Commissioners unanimously back resolution supporting four-lane expansion of U.S. 57

Maverick County's commissioners on Aug. 15 unanimously approved a resolution expressing the county's support for the planning, design and future construction of a four-lane divided U.S. Highway 57.

Commissioner Ramos moved to approve the resolution; Commissioner Rios seconded the motion and the court voted unanimously to adopt the measure.

Judge Canto told the court the resolution responds to a multiagency workshop that included local government, the Maverick County Hospital District, EPISD, the Chamber of Commerce and the Texas Department of Transportation. The judge and other commissioners described rising commercial-vehicle volumes and a high share of fatal crashes involving heavy vehicles on U.S. 57 over a five-year stretch as the rationale for expedited state-level planning.

The resolution asks state officials to include the U.S. 57 corridor in statewide planning and funding priorities, including steps for planning, design, construction, operations and maintenance and consideration for expansion near the border-patrol station roughly 11 miles east of Eagle Pass. The judge and others said the new Eagle Pass Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) will help the region qualify for federal funds and prioritize projects for design and construction.

Court members said the project remains state-led and would require state and federal funding; the court's resolution is intended to formally document local support and request TxDOT and legislators to program the corridor for future funding.

Ending: The court directed staff to forward the adopted resolution to state elected officials and TxDOT as part of the local advocacy and planning process.