Impact of a U.S.-Mexico free trade agreement on the Texas Highway Network

Final Sept 1993-Aug 1994PDFResearch PaperFHWA/TX-97/1317-1FResearch report 1317-1FStudy No. 0-1317International bordersInternational tradeTrade routesHighway capacityTexasTexas. Dept. of TransportationLuker, W.Cuellar, S.Memmott, J. L.Danave, R. C.Steffel, K. J.Stolp, C.Texas Transportation InstituteUniversity of Texas at Austin. Center for Transportation ResearchUnited States. Federal Highway Administration. Texas DivisionTexas. Dept. of Transportation. Office of Research and Technology TransferUS Transportation CollectionThe study examines the effect that increased trade with Mexico, as a result of the passage of NAFTA, will have on the Texas highway network. A dominant portion of overland trade between the U.S. and Mexico travels through Texas. Exports to and imports from Mexico are expected to increase significantly over the next two decades. The study finds a strong positive relationship between dollar-valued trade flows and border truck crossings. Thus, increased trade will translate into a need for an improvement of highway infrastructure in Texas, particularly in the border areas