Bridge Manager Mario Diaz informed the board that over $950,000.00 in revenues came in in the month of July and with only August and September left in this fiscal year, Casas posed the question as to what would be done with these funds to which the finance director answered they could be utilized on any capital improvement projects they so desire which may or may not include a shaded walkway for pedestrians coming back from Mexico.
During his financial report, Diaz stated that year-to-date revenues are at $8,110, 296.00 with a 3% favorable variance. He also included $958,212.00 in year-to-date expenditures.
Other capital improvement projects which have already been approved include the repair of the fence along International Bridge I and the repair of drainage.
Casas reiterated that the bridge system is seeing reserves at this time and questioned the main reason that the city is proposing the increase in toll fairs.
According to Garza neighboring border cities charge higher rates, she gave the specific example of Del Rio which charges fifty cents more for pedestrians and between twenty five cents and fifty cents for vehicles. Garza added that there is a need to allocate funding for the bridge II expansion which carries a price tag of 1.3 million and also mentioned other studies that are currently taking place on bridge I that most probably will result in more expenses. Currently Eagle Pass charges $3.75 per axle while Del Rio charges $5.00 per axle.
Ultimately the bridge board decided to approve the $1 increase on commercial vehicles and present their findings. The increase in tolls for commercial vehicles still needs approval of city council and would take effect next fiscal year.
In terms of bridge traffic the Monthly Traffic Report, cars & pickups are up by 14,954 from last year's figures a difference of 7.38%.
Total traffic on both bridges is up by 4.56% from 271,351 in 2014 to 283,737 in 2015, a difference of 12,386.
Total vehicles are up by 6.97% from 214,545 in 2014 to 229,495 in 2015, a difference of 14,950.
ADVERTISEMENT 2
ADVERTISEMENT 3
Error: No articles to display
ADVERTISEMENT 1
ADVERTISEMENT 4
Bridge Board Raises Toll on Commercial Vehicles
- Tuesday, 01 September 2015 20:52
-
font size
decrease font size
increase font size
A.D. Ibarra
-Adelina Roman Conference Room
A meeting of the Eagle Pass Bridge Board was held on Monday afternoon where after much speculation that tolls would go up for private vehicles and pedestrians, the board took action only raising tolls for commercial vehicles. A decision that will bring in an extra $600,000.00+ to the bridge's coffers next fiscal year with the toll going up $1 per axle on 18-wheelers and other commercial vehicles.
Present at the meeting were Jesus Casas Board Chairman, Board Member Elizabeth Chisum , Mayor Ramsey English-Cantú, Finance Director San Juana Garza and Interim City Manager Hector Chavez.
Mrs. Garza clarified the fact that 99.7% of all obligations to the city have been paid as record of a transfer of $6 million was made known at a recent meeting of city council.