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FY24 Appropriations Project Funding Requests
Both the U.S. Senate’s Congressionally Directed Projects and the U.S. House of Representatives’ Community Funding Projects provide a federal funding opportunity for highways across the Ports-to-Plains Alliance Corridor. Not all Members of Congress or state DOTs will support and submit funding requests under these programs.
U.S. Senate
U.S. Senate Congressionally Directed Projects are due to the Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies on April 6, 2023. Our requests needed to be submitted by March 16, 2023 for the Senators to consider. U.S. Senate Congressionally Directed Projects are open to many more projects outside of Highway Infrastructure and as a result each Senator must prioritize all the requests received and submit the number of projects that can be funded with the funding allocated to each Senator. Two Senators from New Mexico accepted requests to submit for considerations of the Ports-to-Plains Corridor Interstate Planning project. The request was for $1.6 million on a $2.0 million interstate planning project. The Town of Clayton, NM submitted both requests using the information provided by Ports-to-Plains. Requests were submitted to Martin Heinrich (NM) and Ben Ray Lujan (NM).
Ports-to-Plains Corridor Interstate Planning
Project Purpose: The project following the designation of the Ports-to-Plains Corridor in New Mexico as a Future Interstate in the FY2022 Appropriations legislation, would initiate interstate highway planning on U.S. 87 / U.S. 64. These planning funds would be used for Project Definition, Phase A: Alternative Identification and Screening, Phase B: Detailed Alternative Analysis, Phase C: Environmental Documentation, and Preliminary Design.
U.S. House of Representatives
Monday, April 17, 2023 will be the deadline for U.S. House members to submit Community Funding Projects to the Subcommittee on Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies. The Ports-to-Plains Alliance submitted three Texas planning funding requests and three relief route construction projects.
Congressman Jackson (TX-13) accepted two submissions: a planning project for Interstate Upgrade for Interstate Planning for U.S. 287 from Dumas to Amarillo, a $5 million project with a request for $4 million; and a construction project for SL 335 – Widen Non-Freeway (TxDOT Id: 2635-04-031) with a total cost of $96,860,186 and a request for $5 million. This project would continue efforts in Amarillo to build out Loop 335 which will be a route providing relief to the corridor that now passes through downtown Amarillo. The remaining funds for these projects would come from TxDOT.
Interstate Upgrade for Interstate Planning for U.S. 287 from Dumas to Amarillo
Project Purpose: Following the designation of the Ports-to-Plains Corridor as a Future Interstate in the FY2022 Appropriations, legislation, the Interstate Planning for – US 287 from Dumas to Amarillo project would initiate planning as recommended by the Ports-to-Plains Corridor Interstate Feasibility Study Final Report published in October 2020 by Texas Department of Transportation. These planning funds would be used on US 287 from Dumas to Amarillo for Project Feasibility, Preliminary Design, and Environmental.
SL 335 – Widen Non-Freeway (TxDOT Id: 2635-04-031)
Project Purpose: This funding will be used for the SL 335 – Widen Non-Freeway (TxDOT Id: 2635-04-031). Loop 335 is a priority of the City of Amarillo and the Amarillo MPO. This project will convert 2-lane section to 4-lane divided, and convert 4-lane section to 4-lane freeway between SW 9th Limits and FM 1719. This project is included in the 2023 Texas Unified Transportation Plan with an estimated let date of 2023-2026. This funding will fill a funding gap.
In New Mexico, the same request was submitted by the Town of Clayton for Ports-to-Plains Corridor Interstate Planning to Senator Heinrich, Senator Ben Ray Lujan and Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernandez. The request was for $1.6 million of a $2 million project. NMDOT has committed to the matching funds.
Ports-to-Plains Corridor Interstate Planning
Project Purpose: Following the designation of the Ports-to-Plains Corridor in New Mexico as a Future Interstate in the FY2022 Appropriations legislation, the project would initiate interstate highway planning on U.S. 87 / U.S. 64. These planning funds would be used for Project Definition, Phase A: Alternative Identification and Screening, Phase B: Detailed Alternative Analysis, Phase C: Environmental Documentation, and Preliminary Design.
Legislation Introduced to Provide Route Numbering for Ports-to-Plains Corridor
U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) introduced legislation (S.992) co-sponsored by Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) to formally name the Ports-to-Plains Corridor “Interstate 27.” Representative Jodey Arrington (R-TX) and Representative Henry Cuellar (D-TX) also introduced legislation in the House (H.R. 1821) on Tuesday, March 28.
“It’s monumental day for the Ports-to-Plains Alliance as we take the next steps in developing the future I-27,” said John Osborne, chairman of the Ports-to-Plains Alliance. “I’d like to express my appreciation to Senators Cruz, Cornyn and Luján, and Congressmen Arrington and Cuellar for introducing the legislation to move this project forward. By naming and numbering the interstate, the Ports-to-Plains Corridor will be critical infrastructure for the communities and industries utilizing the interstate throughout Texas and our heartland.”
This legislation follows the designation of Interstate-27 (I-27) in March 2022 when President Biden signed into law the Appropriations Bill (FY 2022). The designation recognized the Ports-to-Plains Corridor in Texas and New Mexico including the segments connecting Lamesa, Midland and Sterling City and between Dumas, TX and the Texas-New Mexico state line as an addition to the Interstate Highway System.
“It’s an exciting day for the future of our interstate and I am thrilled to take the next steps to furthering this project to completion,” said Lauren Garduno, president of the Ports-to-Plains Alliance. “By naming and numbering the interstate, the Department of Transportation is able to add signage along the corridor. I appreciate the efforts of Senators Cruz, Cornyn and Luján, as well as Congressmen Arrington and Cuellar on the introduction of S.992 and H.R.1821, which are critical to the development of future Interstate-27.”
Obtaining the designation for I-27 was critical in the advancement of the Ports-to-Plains Corridor. Although the designated future interstate is commonly referred to as I-27, the language in FY 2022 did not give the Corridor an official interstate route number. In the legislation, route numbers were assigned as I-27 from Laredo, TX through Dumas, TX to Raton, NM. The two locations in Texas where the future interstate diverges are named I-227 for the current Routes 158 and 349 from Sterling City to Midland to Lamesa, and as I-327 for the current Route 87 from Dumas to the Oklahoma border.
“New Mexico Senator Ben Ray Luján is a champion for rural New Mexico, rural America, I-27 Designation, and the entire Ports-to-Plains Corridor,” said Coby Beckner, mayor pro-tem of Clayton, NM. “The Senator, and his staff, understand the value of supporting the Corridor to provide economic development, safer travel, and opening the doors to New Mexico for all to see and experience. The Town of Clayton, Union County, City of Raton, Colfax County, and Village of Des Moines applaud his vision and bold leadership representing our communities in North East New Mexico and our relationship with the Ports-to-Plains Alliance and future I-27 expansion.”
