2829 W. Howard Place, Ste. 569 Denver, CO 80204-2305 MEMORANDUM TO: The Transportation Commission FROM: Herman Stockinger and Jennifer Uebelher DATE: August 20, 2020 SUBJECT: Ports-to-Plains Purpose The Ports-to-Plains is “a grassroots alliance of communities and businesses whose mission is to advocate for a robust international transportation infrastructure to promote economic security and prosperity throughout North America's energy and agricultural heartland including Mexico to Canada.” The purpose of this presentation is to provide the Commission with an overview of the High Priority Corridors in Colorado; the CO-71 Truck Freight Diversion Feasibility Study; the 2018 Movement of Permitted Loads in Colorado; the Texas Ports-to-Plains Interstate Feasibility Study and to discuss the Future Interstate Designation. Action No action is requested at this time. Background History of Ports-to-Plains Alliance (excerpt from https://www.portstoplains.com) The inception of Ports-to-Plains came about in the mid-90’s, when elected officials and civic leaders from Lubbock, Texas wanted to improve U.S. 87/287 to the north and south of U.S. Interstate 27 between Lubbock and Amarillo, Texas in order to capture the economic benefits of trade. With interstates in the U.S. predominantly going east and west, there was a growing need for additional north/south corridors to support increasing trade opportunities. Through reaching out to civic leaders and elected officials from other communities, a base support group comprised of cities, counties, chambers and economic development organizations founded the Ports-to-Plains Trade Corridor Coalition. In 1998, the Ports-to-Plains Trade Corridor was granted its federal designation in the TEA-21 reauthorization bill as a high priority corridor from Laredo, Texas to Denver, Colorado via U.S. Interstate 27. In the 2001 appropriations bill, the route was approved through Texas, and then in 2002 the remainder of the route through New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Colorado was approved and signed by President George W. Bush in an independent bill. Later that same year (2002), the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) received a congressional appropriation of $1.7 million for the completion of a Corridor Development and Management Plan to identify needed improvements and actions necessary to create a modern trade corridor to enhance freight movement and promote economic development. TxDOT later transferred those funds to the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) to manage the development of the plan. 2829 W. Howard Place Denver, CO 80204-2305 P 303.757.9772 www.codot.gov The four Ports-to-Plains states matched the federal funding with a total of $340,000 with each state’s contribution proportional to corridor mileage within that state. A steering committee composed of one representative each from Colorado, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Texas, guided the completion of this plan and coordinated with the Federal Highway Administration throughout the process. The Ports-to-Plains Development and Management Plan was completed in late 2004 and provided a blueprint of priorities and steps to improve the corridor as well as a tool for securing funding for corridor development. In 2008, the Ports-to-Plains Trade Corridor attained its goal of reaching to the Canada border by developing a partnership with two additional U.S. federal high priority corridors, the Heartland Expressway and Theodore Roosevelt Expressway. The three corridors together make up a 2300- plus mile economic development corridor, linking ten U.S. States to Canada and Mexico is known today as the PORTS-TO-PLAINS ALLIANCE. In 2009, the Government of Alberta joined as a member of the Ports-to-Plains Alliance in order to strengthen its trade relations with local and state government leaders in the ten Alliance states as well as to address the challenges and opportunities common to all the communities in the Ports-to- Plains region. The Ports-to-Plains Alliance also works closely with the Eastern Alberta Trade Corridor (EATC), a major economic development initiative underway that is led by three Regional Economic Development Alliances (REDAs) Alberta HUB, the Battle River Alliance for Economic Development and the Palliser Economic Partnership. The EATC provides access to the Alberta Oil Sands, which ranks third after Venezuela and Saudi Arabia in terms of proven recoverable global crude oil reserves. The Ports-to-Plains Alliance continues to explore opportunities in Mexico, working with local, state, and federal leaders who have made improving the Mexican highway system that connects to the Alliance Corridor a top priority in order to provide more modern and efficient infrastructure throughout several states in Mexico as well as to its western seaports. The road is still the core mission of the Alliance; but that mission and the organization through which we execute it, enables us to offer powerful support for sound economic policy in the industry sectors upon which our communities depend. Heightened awareness of the roles of energy and agriculture in the destiny of North American communities has never been higher - including growing concern about the energy, agriculture and other commodity sectors that, for many Corridor communities, offer hope for new prosperity and renewed economic development. Next Steps To promote economic security and prosperity throughout America’s energy and agricultural heartland, it is critical that the infrastructure is upgraded and modernized to meet the needs of trade and economic activity. Attachment Ports-to-Plains Presentation 2829 W. Howard Place Denver, CO 80204-2305 P 303.757.9772 www.codot.gov Ports-to-Plains Update Freight Committee of the Colorado Transportation Commission August 20, 2020 Joe Kiely Vice President of Operations Ports-to-Plains Alliance Overview of the High Priority Corridors Overview of the High Priority Corridors Heartland Expressway Designated 1992 Denver to Rapid City via Scottsbluff, NE Overview of the High Ports-to-Plains Designated 1998 Priority Texas-Mexico Corridors Border at Laredo to Denver Via I-27 Overview of the High Priority Corridors Theodore Roosevelt Expressway Designated 2005 U.S.-Canada Border to Rapid City via Willison The Heartland Expressway is CO Highway 71 between Limon and the Colorado- Nebraska state line and I-76 between Denver and Brush. The Ports-to-Plains Corridor is U.S. Highway 287 between the Colorado-Oklahoma state line and Limon and I-70 between Limon and I-25 at Denver. CO-71 Truck Freight Diversion Feasibility Study (published by CDOT Region 4) CO-71 Truck Freight Diversion Feasibility Study Study Area CO-71 Truck Freight Diversion Feasibility Study With a long-term vision of CO 71 as a four-lane highway, whether with a center turn lane (expressway) or a divided highway (i.e. future Vision interstate), the corridor would be able to accommodate a higher volume of traffic and serve as a stronger connector for the freight industry and general vehicular travel. • Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) and CO-71 Truck Freight Vehicle Hours Traveled (VHT) from the National Truck Freight Travel Diversion Feasibility Demand Model from a national Study perspective • Travel time savings What Was • Reduced crash rate Measured • Project costs (e.g., operating and capital costs) CO-71 Truck Freight Diversion Feasibility Study • Shoulders with Passing Lanes - 12-foot passing lanes and 8-foot shoulders Alternatives • Four-Lane Highway - four full 12- foot wide lanes with 8-foot shoulders CO-71 Truck Freight Diversion Feasibility Study 2018 Movement of Permitted Loads in Colorado Texas Ports-to-Plains Interstate Feasibility Study Texas Ports-to-Plains Interstate Feasibility Study Future Interstate Designation Future Interstate Designation Support for the Designation in Colorado Colorado Concern, a statewide CEO-based organization devoted to investing in and promoting a pro-business environment through the political process, published in TOGETHER WE BUILD: How Federal Infrastructure Investments Can Put Coloradans Back to Work, Recommendations from the Colorado Infrastructure Committee, a Project of Colorado Concern. On page 10 the recommendations include: Future Interstate Designation Support for the Designation in Colorado Future Interstate Designation Support for the Designation in Colorado The Ports-to-Plains Alliance has received Resolutions Supporting Future Interstate Designation in Colorado. City of Brush Lincoln County Colorado Freight Advisory Council Lincoln County Economic Development Corporation Colorado Motor Carriers Association Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation East Central Council of Governments Morgan County Kiowa County Move Colorado City of Lamar Pro 15 Town of Limon Washington County Limon Chamber of Commerce Future Interstate Designation Current Status of Legislation Future Interstate Designation Current Status of Legislation H.R 2 – The Moving Forward Act Designated the Entire Texas and New Mexico Ports- to-Plains Corridor as a Future Interstate Highway Future Interstate Designation Current Status of Legislation Future Interstate Designation Current Status of Legislation Future Interstate Designation The Ask Asking for Colorado support for Congress to designate all of the Ports-to-Plains Corridor in Colorado, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Texas and the portion of the Heartland Expressway in Colorado between I-70 at Limon and I-76 at Brush. Future Interstate Designation The Ask Thank You Joe Kiely PO Box 758 Limon, CO 80829 719-740-2240 [email protected].