The Border Highway East (BHE) Study began in May 2013 and is anticipated to conclude in the fall of 2014. The study will include community discussion and a visioning process for transportation improvements along the border in southeast El Paso County.

Project Limits

The study area begins at Loop 375 near the Zaragoza International Port of Entry (POE) and extends south to the Fabens International POE. I-10 and the Rio Grande serve as east and west boundaries.

• Study Area Map

Planning and Environmental Linkage Study

A Planning and Environmental Linkage (PEL) study will identify and document transportation needs for the area.

The PEL process provides early collaboration with the public as well as local, state and federal agencies. By working together, alternatives and avoidance measures can be developed at a local level.

A feasibility study in 1997 identified the following challenges:

• Increasing traffic demands on east-west mobility
• Lack of connectivity to I-10
• Congestion and the need for an alternative/parallel route to existing roadways
• Social and economic demands from population growth
• Increasing strain on local roadways and railroads associated with international trade
• Interregional trade and freight rail movements

The PEL process will result in a proposed solution to these challenges as well as potential funding options.

Get Involved

The public meeting schedule is listed below.

The first series of open house meetings was held in November 2013. The purpose of the meetings was to examine the transportation needs in the study area.

The second series of open house meetings was held in March 2014. The purpose of the meetings was to present both the universe and preliminary alternatives for the BHE study area.

The third series of open house meetings will be held on July 15 and 16, 2014 and will present the recommended alternatives/future projects for the BHE study area.

Project Documents

Title	Format
Alternative Screening Methodology (Final)
Environmental Constraints Report (Final)
Universe of Alternatives Memorandum (Final)
Purpose and Need Technical Report (Final)
Public Involvement and Agency Coordination Plan (Final)
Level 2 and 3 Screening Matrices (Draft)