El Paso County leaders ask TxDOT for 'healthier' downtown I-10 project
EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — El Paso County Commissioners Monday approved sending a letter to the Texas Department of Transportation to ask the agency to address the "health and safety" of residents while designing the proposed Downtown 10 highway project.
"El Paso is an ozone non-attainment area, and I-10 is a major source of ozone and particulates; mitigating the impact of these substances must be considered a primary Need of the project. Regarding safety, the Need and Purpose must ensure the project is aligned with the Texas Transportation Commission’s Minute Order 115481 of May 30, 2019, which requires cutting traffic deaths on Texas roadways in half by 2035," the letter to Tomas Trevino, P.E., district engineer for TxDOT's El Paso District stated.
El Paso County Commissioner David Stout placed the item to send a comment to TxDOT on Monday's agenda.
“Commissioners addressed the Need and Purpose, which identifies the values that inform the design, asking that it address the health and safety of our constituents,” said Commissioner David Stout. “Health and safety should be non-negotiable, and a part of the Need and Purpose for any major project.”
Commissioners also asked TxDOT to include in the environmental study two previous TXDOT proposals.
They are the reconstruction of the existing highway, and sinking the highway below grade, which may help to address pollution and reconnect the street grid between Copia and Piedras.
“By doing a thorough evaluation of alternatives through the lens of health and safety in addition to what TXDOT previously identified as the Need and Purpose, we have a better chance at a truly progressive project that improves the highway’s current impact on the health and safety of our constituents,” said Stout.
El Pasoans can comment by emailing downtown10@txdot.gov.
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