Posted on 06/17/2006 3:58:46 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
The development of the proposed Interstate 69 project running through Harrison County in Northeast Texas south through Houston and on to the Mexican border got a boost this week with the announced interest of at least two companies vying to complete parts of the project, state officials announced.
Michael W. Behrens, Texas Department of Transportation executive director, said companies with Texas, U.S. and international experience are competing to develop the Trans-Texas Corridor-69 – one of the state's priority transportation projects.
Two private sector groups submitted proposals and qualifications to compete for the development of the proposed multi-use transportation system.
Harrison County Precinct 3 County Commissioner James Greer said this week there is still no definite time-line for the start of construction on the project. The proposed corridor for the future interstate in Texas runs from the Texas-Mexican border through Houston and up East Texas.
On a parallel yet independent aspect of the project work continues on the initial environmental study that would narrow the current study area to approximately four miles wide. Subsequent studies will be needed to determine a final route for the project, state officials said.
Interstate 69 is being developed under the Trans-Texas Corridor master plan. If environmentally approved, the project would be developed as needed and as private sector resources are available, Behrens said.
The main proposed route for I-69 would veer east near Carthage roughly along the present route of U.S. Highway 79 into Louisiana. Marshall and other Northeast Texas cities and counties have been active in pushing for a western route which would run north out of Carthage roughly along the present route of U.S. Highway 59 through Harrison County and connecting with Interstate Highway 30 near Texarkana. That route has been designated as an alternative although no funding has been provided, officials said.
"The way the bidding process will work is that bidders will first bid on the sections that they feel will be most profitable," Greer said. He anticipates a loop around Houston could be the first section to advance. That likely could be followed by heavily traveled sections in South Texas.
Greer is the county's representative on the Interstate 69 Alliance, a statewide group pushing for I-69 development in Texas.
TxDOT's Behrens said inviting the private sector to invest in the state's transportation system is a strategy to meet the growing transportation needs of Texas.
“We are focused on these five goals: reducing congestion, enhancing safety, expanding economic opportunity, improving air quality and increasing the value of transportation assets," he said in a prepared statement.
One proposal was submitted by Bluebonnet Infrastructure Investors, led by Cintra. Team members include Citigroup, Earth Tech, Blanton & Associates, Maunsell, Othon and W.W. Webber.
A proposal was also submitted by Texas-based Zachry American Infrastructure and ACS Infrastructure Development Inc. Team members include Steer Davies Gleave, UBS Securities, Dannenbaum Engineering, ACI Consulting, Sociedad Ibercia de Construcciones Electricas, Dragados, and William Brothers Construction.
These proposals include statements detailing the groups experience in developing and financing transportation projects similar to TTC-69. Also included are conceptual proposals describing how the team would finance, design, construct, operate and maintain TTC-69.
The next step is for TxDOT to complete an initial review of the proposals, which could be completed next month, Behrens said. Teams with experience, qualifications and innovative engineering will be placed on a short list of potential strategic partners for TTC-69.
Once this is completed, approval by the Texas Transportation Commission is needed to continue with the competitive selection process. If approved, TxDOT will request detailed proposals from the short list of potential strategic partners. A selection of a strategic partner could be made by the commission by late 2007.
With no funding set aside for construction, a public-private partnership would allow development of the entire 600-mile multi-billion dollar project from Northeast Texas to Mexico to be accelerated, Behrens said. Even with private sector resources to fund the project, state transportation officials stress TTC-69 will remain a state-owned project.
bump.
I 3-10
Would not make them competitive against China and other low cost Asian producers. That's fantasy
Cutting production costs 25% would not help at all?
NONE! Do you have any idea how Chinese wages compare to US wages? Get rid of OSHA, environmental restrictions, all that crap and Chinese goods will undercut us for the most part. Even with your fair tax
Aboslutely and insult, not a joke.
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