City Council backs federal government’s proposal for BOTA

EL PASO, Texas ( KTSM ) — El Paso City Council representatives unanimously voted Tuesday, Oct. 8 to adopt a letter in support of the U.S. General Services Administration’s preference to remove commercial vehicle traffic from the Bridge of the Americas as part of a renovation project at the port of entry.

District 4 Rep. Joe Molinar was not present for the vote.

According to GSA’s draft Environmental Impact Statement on the project, the preferred option, known as Alternative 4, calls for the modernization of BOTA to accommodate pedestrian and non-commercial vehicle traffic, with the elimination of commercial cargo traffic.

City Rep. Josh Acevedo said it was important for the City Council to take up this item to show that City leaders are listening to constituents.

“I think what we really need to look at is a historical thing of what has happened in this area for many, many years. The people that we’re seeing here, Familias Unidas del Chamizal, their parents were doing this, their grandparents were asking for the same thing, and they’re still fighting for it all these decades later. I think that really gives you a snapshot of what we have to do to correct the mistakes of the past and make sure that we are giving them clean air to breathe, because just because they live there doesn’t mean that they deserve less,” said Acevedo.

The City joined El Paso County in supporting the South-Central residents, who have been lobbying for the eliminaton of commercial vehicle traffic as part of any modernization effort at the port of entry. County Commissioners voted Monday, Oct. 7 to support GSA’s recommendation.

According to the GSA, the public has 45 days to comment on the draft EIS. That comment period will end at 10:59 p.m. Mountain Standard Time on Nov. 4.

The draft EIS analyzes in detail the three remaining alternatives — one that includes commercial traffic, one that eliminates commercial traffic, and one that examines if no improvements are made to the port of entry.

Comments can be submitted through the following methods:

Email : BOTA.nepacomments@gsa.gov .

Must include “BOTA LPOE Draft EIS” in the subject line.

Mail

U.S. General Services Administration

Attention: Karla Carmichael, NEPA Program Manager

819 Taylor St, Room 12-B

Fort Worth, TX 76102

Comments must be received by 10:59 p.m. Mountain Standard Time on Nov. 4, to be considered by GSA.

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