[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 20 (Tuesday, February 4, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1897-S1899]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. BINGAMAN (for himself, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Inhofe, Mrs. 
        Hutchison, Mr. Domenici, and Mr. Brownback):
  S. 290. A bill to amend the Intermodal Surface Transportation 
Efficiency Act of 1991 to identify a route that passes through the 
States of Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Kansas as a high priority 
corridor on the National Highway System; to the Committee on 
Environment and Public Works.
  Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation 
that will enhance the future economic vitality of communities in Otero, 
Lincoln, Torrance, Guadalupe, and Quay Counties. The purpose of this 
legislation is to focus attention on the need to upgrade U.S. Highway 
54 to four lanes. I believe improving the transportation infrastructure 
will help attract good jobs to South, Central, and Eastern New Mexico.
  I am honored to have my good friend and colleague, Senator Roberts, 
as the lead cosponsor of the bill. I am also pleased to have Senators 
Inhofe, Hutchison, Domenici and Brownback as original cosponsors.
  In addition, Representatives Udall, NM, Moran, Lucas, Thornberry, 
Pearce, and Reyes are introducing this bill today on the House side.
  Our bill designates U.S. Highway 54 from the border with Mexico at El 
Paso, TX, through New Mexico, and Oklahoma to Wichita, KS, as the 
Southwest Passage Initiative for Regional and Interstate 
Transportation, or SPIRIT, corridor. Congress has already included 
Highway 54 as part of the National Highway System. This bill adds the 
SPIRIT Corridor in Congress's list of High Priority Corridors on the 
National Highway System.
  About half of the 700-mile-long SPIRIT corridor is in New Mexico and 
another 200 miles of it are in Kansas. Our goal with this designation 
is to promote the development of this route into a full four-lane 
divided highway. When completed, the route will link rural areas in the 
four States to major market centers.
  I continue to believe strongly in the importance of highway 
infrastructure for economic development in my State. Even in this age 
of the new economy and high-speed digital communications, roads 
continue to link our communities together and to carry the commercial 
goods and products our citizens need. Safe and efficient highways are 
especially important to citizens in the rural parts of New Mexico.
  It is well known that regions with four-lane highways more readily 
attract out-of-State visitors and new jobs. Truck drivers and the 
traveling public prefer the safety of a four-lane divided highway.
  In New Mexico, US 54 is a fairly level route, bypassing New Mexico's 
major mountain ranges. The route also traverses some of New Mexico's 
most dramatic scenery, including two of the State's popular Scenic 
Byways. One is the Mesalands Scenic Byway in Guadalupe, San Miguel and 
Quay Counties, incorporating the beautiful tablelands known as El Llano 
Estacado. The other is the state's newest byway, La Frontera de Llano, 
which follows highway 39 from Logan to Abbott in Harding County, 
including the spectacular Canadian River Canyon and the Kiowa National 
Grasslands.
  The SPIRIT corridor passes through Alamogordo, home of the New Mexico 
Museum of Space History and gateway to the stunning White Sands 
National Monument.
  Highway 54 is also important to our nation from the perspective of 
national security. The route directly serves Fort Bliss, the White 
Sands Missile Range, and Holloman Air Force Base. It also passes 
through the Nation's breadbasket as well as some of the Nation's most 
important oil and gas fields.
  The route of the SPIRIT corridor starts at Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico, 
home of one the largest concentrations of manufacturing in the border 
region. As a result of increased trade under NAFTA, commercial border 
traffic is now much higher at the border crossings in El Paso, Texas, 
and Santa Teresa, New Mexico. In New Mexico, truck traffic from the 
border has risen to over 1000 per day and is expected to triple in the 
next twenty years.
  The SPIRIT corridor is perfectly situated to serve international 
trade and promote economic development along its entire route. The 
route provides direct connections to four major Interstate Highways: I-
10, I-35, I-40, and I-70. SPIRIT is also the shortest route between 
Chicago and El Paso, shaving 137 miles off the major alternative.
  Though much of US 54 is currently only two lanes, traffic has been 
rising dramatically along the entire route since NAFTA was implemented. 
In New Mexico, total daily traffic levels are nearing 10,000 and are 
projected to rise to 30,000, with trucks making up 35 percent of the 
total. In Oklahoma, traffic levels are up to 6,500 per day--40 percent 
of which are commercial trucks. These traffic statistics clearly 
reflect the SPIRIT corridor's attraction to commercial and passenger 
drivers.
  New Mexicans recognize the importance of efficient roads to economic 
development and safety. I have long supported my state's efforts to 
complete the four-lane upgrade of US 54. The State Highway and 
Transportation Department now rates the project a high priority for New 
Mexico. The four-lane upgrade of the first 56-mile segment from the 
Texas border to Alamogordo was completed last year. Two more sections 
in New Mexico remain to be upgraded: 163 miles from Tularosa, north 
through Carrizozo, Corona, and

[[Page S1898]]

Vaughn, to Santa Rosa and 50 miles from Tucumcari to the Texas border 
near Nara Visa in Quay County. The cost to four-lane these two segments 
is estimated at $420 million. I am committed to working to help secure 
the funding required to complete New Mexico's four-lane upgrade as soon 
as possible. I am pleased the other States are also moving quickly to 
four-lane their portion of the route. I hope designating SPIRIT as a 
High Priority Corridor on the National Highway System will help spur 
the completion of this project.
  Once the SPIRIT corridor is designated, New Mexico will have four 
high-priority corridors on the National Highway System. The other three 
are the Ports-to-Plains corridor, the Camino Real Corridor, and the 
East West Transamerica Corridor. These four trade corridors, as well as 
our close proximity to the border, strongly underscore the vital role 
New Mexico plays in our nation's interstate and international 
transportation network.
  The SPIRIT project has broad grassroots support. Most of the cities, 
counties, and chambers of commerce all the way from Wichita to El Paso 
have passed resolutions of support for the four-lane upgrade of US 54 
along the entire corridor.
  I do believe the four-lane upgrade of Highway 54 is vital to the 
continued economic development for all of the communities along the 
SPIRIT corridor in New Mexico.
  I again thank Senators Roberts, Inhofe, Hutchison, Domenici and 
Brownback for cosponsoring the bill, and I hope all Senators will join 
us in support of this important legislation. It is my hope that our 
bill can pass quickly this year or be included when the Senate 
considers the reauthorization of the six-year transportation bill.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record. I ask unanimous consent that letters and resolutions of support 
from Otero County, Lincoln County, and Alamogordo in New Mexico, and 
from the Director of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation and the 
Secretary of Transportation of Kansas be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                 S. 290

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SOUTHWEST PASSAGE INITIATIVE FOR REGIONAL AND 
                   INTERSTATE TRANSPORTATION.

       Section 1105(c) of the Intermodal Surface Transportation 
     Efficiency Act of 1991 (105 Stat. 2032) is amended by adding 
     at the end the following:
       ``(45) The corridor extending from the point on the border 
     between the United States and Mexico in the State of Texas at 
     which United States Route 54 begins, along United States 
     Route 54 through the States of Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, 
     and Kansas, and ending in Wichita, Kansas, to be known as the 
     `Southwest Passage Initiative for Regional and Interstate 
     Transportation Corridor' or `SPIRIT Corridor'.''.
                                  ____

                                              OCEDC, Otero County,


                           Economic Development Council, Inc.,

                                   Alamogordo, NM, March 28, 2002.
     Hon. Jeff Bingaman,
     U.S. Senator,
     Las Cruces, NM.
       Dear Senator Bingaman: The Otero County Economic 
     Development Council, Inc. (OCEDC) wishes to lend our support 
     for Senate Bill 1986 (currently going through Congress), 
     which designates US 54 as a high priority corridor under the 
     Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991.
       The Southwest Passage Initiative for Regional and 
     Interstate Transportation (S.P.I.R.I.T.) efforts to establish 
     a trade corridor along US 54 will be extremely beneficial to 
     not only trade with Mexico but trade with the states this 
     highway passes through--Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and New 
     Mexico.
       Economic development progress can only be made when 
     infrastructure is available. Having the infrastructure and 
     trade corridor that US 54 provides will bring jobs, diversity 
     and stability to our citizens throughout the county.
       We would encourage you to do whatever you can to see that 
     these measures are passed.
           Sincerely,
                                                     Larry Shulse,
     President, OCEDC Board of Directors.
                                  ____


                         Resolution No. 2001-37

       WHEREAS, Senate Bill 1986 was introduced by Senator 
     Bingaman to designate U.S. Highway 54 as a high priority 
     corridor under the Intermodal Surface Transportation 
     Efficiency Act of 1991; and
       WHEREAS, the Board of Commissioners of Lincoln County, 
     State of New Mexico, supports the Southwest Passage 
     Initiative for Regional and Interstate Transportation or 
     SPIRIT; and
       WHEREAS, the SPIRIT's goal is to promote the four-laning of 
     U.S. Highway 54 from Withcita, Kansas to El Paso, Texas.
       NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of 
     Commissioners of Lincoln County has further determined that 
     in order to protect the health, safety, and welfare of our 
     citizens, the Board hereby supports the Southwest Passage 
     Initiative for Regional and Interstate Transportation or 
     SPIRIT Corridor.
                                  ____

                                               City of Alamogordo,


                                          Office of the Mayor,

                                   Alamogordo, NM, March 27, 2002.
     Hon. Jeff Bingaman,
     U.S. Senator, Hart Office Building, Room 703, Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Bingaman: This letter is written to thank you 
     for your introduction of Senate Bill 1986, the ``Southwest 
     Passage Initiative for Regional and Interstate 
     Transportation'', or S.P.I.R.I.T. corridor. This highway 
     corridor provides an essential link between Mexico and the 
     Midwestern states. Truck traffic along this path has 
     increased substantially since the advent of the NAFTA treaty 
     and the expectation is for a tripling of total traffic by the 
     year 2023.
       We recognize that the path to completing the S.P.I.R.I.T. 
     corridor as a four lane highway from El Paso, Texas through 
     new Mexico, Oklahoma, and Kansas will not be complete 
     overnight, but this is an essential step in moving the 
     project closer to completion.
       We thank you for supporting this legislation, whose real 
     and significant benefits will be the safety of the public 
     when using the route, improvement of trade, speed of 
     delivery, and reduction in costs of delivery.
           Sincerely,
                                                Donald E. Carroll,
     Mayor.
                                  ____



                               Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce,

                                    Alamogordo, NM, April 5, 2002.
     Hon. Jeff Bingaman,
     U.S. Senator,
     Las Cruces, NM.
       Dear Senator Bingaman: The Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce 
     wishes to lend our support for Senate Bill 1986 (currently 
     going through Congress), which designates US 54 as a high 
     priority corridor under the Intermodal Surface Transportation 
     Efficiency Act of 1991.
       The Southwest Passage Initiative for Regional and 
     Interstate Transportation (S.P.I.R.I.T.) efforts to establish 
     a trade corridor along US 54 will be very vital to the 
     continued economic development for all of the communities 
     along the SPIRIT corridor. This is especially true for the 
     businesses here in Alamogordo, the first stop on the route 
     north from the EL Paso-Juarez Metroplex.
       We believe the passing of this bill will help to bring 
     jobs, diversification and stability to our community.
       We would encourage you to do whatever you can to see that 
     these measures are passed.
           Sincerely,
                                                   John Marquardt,
     President, Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce.
                                  ____

                                            Oklahoma Department of


                                               Transportation,

                                 Oklahoma City, OK, April 9, 2002.
     Hon. Jeff Bingaman,
     U.S. Senator, 703 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, 
         DC.
       Dear Senator Bingaman: We endorse your efforts to improve 
     US 54 in the States of Oklahoma, New Mexico, Texas, and 
     Kansas. Designation of US 54 as a high priority corridor on 
     the National Highway System will aid in on-going and future 
     improvements to this significant trade corridor.
       Governor Keating, Congressman Lucas, Senator Inhofe, and 
     Senator Nickles have recognized the importance of US 54 in 
     the movement of goods and people in this four state region. 
     Beginning in 1995, US 54 was designated as a ``Transportation 
     Improvement Corridor'' in our first Statewide Intermodal 
     Transportation Plan. These Transportation Improvement 
     Corridors were so designated primarily due to current and 
     future congestion and were planned to be four-lane 
     facilities. US 54 certainly carries enough traffic, 
     especially trucks, for this designation. It has continued as 
     a Transportation Improvement Corridor in the latest Statewide 
     Intermodal Transportation Plan.
       We have followed through on this designation by committing 
     significant state and federal funding to improving US 54 to a 
     four-lane facility. We have used Capital Improvement Funds 
     (state bonds) combined with federal funds in the amount of 
     $70 million to purchase right-of-way, move utilities, and 
     construct a four-lane facility from the Texas state-line 
     northeastward 34 miles to north of Optima, Oklahoma. Future 
     plans include only purchasing right-of-way from this point 
     northeastward 21 miles to the Kansas stateline and 
     constructing a four-lane facility to Hooker, Oklahoma. 
     However, due to decreases in both state and federal funding, 
     four-laning US 54 from Hooker northeastward 15 miles to the 
     Kansas stateline is uncertain. Your efforts in securing 
     funding for US 54 would greatly aid in this effort.
           Sincerely,
                                                   Gary M. Ridley,
                                                         Director.

[[Page S1899]]

     
                                  ____
         Kansas Department of Transportation,Office of the 
           Secretary of Transportation,
                                       Topeka, KS, April 15, 2002.
     Hon. Jeff Bingaman,
     U.S. Senate,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Bingaman: The Kansas Department of 
     Transportation is supportive of the efforts of the Southwest 
     Passage Initiative for Regional and Interstate Transportation 
     (S.P.I.R.I.T.) to designate US-54 as a High Priority Corridor 
     on the National Highway System.
       The legislation which you recently co-sponsored, S. 1986, 
     would recognize the efforts of the S.P.I.R.I.T. organization 
     and their years of hard work to develop US-54 as a major 
     trade corridor.
       Thank you for your support of S.P.I.R.I.T. and US-54.
           Sincerely,
                                                  E. Dean Carlson,
                                      Secretary of Transportation.
                                 ______