June 2026 Vol 24 Issue 6 | Ports-to-Plains Alliance

June 2026 Volume 24 Issue 6

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.

Be Sure Newsletter Email is Allowed

As you may have noticed, the monthly Ports-to-Plains Newsletter is sent through our member database. Please be sure the email address pal@memberclicks-mail.net is allowed on your system.

PRESIDENT'S CORNER

I was driving by the local Chick-fil-a the other day and I observed something interesting. This store moved to a new location a couple of years ago because the old location on the corner was creating a traffic jam throughout the day and the parking lot was very difficult to navigate. So, the city helped them relocate to the new space with a bigger lot for parking. The interesting thing though was that twelve of the spaces were occupied by company delivery cars making the lot crowded and difficult to navigate. In the post-COVID world, the delivery of products, goods, and food services is no longer the domain of pizza delivery. Everything from Amazon, DoorDash, Walmart, you name it, has a delivery service. In the case of my Chick-fil-a example that is twelve vehicles from one store tying up twelve parking spaces and even worse introducing twelve additional vehicles to our road network. I asked Bob, our AI guy, about how many Chick-fil-a stores exist in the United States. His number was 3267. Let’s say that each store averages ten delivery vehicles and just like that, we have added 32,670 vehicles just to deliver chicken sandwiches to our front door, or office workspace. Layer on every other delivery service vehicle, and before you know it, we have a congested mess. Can there be another way?

Even as I write this article, smarter people than me are dreaming, developing, and creating ways to bring products, goods, and services to your doorstep. Envision the day when drones drop off that chicken sandwich in a climate-controlled box at your doorstep and secure it in such a way that your neighbor’s dog can’t get to it. Picture if you will, shipping lanes in the sky that will direct this air traffic in such a way that prevents collisions and congestion. We will start with inanimate objects like food stuff and other products. Eventually, we will move into single passenger taxis, and then to multiple passenger taxis. These new technologies will be applied first to solving the first mile/last mile connections in our urban areas. But eventually, we will figure out how to deploy this technology in the movement of our freight in the United States. Early wins will be at our borders with Canada and Mexico as Vertical Takeoff and Lift (VTOL) technology will be utilized at our port facilities. Later we will design freight corridors and future interstates to take advantage of this technology. In addition to solving our truck parking issues, new access ports will be designed to deliver such things as health care products and services to rural and remote places across our great country.

You might be saying not in my lifetime Lauren, but I am here to tell you that some of this is already happening. The pace that information and technology are advancing today can be scary and overwhelming. But history has proven that these fields are not progressing linearly, but exponentially. To prove this point, the iPhone was introduced in 2007. Artificial intelligence and big data will continue to fuel this revolution, and we have to plan accordingly in the transportation space. To that end, some of the preliminary language in the House version of the Transportation Reauthorization bill includes incorporating technology advancement for our transportation system. Identifying, planning and funding for new technologies are the first steps to making them realities. And DOTs are already working at development and implementation of these new technologies into your transportation system. You probably won’t see us hauling our cattle with a drone, just like you can’t move a steer through a pipeline. But everything else? It could happen!

more to come …

Lauren D. Garduño

Texas FY 27 UTP

The UTP development process includes several key steps that are integrated with the overall performance-based planning approach and coordination among TxDOT divisions, districts and local planning partners in addition to TxDOT administrative leadership and the Texas Transportation Commission.

Each year, as hundreds of projects exit the development pipeline and enter the construction phase through letting, the UTP authorizes new projects to begin development based on the availability of additional funding in the latest planning forecast. The UTP also authorizes additional funding on near-term projects to enable them to be fully funded for subsequent inclusion in the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program.

2027 UTP Public Virtual Meeting

Wednesday, July 1, 2026 - 2 p.m. CDT

Watch the Livestream HERE

For those who wish to participate in the Q&A session during the virtual public meeting, please dial-in:

(800) 717-1738
Passcode: Texas DOT Public Meeting

Each event is open to the public, with attendees participating online and by phone. Recordings and presentations from the events are available for viewing after the event and on demand.

U.S. 85 Expressway Construction Progress Report

Two major construction projects continue forward along U.S. 85 on the Theodore Roosevelt Expressway:

U.S. 85 Four-lane Expansion - RP 120.3 North to Long X Bridge (Park Construction)
U.S. 85 Four-lane Expansion - RP 120.3 to ND 200 (Knife River Corporation)

Roadway grading and future lane preparation along the U.S. 85 corridor.

U.S. 85 Four-lane Expansion - RP 120.3 North to Long X Bridge

Project Snapshot

Executive Summary

The U.S. 85 Expressway segment from RP 120.3 north to the Long X Bridge has moved from planning into visible construction. Work is focused on building a four-lane divided highway through the Little Missouri Breaks, one of the most complex portions of the corridor. Heavy grading is underway, the box culvert has been set, and preparation is advancing for base course placement and future asphalt paving. The project is expected to move more than three million cubic yards of material and includes grading, paving, culverts, retaining wall work, landslide repairs, wildlife crossing elements, scenic overlooks, signing, and pavement markings.

Leadership Considerations

Primary risks include terrain complexity, slope stability, erosion control, and weather exposure.
Execution focus should remain on grading productivity, geotechnical performance, safe traffic operations, and coordination of specialized features.
The project is now in visible construction, and continued oversight will be important to keep the segment on pace for substantial completion in late 2027 and final completion on October 14, 2028.

Transforming Highway 85 in Western North

Provided by Park Construction Co.

U.S. 85 Four-lane Expansion - RP 120.3 to ND 200

$61.7 million contract to Strata Corporation for a 12.5-mile segment extending south from Mile Point 120.3 to ND Highway 200

Current Construction Status

Stockpiling has begun for asphalt aggregate at the temporary asphalt plant laydown yard near mile marker 135. Approximately 70,000 tons of asphalt aggregate will be required for upcoming paving activities.
Beginning June 8, crews are scheduled to begin placing Class 5 road base on future roadway sections. More than 250,000 tons of Class 5 road base are expected to be placed in preparation for paving.
The box culvert has been set, marking a visible milestone for drainage and structure work on the corridor. Asphalt paving is currently anticipated to begin on August 17, subject to weather, production, and field conditions.

Expected Mass Excavation Equipment

19 scrapers, 5 dozers, 3 blades, 3 water wagons, 2 water trucks, 3 sheep’s foot compactors, and 3 tractors with discs are expected to support mass excavation activities during the three-week look-ahead period.

Construction Photo Log

Photos document current grading, drainage, box culvert, and roadway preparation activities on the TH85 / U.S. 85 expansion segment.

CAFI

CAFI (Congressionally Authorized Future Interstate Coalition) is a national coalition advocating for a renewed federal commitment to developing and completing congressionally authorized Future Interstate corridors across the United States.

The coalition was formed to address a major gap in federal transportation policy: while Congress has designated numerous multi-state corridors as Future Interstates, there is currently no dedicated federal formula program to help states upgrade those corridors to interstate standards.

Vision

"Renewing the National Commitment to Multi-State Connectivity Corridors."

The coalition's central message is that America's economy, freight movement, population, and trade have grown dramatically since the Interstate System was conceived. CAFI argues that completing the next generation of interstate corridors is essential to maintaining national competitiveness, improving safety, strengthening supply chains, and expanding economic opportunity in both rural and urban America.

We urge you to follow the Congressionally Authorized Future Interstate Coalition (CAFI) page on Linkedin for the latest updates from across the country. The graphics below were published there, with more to come. Use these in your own social media outlets.

The Heartland Expressway 2026 Annual Meeting Luncheon is officially scheduled for Wednesday, August 19, at the Scotts Bluff Country Club.

This year's meeting features vital updates on progress, insights from industry experts, and messages from elected officials regarding regional infrastructure development.

Doors open at 11:30 AM, and the program commences promptly at 12:00 PM. While the annual meeting is entirely free to attend, an optional luncheon is available for $30 per person.

Please note that registration is mandatory for all attendees to ensure an accurate headcount. Secure your seat by completing the online RSVP form before the August 10 deadline: https://forms.gle/CFBoG2KDM8LASpfG9

For further inquiries, please contact Ria Rebman at rrebman@tcdne.org.

2026 Conference Registration Continues to Grow — Secure Your Sponsorship Today

Momentum continues to build for the 2026 Ports-to-Plains Alliance Annual Conference, scheduled for September 8–10, 2026, in Del Rio, Texas, and Acuña, Coahuila, Mexico. With registrations already above 80, this year's conference is shaping up to be one of the Alliance's largest and most influential gatherings.

Transportation leaders, elected officials, federal and state agencies, economic development professionals, military representatives, international trade experts, and private-sector partners will come together to discuss the future of the Ports-to-Plains Corridor and the continued development of the Future Interstate 27 System.

The conference agenda will feature timely discussions on:

Economic opportunities created by the Future Interstate 27 System
U.S.–Mexico trade and USMCA
Strategic defense mobility and border security
Federal transportation funding opportunities, including CAFI
International ports of entry and freight connectivity
State and federal transportation initiatives across the nine-state corridor

For organizations looking to increase their visibility among transportation decision-makers, sponsorship opportunities remain available—but are becoming limited. Sponsors receive valuable recognition before, during, and after the conference through event signage, printed materials, digital promotions, social media, and direct engagement with attendees from across North America.

Whether your organization supports freight transportation, infrastructure, logistics, economic development, engineering, construction, finance, or public policy, sponsoring the conference demonstrates your commitment to building the future of one of North America's most important transportation corridors.

Don't miss this opportunity to showcase your organization while supporting the continued advancement of the Ports-to-Plains Corridor.