United States Transportation Secretary Norman Y Mineta has announced $54 million in grants to help ensure safe operation of Mexico-domiciled commercial motor vehicles in the United States and improve traffic flow at border crossings in the four border states.
This money was appropriated by Congress from the federal-aid highways revenue aligned budget authority to be distributed to Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas under the Department of Transportation's Border Infrastructure Program (BIP). Of the $54 million, $2.1 million will be awarded to Arizona, $8.9 million to California, $2.2 million to New Mexico, and $40.8 million to Texas.
The objective of the BIP is twofold: safe operation of Mexico-domiciled commercial motor vehicles operating in the United States, and improved traffic flow at border crossings in the four border states. Projects financed under the BIP will include:
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Construction of eight new commercial motor vehicle safety inspection facilities at the Texas border.
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Upgrade and final construction of an automated port of entry at the Santa Teresa NM border crossing that will increase the number of inspections conducted at the facility.
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Construction of additional inspection bays and parking areas for out-of-service vehicles at the commercial vehicle enforcement facility at Calexico CA.
The BIP is a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) initiative under which the federal government contributes 80% of the project cost and the four states involved pay 20% of the expenses. FHWA is the administering agency.
