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Post by Minion on Feb 23, 2017 13:12:48 GMT -6
$150 million in funding for Pharr's Interchange.Today, the Texas Transportation Commission(TxDOT) recommended $150 million in funding for the US 83/US 281 Interchange project in the Rio Grande Valley. The monies will come from TxDOT under the 2017 Unified Transportation Program which authorizes projects for construction, development and planning activities and includes projects involving highways, aviation, public transportation, and state and coastal waterways. Senator Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa issued the following statement: "It's exciting news that the Rio Grande Valley has been recommended by TxDOT to receive $150 million in funding. As one of the fastest growing areas of the state, infrastructure is key to continue the economic growth of the Rio Grande Valley. The Pharr Interchange is critical to the flow of traffic of the economies of Pharr, Edinburg, McAllen, Mission, and Weslaco. Since last year I have made the Pharr Interchange project a top legislative priority. This funding is critical to improve our transportation system and infrastructure need that will greatly benefit our local communities. It will address the congestion and bottlenecks that presently exists. We have had many meetings with our local elected officials, the Governor's office, TxDOT staff and leadership, including Chairman Tryon Lewis and James Bass who made a visit to the Rio Grande Valley. Thank you to the leadership of Pharr Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez, Hidalgo County Judge Ramon Garcia, the Valley legislative delegation and the Hidalgo County MPO for working together to achieve such great success for our region. The strong local support and investment into these projects from our local communities played a key role in successfully obtaining these funds."
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Post by Granola on Feb 23, 2017 15:06:26 GMT -6
$150 million in funding for Pharr's Interchange.Today, the Texas Transportation Commission(TxDOT) recommended $150 million in funding for the US 83/US 281 Interchange project in the Rio Grande Valley. The monies will come from TxDOT under the 2017 Unified Transportation Program which authorizes projects for construction, development and planning activities and includes projects involving highways, aviation, public transportation, and state and coastal waterways. Senator Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa issued the following statement: "It's exciting news that the Rio Grande Valley has been recommended by TxDOT to receive $150 million in funding. As one of the fastest growing areas of the state, infrastructure is key to continue the economic growth of the Rio Grande Valley. The Pharr Interchange is critical to the flow of traffic of the economies of Pharr, Edinburg, McAllen, Mission, and Weslaco. Since last year I have made the Pharr Interchange project a top legislative priority. This funding is critical to improve our transportation system and infrastructure need that will greatly benefit our local communities. It will address the congestion and bottlenecks that presently exists. We have had many meetings with our local elected officials, the Governor's office, TxDOT staff and leadership, including Chairman Tryon Lewis and James Bass who made a visit to the Rio Grande Valley. Thank you to the leadership of Pharr Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez, Hidalgo County Judge Ramon Garcia, the Valley legislative delegation and the Hidalgo County MPO for working together to achieve such great success for our region. The strong local support and investment into these projects from our local communities played a key role in successfully obtaining these funds." It's about time! That interchange comes to a crawl everyday during morning and afternoon rush hour. And even in the evenings until about 7:30 or so, you'll still get stuck in traffic. I wonder how long it will be before work gets started?
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Post by Minion on Feb 24, 2017 9:25:11 GMT -6
COMMENTARY: The clogged arteries that are our roadways As mayor of Pharr and as vice-chairman of the Hidalgo County Metropolitan Planning Organization, I believe the need for additional transportation and infrastructure funding for key projects is critical for the future livelihood not only in the Rio Grande Valley, but for the economic vitality of our state and nation. A surgeon by trade, I know first-hand the damage that a blocked vein, artery or vessel can cause to the human body, limiting the flow of necessary oxygen and nutrients to our organs and tissues and leading to serious complications. What is a doctor’s prescription in this case? Take steps to alleviate the current blockage and prevent future clots so that veins flow freely and the body functions as it should. The same advice rings true when looking at a transportation plan that will affect our future. Due to our tremendous population growth in Texas, we presently suffer severely congested highways, roadways and interchanges. Consequences include collisions, traffic delays, and a general slowdown in productivity in getting goods, services, and people where they need to be. As our state population continues growing at an increasingly rapid pace, adding 30,000 new vehicles to the state’s roadways every month, we must act now to adequately expand and develop our highways and roadways to accommodate growth and ensure our transportation system functions effectively and efficiently. Our highways, land ports of entry, and railways currently serve as a channel for domestic and foreign goods. According to the Texas Comptroller, Texas has accounted for nearly $650 billion in international trade in 2015 with $365 billion traveling through our Texas-Mexico border. The Pharr International Bridge has had unparalleled growth in both imports and exports. Our latest trade numbers rank us as the sixth-most important gateway in the United States out of roughly 475 land ports, seaports and airports, and the fourth largest and most important port of entry with Mexico, the U.S.’s top trading partner. We must continue to make crucial infrastructure improvements to our ports of entry, through the creation of connectivity to I-69, and by the expansion of I-69 Central. Improving transportation infrastructure remains a critical priority for the city of Pharr and for the Rio Grande Valley region. With the increase of vehicle and cargo traffic, the state leaves the Rio Grande Valley cities and county stakeholders’ in a vulnerable position by not providing adequate highway infrastructure for its constituents. Without state funding for significant projects like the I-69 Central Interchange Expansion, total funding for new highway construction and maintenance will continue to decline sharply as borrowed money and one-time funding sources are exhausted. Currently, freight traffic and passenger vehicles share the same roadways, causing congestion along the I-69 and I-2 interchange, leading to collisions, delays, and mounting frustration among our citizens. These conditions are unacceptable to our families in the Rio Grande Valley. Just as a physician would intervene with treatment at the onset of blocked veins to prevent further damage, the urgency to intervene in our transportation needs is now, before the situation worsens. As a region, we are grateful for the continued support or our Rio Grande Valley delegation, especially State Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa and State Rep. and Transportation Committee Vice Chairman Armando Martinez, who work diligently to voice our needs and represent our interests in Austin. We are appreciative of the attention and focus that the Texas Transportation Commission has given our area and for supporting our transportation initiatives through TxDOT funding. And we ask for the Commission’s continued support as we move forward this legislative session and work to secure funding for critical transportation projects in our District. Ambrosio Hernandez, M.D. is the mayor of Pharr and local surgeon. www.themonitor.com/opinion/article_10b8453c-f9f6-11e6-9303-cbd78c8f9e07.html
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Post by Granola on Feb 24, 2017 11:30:15 GMT -6
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Post by Minion on Feb 27, 2017 8:58:41 GMT -6
I wonder how much land the state is going to have to buy out from homeowners in the shadow of the interchange? I just can't see any type of improvement using the same footprint it currently has. They should knock it down and make it at least 2 lanes each way, 3 if they're really planning ahead, but I know there aren't many 3 lane interchanges anywhere else. At the very least, they can make it 2 lanes each way RIGHT NOW... there's enough room up there with the "hurricane" lanes... at least until construction begins and ends.
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Post by miles on Jun 4, 2018 8:42:49 GMT -6
WESLACO, RGV – A top transportation official in the Rio Grande Valley predicts the Edcouch-Elsa area will become very popular for motorists once reconstruction of the U.S. 83/U.S. 281 Pharr Interchange gets underway. Andrew Canon, director of Hidalgo County Metropolitan Planning Organization, believes Highway 107, which runs from Edinburg in the west to Combes in the east, and takes in the rural communities of San Carlos, La Blanca, Elsa, Edcouch, La Villa, and Santa Rosa, will be an alternative route for drivers that want to avoid inevitable bottlenecks on U.S. 83 and U.S. 281. The good news, however, is that the Pharr Interchange project will likely be complete by 2023, and not 2025 as first envisaged. riograndeguardian.com/canon-edcouch-elsa-set-to-be-a-popular-east-west-route/
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Post by btx on Jun 4, 2018 19:41:15 GMT -6
WESLACO, RGV – A top transportation official in the Rio Grande Valley predicts the Edcouch-Elsa area will become very popular for motorists once reconstruction of the U.S. 83/U.S. 281 Pharr Interchange gets underway. Andrew Canon, director of Hidalgo County Metropolitan Planning Organization, believes Highway 107, which runs from Edinburg in the west to Combes in the east, and takes in the rural communities of San Carlos, La Blanca, Elsa, Edcouch, La Villa, and Santa Rosa, will be an alternative route for drivers that want to avoid inevitable bottlenecks on U.S. 83 and U.S. 281. The good news, however, is that the Pharr Interchange project will likely be complete by 2023, and not 2025 as first envisaged. riograndeguardian.com/canon-edcouch-elsa-set-to-be-a-popular-east-west-route/Is HW 107 eventually going to be a limited access highway in the future? Isn't eventually going to connect to the 2nd SPI bridge?
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Post by Granola on Jun 5, 2018 8:05:00 GMT -6
WESLACO, RGV – A top transportation official in the Rio Grande Valley predicts the Edcouch-Elsa area will become very popular for motorists once reconstruction of the U.S. 83/U.S. 281 Pharr Interchange gets underway. Andrew Canon, director of Hidalgo County Metropolitan Planning Organization, believes Highway 107, which runs from Edinburg in the west to Combes in the east, and takes in the rural communities of San Carlos, La Blanca, Elsa, Edcouch, La Villa, and Santa Rosa, will be an alternative route for drivers that want to avoid inevitable bottlenecks on U.S. 83 and U.S. 281. The good news, however, is that the Pharr Interchange project will likely be complete by 2023, and not 2025 as first envisaged. riograndeguardian.com/canon-edcouch-elsa-set-to-be-a-popular-east-west-route/Is HW 107 eventually going to be a limited access highway in the future? Isn't eventually going to connect to the 2nd SPI bridge? I had read that there are plans for an East/West highway from 281 in Ednburg to South Padre Island. I didn't think it was 107 though because there are so many small towns and businesses that would be affected by a highway running through. Think of the easements and purchases for right of way the state would have to do. I thought it was Monte Cristo? I could be wrong.
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Post by vyzee on Jun 5, 2018 12:20:56 GMT -6
WESLACO, RGV – A top transportation official in the Rio Grande Valley predicts the Edcouch-Elsa area will become very popular for motorists once reconstruction of the U.S. 83/U.S. 281 Pharr Interchange gets underway. Andrew Canon, director of Hidalgo County Metropolitan Planning Organization, believes Highway 107, which runs from Edinburg in the west to Combes in the east, and takes in the rural communities of San Carlos, La Blanca, Elsa, Edcouch, La Villa, and Santa Rosa, will be an alternative route for drivers that want to avoid inevitable bottlenecks on U.S. 83 and U.S. 281. The good news, however, is that the Pharr Interchange project will likely be complete by 2023, and not 2025 as first envisaged. riograndeguardian.com/canon-edcouch-elsa-set-to-be-a-popular-east-west-route/So I'm guessing the interchange reconstruction will start after the the McAllen expressway project is done right?
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Post by Minion on Jun 6, 2018 15:23:53 GMT -6
WESLACO, RGV – A top transportation official in the Rio Grande Valley predicts the Edcouch-Elsa area will become very popular for motorists once reconstruction of the U.S. 83/U.S. 281 Pharr Interchange gets underway. Andrew Canon, director of Hidalgo County Metropolitan Planning Organization, believes Highway 107, which runs from Edinburg in the west to Combes in the east, and takes in the rural communities of San Carlos, La Blanca, Elsa, Edcouch, La Villa, and Santa Rosa, will be an alternative route for drivers that want to avoid inevitable bottlenecks on U.S. 83 and U.S. 281. The good news, however, is that the Pharr Interchange project will likely be complete by 2023, and not 2025 as first envisaged. riograndeguardian.com/canon-edcouch-elsa-set-to-be-a-popular-east-west-route/So I'm guessing the interchange reconstruction will start after the the McAllen expressway project is done right? Yep. That's what I've read.
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