Eagle Pass Business and Economic Development Committee Hosted TxDOT Chief Engineer Bill Hale 

By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2017

The City of Eagle Pass, Texas Business and Economic Development Committee (BEDC) hosted Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Chief Engineer Bill Hale during his visit to Eagle Pass on Thursday, November 2, 2017.  Eagle Pass BEDC Director Ernie Gonzalez invited Chief Engineer Bill Hale to Eagle Pass during an earlier meeting of TEX 21, which he accepted.

BEDC Director welcomed Chief Engineer Hale to Eagle Pass at a presentation held at the IBC Bank Community Room attended by members of the BEDC and City of Eagle Pass officials, including Mayor Pro-Tem Yolanda Ramon, Councilmembers Rudy Villalpando, Gloria E. Hernandez, and Luis E. Sifuentes, City Manager Arturo B. Rodriguez, Assistant City Manager Ivan Morua, Main Street Program Director Joe Cruz, and other City representatives.

BEDC Chairman Morris Libson also welcomed Chief Engineer Hale and presented him with the goals and mission of the BEDC initiated by the Eagle Pass City Council in May 2017 in order to promote business and economic development in Eagle Pass, Texas.  Libson briefed Chief Engineer Hale regarding the rapidly growing international trade and economic development being experienced by the Eagle Pass and Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico border community.

Chief Engineer Hale appeared surprised to learn of the huge international trade and economic development occurring in the Eagle Pass and Piedras Negras border.

Chief Engineer Hale presented and discussed all the TxDOT projects done in Maverick County during 2017, totaling $33.76 Million.  Hale also stated that TxDOT funds $7 Billion in highway and infrastructure construction per year in Texas.  Hale discussed the different TxDOT programs that Eagle Pass can tap into to seek funding for its highway and infrastructure construction needs.  Eagle Pass is part of TXDOT’s Laredo District.  TxDOT Laredo District Director Melissa Montemayor and District Engineer David M. Salazar, Jr. were present at the meeting.

Hale noted that he had visited Eagle Pass last year and noted the growth that it has undergone during the past 10-15 years, but was not aware of the fact that Eagle Pass is now the largest railroad port of entry between United States and Mexico and the significant economic development and investment happening in Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico and surrounding area such as the Constellation Brands Corona Brewery Plant, Utility Trailers manufacturing facility, and other companies.

Assistant City Manager Ivan Morua presented Hale with the latest Eagle Pass International Bridges traffic statistics reflecting significant growth and the completion of the two commercial truck lanes at the Eagle Pass International Bridge II to handle the increase of 18 Wheeler Tractor-Trailer traffic through the Eagle Pass Port of Entry.

BEDC Cross-Border Relations Sub-Committee Chairman Ricardo Gonzalez also presented Chief Engineer Hale the improved relations and cooperation between Eagle Pass and Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico and the United States and Mexico governments regarding international trade and economic development.

BEDC Transportation and Infrastructure Sub-Committee Co-Chairman Chris Hiller presented Hale the priority transportation and infrastructure projects in Eagle Pass include the funding and completion of Loop 480 from U.S. Highway 57 to U.S. Highway 277 North and the expansion and improvement of U.S. 57 North from Eagle Pass to La Pryor, Texas.

Chief Engineer Hale was provided a tour of the Eagle Pass International Bridge II Commercial Truck Lanes, the two international bridges, downtown Eagle Pass, and the Eagle Pass Public Library.

Hale was very impressed with the exciting and rapidly growing international trade and economic development happening in the Eagle Pass and Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico border that affects Texas’ highway and infrastructure.  Hale thanked the BEDC for inviting him to Eagle Pass and advising him of the increased funding and projects needed by Eagle Pass and Maverick County to handle the present and future growth of the community.