February 2026 Vol 24 Issue 2

February 2026 Volume 24 Issue 2

We are a voice for our small town, grassroots members who may otherwise not have access to the right audiences, as well as a conduit for industry to come together in support and promotion of transportation improvements.

We are committed to working as an Alliance to improve transportation infrastructure and business networks opportunities, by advocating for appropriate funding levels, so business and industry can thrive.

We are focused on the economic and business interests that are the lifeblood of the region.

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PRESIDENT'S CORNER

Last month our property taxes came due. As I was making the payments it was interesting to see just how many entities were taxing us. I started counting it up and the final tally was one city, one county, one water district, two mineral leases and three school districts. I then asked myself if I was getting value for the amount of taxes that I was paying. I do feel good about the quality of our city fire and police services. I think our city could invest a little more in infrastructure, but they are trying. Our county sheriff's office has a good presence in the rural areas which is good since I am already paying for police to patrol city streets and I do not need county deputies spending their time in town. I do not have any kids attending the three school districts that I pay taxes to, but we have in the past and I believe it is important to pay it forward for our grandkids.

So these taxes come due and we write these checks with little fanfare because we feel that we are getting good value back. That all seems to change when the property tax appraisals come back with twenty to thirty percent increases or a school bond shows up on the ballot and voters are asked to improve services that our children might never realize. So our politicians are running their campaigns on cutting property taxes, or placing limits on other taxing entities in order to appeal to the voter. Hey, I am all about reduction in taxes. But I also understand that there are critical public services that do not need to be compromised. Quality transportation infrastructure is one of those critical services.

When the first interstate highway act was signed in 1957 by Dwight Eisenhower, another bill was passed that set up the Highway Trust Fund to help fund the interstate construction. At the time they were collecting 3 cents per gallon of fuel to help fund our nation’s infrastructure and with the creation of this account they bumped it up to 4 cents. This amount stayed this way until 1982 when Ronald Reagan signed the Surface Transportation Assistance Act and raised the tax to 9 cents. Interestingly 8 of it went to highways and 1 cent went to a mass transit account. Just like you can’t compromise fire services for police services, the same could be said for highways and mass transit. When this act was signed I had just graduated from High School and I really didn’t worry too much about gas taxes. If fact, we had just come out of the OPEC oil crisis and the fluctuating cost of gasoline was not really being impacted by a five cent increase to our fuel taxes.

In 1990, the gas tax was increased by President George H.W. Bush to 14 cents with 2.5 cents going to the Highway Fund and the rest to deficit reduction. This increase occurred at a time when the original interstate construction was coming to completion. So now the purpose of having a highway fund loses focus and the pressure to reduce deficits dominates all budget discussions on Capitol Hill. Again, I am all in on deficit reduction, but just like a bad school bond, it becomes harder to sell the public on gas tax increases if the funds are not being used to improve infrastructure. In 1993 the Clinton Administration increased the tax to 18.4 cents with all of the increase going to deficit reduction. Later this increase was transferred back to the Highway Fund, but this killed the appetite for future increases and we have not had an increase since.

With a fuel tax increase off the table, we could not keep up with infrastructure demands that were placed upon our transportation network. And in 2008, we started subsidizing our highway fund out of General Revenue and we have been ever since. You are still being taxed for your infrastructure, but it is not coming from the right accounts and the road user tax that should be used to fund highway improvements is now having to rely on corporate and income taxes to fill the gap. Not really their intended purpose. Personally, I am willing to pay a little more at the gas pump and a little less out of my income taxes if I know that the funds are being spent for good infrastructure projects including a future interstate construction program.

more to come …

Lauren D. Garduño

H.R. 7148, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 Delivers $19.24 Million for Ports-to-Plains Alliance Projects

The H.R. 7148, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026, signed on February 3, 2026, delivers $19.24 million in federal funding to advance critical planning, safety, and infrastructure projects across the Ports-to-Plains Alliance corridor, strengthening regional connectivity, freight mobility, and progress toward Future Interstate development.

U.S. Rep. Jodey Arrington (TX-19) successfully advocated for two projects in Lamesa:

$640,000 for a Study of Lamesa Operational Improvements / Interstate Upgrade Options, evaluating near-term traffic flow improvements at a critical I-27 split location.
$5.0 million for Operational Improvements in Lamesa, converting existing US 87 and Business 87 (Dallas Avenue) into one-way pairs to enhance safety and traffic flow while future interstate planning continues.

U.S. Rep. Ronny Jackson (TX-13) secured funding for two major projects:

$1.0 million for State Loop 335 – Upgrade to Freeway in Amarillo (TxDOT Project ID 2494-02-011), supporting conversion of the corridor to a controlled-access facility with main lanes, ramps, frontage roads, multimodal accommodations, and four multi-level interchanges to improve safety and mobility.
$1.0 million for Interstate Planning and a City Location Study at Dumas, advancing alignment planning connecting the City of Dumas with US 87, a key step in maintaining momentum toward I-27 implementation.

U.S. Rep. August Pfluger (TX-11) secured:

$1.0 million for Future Interstate Planning between San Angelo and Sonora. This funding will advance schematic design, environmental review, and planning for the proposed I-27 segment, positioning the project for inclusion in the Texas Unified Transportation Plan and supporting long-term regional economic development.

U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Luján (NM) secured:

$1.6 million for Ports-to-Plains Corridor Interstate Planning between Raton and Clayton, including an I-27 / I-25 Interchange Alignment Study. Funding supports alternative analysis, environmental documentation, and preliminary design for a segment that is already four-lane divided, as well as City Location Studies for Des Moines and Capulin. new Paragraph block. Change the text.

U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger-Fernandez (NM-3) championed:

$1.0 million for Interstate Planning and a City Location Study at Raton, assisting the New Mexico Department of Transportation in determining the future alignment between US 87 (Future I-27) and I-25 to support economic development and regional connectivity.

U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert (CO-4) secured:

$2.0 million for the SH 71 Corridor Improvements Project along the Heartland Expressway. The project, included in CDOT’s 10-Year Plan, will advance reconstruction, shoulder widening, safety improvements, operational upgrades, and Intelligent Transportation Systems across approximately 27.5 miles in eastern Colorado.

U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer (NE) championed:

$6.0 million for Heartland Expressway safety enhancements between Chadron and the Nebraska–South Dakota state line, strengthening a critical north–south trade corridor.

Mark Your Calendars: 2026 Ports-to-Plains Alliance Conference

The 2026 Ports-to-Plains Alliance Annual Conference will be hosted by Del Rio, Texas and Acuña, Coahuila on September 8–10, 2026.

Corridor leaders, policymakers, and industry partners from across the United States, Canada, and Mexico will gather for a timely binational discussion focused on advancing the Future Interstate System and strengthening North American trade connectivity.

Centered on moving the corridor from designation to delivery, this year’s program will emphasize actionable federal policy, sustainable funding strategies, project implementation, and cross-border coordination that turns interstate vision into construction.

This marks the third time Del Rio and Acuña have hosted a Ports-to-Plains Alliance Conference.

In 2014, the theme was Bridging the Future.

In 2018, the theme was United We Build.

Now in 2026, the focus shifts squarely to implementation with this year’s theme: Building the Future Interstate: Bridging from Designation to Delivery

Join us as we bring together federal, state, and local leaders to advance the next phase of the Future Interstate Corridor.

Mark your calendars now and plan to be

part of this milestone event.

Heartland Expressway Four Lane Expansion - U.S. 26 between Minatare and U.S. 385 at Intersection L62A

Progress continues on the Heartland Expressway in western Nebraska. On February 12, 2026, the Nebraska Department of Transportation opened bids on Package A of the Heartland Expressway Four-Lane Expansion along U.S. 26 between Minatare and U.S. 385 at Intersection L62A. With a bid of $24.865 million, Paul Reed Construction of Gering, Nebraska, submitted the apparent low bid. Package A includes key pre-work components such as grading, culverts, irrigation structures, and other preliminary construction activities necessary to prepare the corridor for full four-lane expansion. Offers for right-of-way acquisition have been issued, negotiations are underway, and construction is anticipated to begin in 2026.

Still ahead is Package B, which will include the major construction elements of the project. This phase will complete the remaining roadway improvements, including utility relocations, additional grading, and paving. Negotiations for Package B have not yet begun, with construction currently anticipated in 2027–2028. The project is also supported by a $12.865 million Congressionally Directed Spending request secured by U.S. Senator Deb Fischer in the FY24 Mini-Appropriations bill, bringing significant federal investment to the corridor. Together, these efforts mark another major step forward in advancing the Heartland Expressway, strengthening freight mobility, supporting agriculture and energy production, and improving regional connectivity across western Nebraska.

I-27 Advisory Committee Meeting in Big Spring, Texas

This is a Save the Date for the next I-27 Advisory Committee Meeting scheduled for Thursday, April 9, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in Big Spring, Texas. The meeting will be held at Hotel Settles, 200 East Third Street, Big Spring, Texas 79720. If you can only participate virtually, a Teams link is included below.

What: I-27 Advisory Committee Meeting

Date: Thursday, April 9, 2026

Time: 9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. (Networking from 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.) CT

Location:

Hotel Settles

200 East Third Street

Big Spring, TX 79720

Teams Link: https://bit.ly/I-27AC10

You can view information about the Committee, Fact Sheets, and previous meeting summaries on the webpage I-27 Advisory Committee.

CAFI: Congressionally Authorized Future Interstates

Lauren Garduño was honored to participate in meetings with FHWA Administrator Sean McMaster and on the Hill with leaders from the Congressionally Authorized Future Interstate (CAFI) Coalition. The group discussed the importance of establishing a dedicated and predictable federal program to help construct Congressionally Authorized Future Interstates.