HomeMy WebLinkAboutR19-438210
RESOLUTION NO. R19-438
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PLAINVIEW,
TEXAS SUPPORTING THE DESIGNATION OF AN EXTENSION OF
INTERSTATE 27 AS A FUTURE INTERSTATE IN TEXAS.
WHEREAS, Congress has already designated the Ports -to -Plains Corridor in
Texas as a High Priority Corridor on the National Highway System; and
WHEREAS, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) published an Initial
Assessment Report on the Extension of 1-27/Ports to Plains Corridor in November, 2015
which stated: 'The corridor will continue to be a critical link to state, national and
international trade, growing population centers and critical energy and agricultural
business sectors"; and
WHEREAS, according to the Texas Freight Mobility Plan, "By 2040 over 73
percent of Texas' population and 82 percent of the state's employment is projected to be
located within five miles of an interstate"; and
WHEREAS, Texas has no major north -south interstate west of Interstate 35; and
WHEREAS, the Texas Freight Mobility Plan notes that further investment alone on
1-35 will not fix the problem saying, "The state must focus not only on improving existing
facilities, but also on developing future freight corridors to move products to markets and
exports"; and
WHEREAS, the Texas Freight Mobility Plan goes on to recommend that TxDOT,
"give additional consideration to the extension or designation of other interstate routes.
Examples include 1-27 and upgrades to portions of US Highway 190 to interstate
standards"; and
WHEREAS, the proposed extension of Interstate 27 connects major West Texas
population and economic centers including Amarillo, Lubbock, Midland -Odessa and San
Angelo in addition to numerous smaller communities; and
WHEREAS, the proposed extension of Interstate 27 intersects with Interstate 40,
Interstate 20 and Interstate 10; and
WHEREAS, the proposed extension of Interstate 27 will serve three border
crossings with Mexico at Laredo, Eagle Pass and Del Rio; and
WHEREAS, the proposed extension of Interstate 27 will be a major backbone for
the energy industry in Texas serving top oil and gas producing counties as well as the
growing wind energy industry; and
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WHEREAS, the proposed extension of Interstate 27 will also serve the agriculture
industry including many of Texas top counties for the production of cotton, cattle, sheep
and goats and other commodities; and
WHEREAS, considering it cost $4.8 billion to rebuild only a 28 mile section of
Interstate 35 east from Interstate 635 to U.S. Highway 380 in Dallas County, the projected
cost of extending 1-27 according to TxDOT's Initial Assessment Report on the Extension
of 1-27/Ports to Plains Corridorof $7 billion to upgrade the nearly 1,000 miles of the Ports -
to -Plains Corridor from the northern tip of Texas to Laredo or just $5.2 billion to extend
Interstate -27 approximately 500 miles from Lubbock to Laredo shows that extending 1-27
is also a cost-effective option; and
WHEREAS, an additional cost saving option is associated with the primarily east -
west, recently designated, Interstate 14 which includes a proposed segment that overlaps
the Ports -to -Plains Corridor between Midland -Odessa and San Angelo, presenting an
opportunity for that segment to be jointly designated as Interstate 14 and Interstate 27;
and
WHEREAS, site selectors for manufacturers, warehousing and distribution and
travel services businesses such as hotels, truck stops, convenience stores and
restaurants, recommend sites along an interstate highway thus underscoring the impact
a future Interstate highway designation will have on creating new jobs, expanding the tax
base in rural West Texas and expanding economic development for communities along
the corridor; and
WHEREAS, while designation as a future interstate is the first step in a very long
process before the completion of an interstate highway, that does not lessen the
importance of extending Interstate 27.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE City Council of the City of
Plainview, that:
Section I. The City Council of the City of Plainview, Texas supports the designation
of the extension of Interstate 27 as a Future Interstate by Congress and urges the Texas
Department of Transportation to support such designation.
Section 2. This resolution to be in full force and effect from and after its passage
and approval.
Section 3. If any portion or provision of this resolution shall for any reason be held
to be invalid or unenforceable, the invalidity or unenforceability of such portion or
provision shall not affect any of the remaining provisions of this Resolution, the intention
being that the same are severable.
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PASSED AND APPROVED this 4th day of April, 2019.
ATTEST:
Belinda Hin io City Secretary
Resolution R19-438
At—A it,"
W ndell Dunlap, Mayor
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