TxDOT Strikes Again

You would think that there couldn't be another conservation/environmental project that TxDOT would want to destroy. It's excuse and delay when it comes to a wildlife corridor and safe passage to the Franklin Mountains State Park. They refuse to use federal money targeted for a bike share program. Now they are preparing to put it to the Rio Bosque Wetlands Park. Park manager, John Sproul, sent this message:


In May, the Texas Department of Transportation began its Border Highway East Study, intended to look at transportation improvements along the border in southeast El Paso County.  Attached is a Fact Sheet on the study. 

The most significant facility being looked at in this study is a proposed new highway extending from the Zaragoza International Port of Entry to the Tornillo-Guadalupe International Port of Entry.  Initially, four alternative alignments have been presented for this highway.  They are displayed on the attached “BHE Constraints north” map.  Immediately east of Rio Bosque Wetlands Park, all four alignments are identical:  They parallel the Riverside Canal on the opposite side of the canal from the park. 

From the inception of the wetlands project at Rio Bosque, one of our main goals has been to establish a new entrance to the park from Socorro Road.  It would be at the park’s southeast corner, where the visitor center is located.   The planned new entrance would provide direct, convenient access off Socorro Road and directly link Rio Bosque with the Mission Trail.  Over the past several years, working in coordination with El Paso County Water Improvement District #1, we have been finalizing plans for the new entrance.  It would include:

• a short entrance road from Socorro Road
• a parking area
• a new footbridge crossing the Riverside Canal
• walkways leading from the parking area to the footbridge and from the footbridge to the park's existing Bosque Trail and visitor center.

The four alternative alignments for the highway all go right through the area proposed for this new entrance. [Emphasis is mine.]


The upcoming meetings will be in an open-house, come-and-go format.  You’ll have a chance to view the maps, discuss the study with project planners, and offer you views, ideas and concerns. 


Public Meeting, Border Highway East Study

Tues. 19 November
4 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Socorro High School Cafeteria
10150 Alameda Ave., Socorro, TX

or

Wed. 20 November
4 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Rio Valle Women’s Club

521 Mike Maros, Fabens, TX 


Attachments:
Border Highway East Study Fact Sheet
BHE Constraints North Map