TxDOT Ports-to-Plains Feasibility Study

Improving mobility, safety and enhancing economic opportunities

The Ports-to-Plains Corridor is an international, national, state, and regionally significant north-south corridor in west and south Texas that connects the state’s key economic engines of international trade, energy and agriculture production and supports population growth. For the Texas Department of Transportation, Garver evaluated the feasibility of upgrading the corridor to a continuous flow, four-lane divided highway that meets interstate standards.

The study, mandated by the Texas Legislature, was one of the largest in the state’s history and evaluated safety and mobility, freight movement, economic impacts, traffic congestion relief, moving energy products to market, interstate costs, interstate designation areas, and potential funding sources required by the legislature. In addition, it included a large stakeholder component where TxDOT and Garver worked with three Segment Committees comprised of elected officials and industry leaders and an Advisory Committee comprised of the mayors and county judges across 26 counties. The study concluded upgrading the entire Ports-to-Plains Corridor to an interstate facility would improve mobility and safety, as well as result in a 76 percent return on investment.