Eagle Pass MPO adopts weighted project scoring, opens call for projects and backs US 57 four‑lane upgrade

Eagle Pass, Texas — The Eagle Pass Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Transportation Policy Board on Sept. 10 adopted a weighted project‑scoring framework for its 25‑year Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP), authorized a call for projects under available federal and state funding programs and passed a resolution supporting the upgrade of U.S. Highway 57 to a four‑lane divided roadway.

The board voted unanimously to adopt “Option 2,” a scoring approach that places extra weight on safety and congestion mitigation while also accounting for project readiness, economic and multimodal benefits and accessibility. After adopting the criteria, the board approved moving forward with a formal call for projects and passed Resolution No. 2025‑07 supporting the U.S. 57 upgrade.

Why it matters: The MTP is the MPO’s federally required long‑range transportation plan covering 25 years. The scoring framework determines which projects the MPO will prioritize for limited formula and discretionary funds that flow through the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and federal programs. Sid Martinez, principal transportation planner with Stanley Consultants, described the MTP as “not a wish list of projects,” saying, “They are not a wish list of projects. They do have to, identify the funding that you expect to receive over that 25 year … lifetime of the plan.” He added that “This is a federally required process” and that establishing scoring criteria in advance is mandatory.

What the board adopted: The board approved a six‑criteria scoring framework developed with MPO staff, the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) and Stanley Consultants. The six criteria are: safety and security; congestion mitigation and system efficiency; economic development and freight mobility; multimodal and active transportation; transportation accessibility; and project readiness and feasibility. Option 2, which the board selected, emphasizes safety and congestion mitigation while assigning meaningful points to project readiness so high‑ranked projects are also likely to be implementable in a timely way.

Placido (MPO staff) said the recommendation to favor safety and congestion reflects both TAC input and the MPO’s limited early funding: “We haven’t built up a lot yet. So it may be one or very few projects we get to. So we’re trying to make sure this system really prioritizes our number one for our community.” Commissioner Ramos expressed agreement during the discussion.

Funding context and eligibility: Board members were briefed on funding sources and eligibility. Sid Martinez and TxDOT staff explained that Category 2 (the metropolitan/urban formula funds routed through TxDOT’s Unified Transportation Program, or UTP) will be a primary source for the MPO. The presentation included TxDOT estimates of roughly $1.8 million in Category 2 funds for 2027 and about $2.1 million for 2028, with an approximate 10‑year Category 2 total of $27.6 million and a rough 25‑year MTP figure of about $60.65 million. Martinez cautioned that those sums can be consumed quickly by large projects and noted that some federal programs (for example the Carbon Reduction Program) fund smaller, lower‑cost interventions such as signal timing, truck parking and energy‑efficient street lighting.

Board members and staff also discussed eligibility limits tied to functional classification and MPO boundaries. Martinez explained that projects must generally lie on functionally classified roads (collector or above) to be eligible for many federal programs; the MPO boundary (not just the census urbanized area) determines the geographic area for project eligibility. The city is working on a master thoroughfare plan that will help formalize local functional classifications, and Stanley Consultants and MPO staff said they will coordinate with TxDOT and FHWA to finalize a functional class list.

Call for projects and next steps: With the scoring criteria adopted, the board authorized staff to finalize the project application package and open the competitive call for projects. The application will ask for project title, sponsor (city, county, Kickapoo Tribe or other), location, project type, justification, cost estimates and identified funding sources; it will also collect information needed for required federal analyses such as environmental considerations and equity/performance measures. Martinez and staff said consultant teams will perform unbiased scoring using the adopted criteria, after which the board will review ranked projects and retain authority to adjust priorities and adopt final projects into the MTP. Staff estimates the MTP must be adopted by Dec. 2026.

Public outreach and procedural notes: Staff acknowledged limited public response to an online survey so far and asked the public‑information process be stepped up; board members asked for meeting materials and slides in advance of future meetings and discussed trying alternative meeting times to improve public participation. Sarah Cook, identified at the meeting as the MPO coordinator representing TxDOT’s Laredo District, participated online and moved the main scoring‑criteria motion.

Votes at a glance: - Adopt project scoring criteria (Option 2): motion by Sarah Cook; second by Commissioner Ramos; unanimous (yes: Arturo Garza; Gabriel Villasenor; Commissioner Ramos; Mr. Morua; Sarah Cook; Robert Rodriguez [online]). Outcome: approved. Note: Option 2 increases weighting for safety and congestion mitigation and raises project readiness weighting. - Approve opening call for projects under available funding programs: motion moved and adopted (mover/second not specified on the record); unanimous. Outcome: approved; staff authorized to finalize the application and open the call. - Adopt Resolution No. 2025‑07 supporting upgrade of U.S. Highway 57 to a four‑lane divided roadway: motion by Commissioner Ramos; second by Gabriel Villasenor; unanimous. Outcome: approved. - Adjourn meeting: motion approved (mover/second not specified); unanimous.

What remains: Staff and consultants will finalize the project application package, publish the call for projects, produce a list of functionally classified roads for the MPO area (including tribal and county segments), continue public outreach for the MTP survey, and present the TxDOT Unified Transportation Program details at the next meeting. The board retains final authority to adopt the ranked projects into the long‑range plan.

Ending: The MPO board emphasized that the adopted scoring framework is a tool to inform decisions but not an automatic mandate; board members may still choose to advance projects for reasons outside the numeric score when they justify that choice to the board and the public.