Strategic Planning Workshop
Harlingen Economic Development Corporation Cameron County Regional Mobility Authority – Presentation August 5, 2016
Table of Contents • CCRMA Project Goals and Development List • CCRMA System Map • I-69E Status and Remaining Projects • Spur 54 Project • FM1925 Project • Outer Parkway Project • SPI Project
Project Development List
CCRMA Project Goals & Development List • Spur Economic Development • Improve Quality of Life • Improve Safety & Mobility • Relieve Congestion • Ensure Efficient Trade Corridors
August 2016
System Map includes 50+ Projects •
Projects Eligible for TRZ Funding
• Projects in Every City of Cameron County • Projects: Interstate, Highway, Roads, Sea Port, Airport, Rail and International Bridge Crossings
I-69E Status and Remaining Projects • Project 1 – ROW complete, PSE in house • Project 2 – ROW in progress, PSE by consultant • Project 3 - ROW pending, need agreement with Kleberg County • Project 4 – ROW Map in progress, need agreement with Kleberg County • Project 5 – PSE in progress
Harlingen SPUR 54 project
FM 1925 Project • Project spans both Hidalgo County and Cameron County • Joint project development between CCRMA & HCRMA • TxDOT needs assessment completed March 2015 • CCRMA to lead development of Environmental Assessment • TxDOT providing schematics and project coordination • Estimated cost of construction $120 million • Connects US 281 to I-69E and Outer Parkway Project
Outer Parkway Project • Project connects I-69E to proposed SPI 2nd Access • 21.5 miles approximate construction cost of $180 million • Environmental document expected to be completed in December 2017
SPI 2nd Access Project •
Improves public safety
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Provides emergency evacuation route, currently only one access to SPI
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Improves emergency response with additional access for first responders
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Provides access in the event of bridge closure as in the tragic bridge section collapse of 2001
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Traffic volume has increased substantially since 2001; in 2015 approximately 7,944,308 vehicles crossed the Queen Isabella
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In July 2015 alone, 1,076,391 vehicles crossed to SPI
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Recent 5 car pile-up shut down the only entrance to the island for 2 hours on July 19, 2016
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It is anticipated that Space X will bring an additional 25,000 visitors to Cameron County monthly
SPI 2nd Access Project Status •
FEIS Preparation – Submitted to FHWA on December 26, 2014
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Biological Assessment Terrestrial – • Revised BA Submittal to TxDOT-Pharr, TxDOT ENV, FHWA HQ on July 22, 2016 • Revised BA to USFWS – Anticipated August 2016 • Formal Consultation – Anticipated August 2016-January 2017
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TxDOT (Pharr and ENV) and CCRMA – On Going, Weekly conference calls and update meeting set for August 18, 2016
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Schematic Design – 90% Submitted to TxDOT
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Economic Development Studies - Complete
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Traffic and Revenue Studies – Level 2 (Intermediate Level) Study completed by TxDOT on March 2015, will require further T&R Studies.
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Financial Plan and Feasibility Study – In Process
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Countywide TRZ – Cameron County unanimously approved in 2015. A portion of funding to be allocated to SPI project
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Biological Assessment Aquatic – Approved by NMFS June 17, 2016
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Seagrass Mitigation Planning – Seagrass Pilot Project and Transplanting completed July 18, 2016. Monitoring to continue through August 18, 2017
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Seagrass Mitigation Planning – Pilot Study On Going
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Agency Coordination on Resource Impacts – On Going
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Industry Outreach – Held March 1, 2016
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Technical Team Coordination with FHWA – On Going
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CDA Legislation Extension Request 2017
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ROW – Identified
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Record of Decision Expected December 2016 – June 2017
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MOU Development Underway including approval from Governor's Office to reserve mitigation property through the Conservation Fund with RESTORE funding for Ocelot and Falcon Habitat
www.ccrma.org CCRMA 3461 Carmen Ave. Rancho Viejo, TX 78575 956.621.5571