Shapleigh Responds
May 17th, 2007 at 10:26 am
We wrote a blog yesterday about a proposed Senate bill, SB 893, which would allow all the border counties — except for El Paso — to enter into agreements to build or acquire railroad toll bridges.
Eliot Shapleigh, the state senator from El Paso, inserted the amendment exempting El Paso. Here’s his written explanation, which was faxed over to our office last night:
Statement by Senator Eliot Shapleigh Regarding SB 893
The Texas Observer’s blog posting today by Eileen Welsome is incorrect.
My position on rail to and from Mexico is clear. When Governor Richardson proposed moving rail from downtown Juárez to Santa Teresa, I took an early and strong stand to ensure that El Paso would also have a rail connection to Mexico.
By letter dated November 21, 2005 to Congressman Reyes, I made clear that moving rail to Santa Teresa without a Texas connection “would only result in a loss of jobs in rail dependent businesses, as warehouses and related businesses migrate to Santa Teresa, a loss of inter-modal capacity and international rail to Mexico, and a reduced ability to attract certain types of industries. In the absence of other investments, relocating our rail yard only reduces the tax base in what is already one of the poorest cities in the nation.”
Furthermore, El Paso County has no experience and no desire to operate rail toll bridges.
If you review the County legislative agenda for this year (or any year) there is no item regarding rail. In contrast, the City RMA already has express authority to move rail or operate rail, thus making the grant of authority in Zaffirini’s bill unnecessary. Given recent developments in El Paso County government, I know of no one in my community who believes that giving the County power to operate rail is a good idea.
My amendment to SB 893 ensures greater coordination, competence and transparency in El Paso’s regional transportation future.
