International Bridge traffic spikes during December 2014 at Eagle Pass

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

International Bridge crossings and traffic significantly increased by 7.98% in December 2014 at the two City of Eagle Pass International Bridges compared to the same month in 2013, announced Mario Diaz, Executive Director of the City of Eagle Pass International Bridges System.

A total of 23,048 more vehicles and trucks crossed through the two Eagle Pass International Bridges in December 2014 compared to 2013, a 7.98% spike in one year for the same month. In December 2014, a total of 311,747 vehicles and trucks crossed compared to only 288,699 in 2013.

Of the 311,747 crossings in December 2014, a total of 238,109 were vehicles while 10,319 were trucks compared to 212,145 and 8,884, respectively, in 2013. The vehicle crossings increased by 12.24% and the truck crossings increased by 16.15% in December 2014 compared to 2013.

Although Eagle Pass International Bridge No. 1 is only opened part-time, it had the most crossings of the two city-owned bridges with 186,952 while Bridge No. 2 had 124,975 crossings in December 2014.

Both Eagle Pass International Bridges had a daily average of 7,681 vehicle crossings and 405 truck crossings in December 2014.

The only category to sustain a slight decrease was pedestrian crossings with 73,638 in December 2014 compared to 76,554 in 2013, a 3.81% decrease.

The increased traffic is attributed to growing international crossings through Eagle Pass and Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico, preference for Eagle Pass and Piedras Negras, Coahuila by travelers, better security confidence in Piedras Negras, Coahuila, and new programs implemented to facilitate vehicle traffic and crossings.

The City of Eagle Pass and County of Maverick should benefit from the brisk increase in international crossings at the two Eagle Pass bridges as sales tax revenues for December 2014 should reflect a similar increase when the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts announces the results later this month.

The City of Eagle Pass depends on its international bridge revenues for up to 30% of its annual municipal fiscal budget.