The workshop emphasized the important role that transportation infrastructure in Texas plays in facilitating the nation’s trade with Mexico.

 During the event stakeholders from around the region and state discussed many issues related to the subject, which included the current and projected travel demand, improving the capacity and operations of the existing multi-modal infrastructure and how it's critical to alleviating traffic congestion, facilitate international trade, reduce environmental impacts, and improve the quality of life for residents in the border region. 

 TxDOT, in collaboration and partnership with the Border Trade Advisory Committee, is working with U.S. and Mexican agencies and stakeholders to develop the Border Transportation Master Plan (BTMP). The master plan will identify the cross-border challenges of moving people and goods and will include analysis of existing transportation systems--roadway, transit, pedestrian, pipeline, airport, maritime, and rail. The plan will analyze current and future transportation and will include a prioritized list of transportation investment strategies that support bi-national, state, regional, and local economic competitiveness and improve the impacts of cross-border trade and transportation. 

 (TxDOT) is hosting a series of stakeholder workshops throughout the border region related to its master plan efforts. 

Those participating in the workshop included bi national, public and private sector stakeholders, brokers and logistics firms, cargo owners, and other trade transportation industry professionals.

The main purposes for the collaboration efforts include to facilitate coordination and collaboration between Texas and Mexico on bi-national planning, programming, and the implementation of policies, programs, and projects (a) at border crossings and (b) support the facilities and the multi-modal transportation system that serves the Texas-Mexico border.

The master plan’s goals are to serve as a blueprint for bi-national policy, program, and project recommendations that meet federal and state requirements. The objectives include conducting a bi-national analysis of the existing transportation systems (roadway, transit, pedestrian, pipeline and rail, etc.) and analyzing of current and future transportation needs, as well as developing an extensive and collaborative bi-national public and private-sector.

Stakeholder engagement. Assess all ports-of-entry (POE) support facilities that facilitate the cross-border movement of people and goods.

 The Texas border with Mexico extends for 1,255 miles - or 64 percent of the total U.S.-Mexico border - and ranks first among U.S. trading with Mexico, with 33 percent of the total truck and rail trade.

 ln 2017, Texas traded approximately $187.5 billion with Mexico, more than three times the amount that Texas trades with China, the state’s second-largest trading partner.

 Texas’ 2017 exports to Mexico amounted to approximately $97.7 billion and Texas’ imports from Mexico amounted to approximately $89.8 billion.