June 5, 2002

U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta today announced $54 million in grants to help ensure the safe operation of Mexico-domiciled commercial motor vehicles in the United States and improve traffic flow at border crossings in the four border states.

"These funds will help improve traffic flow and ensure the safety of motorists by enabling construction and improvements to motor carrier safety inspection facilities along the United States-Mexico border," said Secretary Mineta.

These funds were appropriated by Congress from the federal-aid highways revenue aligned budget authority (RABA) to be distributed among the states of Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas under the Department'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: the 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. Examples of the type of projects funded under the BIP, beginning with construction of eight new commercial motor vehicle safety inspection facilities at the border in Texas, include upgrade and final construction of an automated port of entry at the Santa Teresa, NM border crossing that will greatly increase the number of commercial motor vehicle safety inspections that can be conducted at the facility and 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 (FMCSA) and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) initiative under which the federal government contributes 80 percent of the project cost and the four states involved pay 20 percent of the expenses. FHWA is the administering agency.

# # #