Reps. Dist. 74
Pete Gallego P.O. Box 777; Alpine, TX 79831 http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist74/gallego.htm
To find your own state and federal representatives’ contact info, enter your address at:
http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/senate/members.htm#FYI
Texas Department of Transportation - La Entrada Al Pacifico Study Coordinator
Peggy Thurin, P.E. tpp_txdot-leap@dot.state.tx.us (Note underscore after “tpp”) or 1-800/517-4652