Ports to Plains Project Team Sponsoring Open Houses to Discuss Corridor Development and Management Plan

Lamar, Colorado and San Angelo, Texas Will Host First Round of Public Forums

March 5, 2004

The departments of transportation from Colorado, Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico will sponsor two open houses this month to help inform and gather input from the public regarding efforts to develop the Ports to Plains Corridor. The planned route across these four states is one of 43 "High Priority Corridors" designated by federal highway legislation and intended to facilitate trade throughout North America.

The four departments are overseeing a project team of engineers and consultants tasked with producing a development and management plan for the Ports to Plains Corridor. The plan will serve as a blueprint for the route’s development – outlining needed improvements, environmental impacts, financing alternatives and ways to market the corridor to the business community, freight industry and other key constituencies.

Three rounds of open houses will be held to keep the public apprised of progress and collect input from interested citizens.

The first round will include the following two meetings: Thursday, March 11, 3:00 to 7:00 p.m., Multi-Purpose Room, Lamar Community Building, 610 South 6th Street, Lamar, Colorado. Thursday, March 25, 3:00 to 7:00 p.m., Training Room, Texas Department of Transportation District Office, 4502 Knickerbocker Road, San Angelo, Texas

Two subsequent rounds, also featuring open houses in both Colorado and Texas, are planned for the summer and fall. More detailed information about those events will be made available when the dates and locations are set.

About The Ports to Plains Corridor: The Ports to Plains Corridor runs from the Texas/Mexico border at Laredo through western Texas and parts of Oklahoma and New Mexico to Denver, Colorado. The route is one of 43 "High Priority Corridors" designated by the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA21), the 1998 legislation that created the National Corridor Planning and Development Program. As with other High Priority Corridors, the importance of the Ports to Plains Corridor stems from its potential to promote economic development by ensuring the free flow of goods. For more information, call toll-free at 1-877-355-0906 or visit online at www.portstoplainscorridor.com.