NAFTA Mexican superhighway to cost US $8.5 Billion

[Ledbetter]

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/
sns-ap-nafta-superhighway0109jan09,0,5806473.story

I split the link into two lines.

Get this:

Work Resumes on 'NAFTA Superhighway'

By KIMBERLY HEFLING
Associated Press Writer

January 9, 2003, 6:15 PM EST

EVANSVILLE, Ind. -- An ambitious project approved by Congress five years ago to transform Interstate 69 into a link between Canada and Mexico may finally be on its way south.

After years of studies and debate, Gov. Frank O'Bannon announced Thursday plans to build a 140-mile route through southwest Indiana's farming communities that will allow the "NAFTA Superhighway" to extend beyond Indianapolis -- where I-69's last leg was completed more than two decades ago.

The highway would go through Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas. Most of the states, bogged down in bureaucratic bickering, haven't decided on routes.

Backers of the project, which is expected to cost at least $8.5 billion, say it would save four hours in travel time between Indianapolis and the Mexican border and ease congestion stemming from the 1993 North American Free Trade Agreement.

The route chosen by Indiana is likely to face continued opposition and possible lawsuits by environmentalists, who say the destruction to forest and farmland outweighs any economic benefit.

O'Bannon said the extension of Interstate 69 was needed to better connect Evansville, Indiana's third-largest city, with Indianapolis and spur economic growth.

"It's a route for economic health and educational opportunities," O'Bannon said.

Andy Knott of the Hoosier Environmental Council said O'Bannon "picked one of the most expensive and destructive routes available."

Copyright © 2003, The Associated Press

In case you had any doubt that Washington doesn't give a damn about U.S. taxpayers.

 

[Oatka]

I would back the environmentalists and their fellow Luddites in this case.

Back when NAFTA was first being discussed, people from Arizona were writing in, telling of the white-knuckle trips they had when Mexican trucks, unfamiliar (or uncaring) of U.S. road rules, used the high-speed auto lane for passing on three and four-lane (each way) highways.

Another gripe was that these drivers didn't have HazMat certification, but that might be in effect now.

Know what the truckers call a rig with no brakes? "Mexican Overdive".

With limited vehicle inspections at the border things will get interesting. I can just see a report of a 50-car pileup caused by these Third World drivers who also may not have any insurance.

Coming soon to a highway near you.

 

[shu]

Coming soon? We hope so. Should help property values along US281 north of Edinburg and US77 north of Harlingen.

 

[4v50 Gary]

We should get the contract to build the highway. We can build in 8" speed bumps into it every eight inches to make it into the super slow-way.

 

[Art Eatman]

I encounter a fair number of Mexican big-rigs along U.S. 90 in west Texas, as well as along I-10. They drive as though they do indeed know the rules and the how-tos.

One report I read, some months back, about comparative safety of semi rigs: U.S. licensed rigs fail at a rate of some 25%. Mexican semis are about the same; but if you add in the box-trucks the rate rises to 40%. (These safety checks include such things as running lights and exhausts as well as brakes and brake or head lights.)

Art

 

[critter]

Hummm. How 'bout a highway from Mexico to Canada with NO entrances/exits in the USA?????? Sorry Canada!!!!

 

[JoeSF]

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-nafta-superhighway0109jan09,0,5806473.story

this is the whole link in one string just click on it.

 

[Justin Moore]

20 bucks says the suitcase nuke will come in on a Mexican truck

 

[TheeBadOne]

NAFTA :banghead: Everytime I run into a staunch Democrat I ask them the same thing. "You voted for Clinton, right"? Yeah "And he's your man because he's a Democrat, right"? Yeah "Ok, then explain NAFTA to me". Silence

 

[Oatka]

This article is a year old, so maybe things have changed. Somehow I doubt it.

I don't know if this outfit is affiliated with the Teamsters, but they echo common concerns.

Bold italics are mine.

http://www.saferoads.org/press/press2001/pr_texmex020701.htm

Advocates Condemns NAFTA U.S.-Mexico Truck Decision, Says Ruling is Threat to Safety of America's Motorists

(Washington, D.C.) Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates) today condemned the decision of a North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) dispute panel that will result in the unrestricted opening of the U.S. border to Mexican trucks, warning that opening the border immediately will put American motorists at risk.

Dr. Gerald Donaldson, Advocates' Senior Research Director, stressed that an immediate opening of the border would result in unsafe trucks plying America's roads and highways. "Recent reports by the General Accounting Office (GAO) and the U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector General indicate that border inspections facilities, staffing, and procedures are inadequate. Not enough Mexican trucks are inspected to ensure safety violations are spotted to deter Mexican truckers from attempting to cross the border with unsafe and illegal vehicles," said Donaldson.

Congress has recognized that the border is not ready to be opened and has called for more resources to plug the gaps in border truck safety inspections. The Transportation Equity Act for the Twenty-First Century (1998) and the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999 both established long-term programs and funding authorizations to improve border inspection resources while also setting severe penalties for Mexican carriers violating U.S. federal motor carrier safety standards. Also, Mexico continues to have significant and unacceptable differences in the quality of its motor carrier safety standards regarding driver licensing and hours of service, and no record of inspecting its trucks for unsafe conditions.

"Advocates is concerned that the needed safety enforcement programs are not yet in place. To open the border now would overwhelm the few inspectors that are in place. By opening the border prematurely we run the risk of unqualified truckers and fatigued drivers threatening safety on U.S. highways," stressed Donaldson.

"Mexico, despite repeated promises over the last several years, has failed to establish any meaningful border safety inspection program on their side of the border which could stop unsafe and dangerous trucks from crossing into the U.S. This places the burden of stopping lawbreakers entirely upon U.S. state and federal border inspectors. Frankly, the U.S. borders are simply not ready to be opened," continued Donaldson.

Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety is an alliance of consumer, safety, law enforcement, public health and insurance organizations working to reduce deaths and injuries on our nation's highways. For more information please visit our World Wide Web site at www.saferoads.org. Contact Margaret Sherry at (202) 408-1711 for further information.

--30--

Other links for those interested:

http://www.citizen.org/autosafety/mex__trucks/articles.cfm?ID=5218
Congressional Debate on unsafe trucks from Mexico entering the U.S.

http://www.citizen.org/autosafety/mex__trucks/articles.cfm?ID=5219
MEXICAN TRUCKS FACT SHEET

See how your pol voted. You gotta like "Motion to table Gramm Amdt #1168 - To bar any provision that the President thinks will violate NAFTA"

Mexican Trucks Senate Vote Chart

http://www.citizen.org/autosafety/mex__trucks/articles.cfm?ID=5222
Mexican Trucks Senate Vote Chart