Raton to Laredo corridor added to Interstate Highway System, paving way for I-27 expansion
West Texas lawmakers and public policy leaders are celebrating a huge milestone for the future of Interstate 27, as Pres. Joe Biden signed a bill into law Tuesday that includes federal highway designation for portions of the Ports-to-Plains Corridor in Texas and New Mexico.
As part of the sweeping $1.5 trillion FY 2022 omnibus appropriations bill, the Port-to-Plains Corridor from Raton, New Mexico to Laredo, Texas was added to the federal Interstate Highway System, marking the first step for I-27 to expand from its current Lubbock-to-Amarillo route southward to the Mexican border at Laredo, through the Texas Panhandle, eventually north to the Canadian border.
From Jan.: West Texas leaders say I-27 extension still in play after I-14 gets first nod
“Establishing a four lane, federal highway for I-27 is a game-changer for our economy and quality of life in West Texas for decades to come and will strengthen our food security and energy independence for the entire country,” U.S. Rep. Jodey C. Arrington, R-Lubbock, said Tuesday, adding that the designation was one of his top three goals when he took office in 2016. “I had a lot of help from colleagues on both sides of the aisle, and I’m humbled by the opportunities this will provide for generations of West Texans.”
From 2021: Arrington, Cuellar reintroduce Ports-to-Plains act to extend I-27
From 2020: Reps. Arrington, Cuellar introduce bill designating Ports-to-Plains a federal highway
According to a Texas Department of Transportation study, the extension of I-27 could mean big improvements to safety on Texas’ roads, decreasing the state’s annual crash rate by as much as 21 percent. It could also increase the state’s gross domestic product by more than $55 million and add upwards of 22,000 new jobs, Arrington’s office said.
“The Ports to Plains Regional effort has been ongoing for decades, and today the interstate designation for I-27 has finally been signed into law,” Lubbock Mayor Dan Pope said Tuesday. “Thank you to Congressman Jodey Arrington for his leadership on this project. This momentous achievement is due to the unwavering support from leaders like Randy Neugebauer and Robert Duncan. This designation will ultimately improve necessary infrastructure and increase safety in Texas for commerce and visitors. This is a huge local, regional, and state-wide win.”
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Interstate 27 expansion one step closer to reality under omnibus bill
