City of Eagle Pass approves Increase of Commercial Vehicles International Bridge Fare

By: Jose G. Landa, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2015

The City of Eagle Pass City Council approved the third and final reading of the amendment to an Ordinance increasing the Commercial Vehicle International Bridges Fares by $1 per axle from $3.75 to $4.75 effective November 1, 2015 at their meeting held on Tuesday, October 6, 2015. The controversial Commercial Vehicle Bridge Fare Rate increase was approved despite overwhelming opposition from both U.S. and Mexico Customs Brokers and Transportation Companies as well as the devaluation of the Mexican Peso monetary unit.

Prior to the formal approval of the Commercial Vehicle Bridge Fare Rate Increase, the City of Eagle Pass began to suffer decrease of Commercial Vehicle crossings as word of the $1 per axle rate increase spread among the international export and import business community. Consequently, the City of Eagle Pass is losing international bridge revenues as a result of the commercial vehicle decrease of traffic. For instance, for the month of September 2015, the City of Eagle Pass had 342 less commercial vehicles (18 wheelers) cross the two City-owned International Bridges than in the same month the year before.

Prior to the month of September 2015, the City of Eagle Pass had been enjoying a steady increase of commercial vehicles traffic through its international bridges.