Texas Transportation Official In DC To Get High-Powered Help For El Paso Roads

June 6, 2008

Carol Han, KFOX-TV

WASHINGTON -- Texas could be on a collision course for major traffic problems according to one State Transportation commissioner.

Ned Holmes said state and federal dollars are drying up, and as a result, it's getting more difficult to replace and build new roads and bridges. According to Holmes, this could be a big problem for El Paso.

"El Paso presents unique challenges, because it's not just El Paso, it's Juarez," Holmes said. "It's a very big metropolitan area and there's quite a bit of cross border traffic."

That's one reason why the Texas Transportation Commission recently approved some new road projects and improvements in El Paso. Holmes called this a good start, but he warned that transportation issues in El Paso-- and around the country -- will continue to be a challenge because the old funding formula used to fix our highways is no longer working. On top of this, our nation's infrastructure is aging.

Holmes is seeking some high-powered help to get people thinking "outside of the box" about transportation funding. He's joined a group called Transportation Transformation Group. The group, also known as T-2, is getting Washington lawmakers, state officials and the private sector together to drum up new ideas. Some of its members include former U.S. House Majority Leader Richard Gephardt, JP Morgan, the Texas Department of Transportation and Northeastern University.