B/CS in DC: Transportation needs to keep up with local, state growth
BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) – The BCS Chamber of Commerce is in Washington D.C. with over 30 local leaders expanding on conversations with national leaders that have put the Brazos Valley on the national funding map.
For the past two decades, a group of local leaders have brought a list of concerns from the Brazos Valley to leaders in Congress to make sure needs are being met for residents and businesses. One yearly topic is transportation, but this year they’re looking to expand on movements they’ve been credited for.
After a trip to Washington, the group says Brazos Valley transportation concerns showed up in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
This line of communication is something the executive director of the Bryan College Station Metropolitan Planning Organization says is vital to keep up with local growth on the roadways.
“Transportation improvements are becoming very, very expensive and as an example, State Highway 6 is a project that’s going to be going to construction sometime in 2025 probably and it’s over a $500 million project. So that’s not something that we can afford locally, that’s going to require state and federal participation,” he said. “We’re growing really fast in the Bryan-College Station area faster than the national average.”
This is why Jo Marlow with the Brazos Transit District said she’s excited to talk with these national leaders face to face.
“Transportation is crucial in a growing community as it facilitates mobility and connects residents to essential services, like healthcare education and supports Economic Development by enabling local businesses to access a wider Markets. It also enhances the quality of life by reducing travel time and providing a safer way to travel,” she said.
The group hopes to convey the need for full federal funding of local projects, expanding access to interstates and ports, plus the possibility of adding another commercial airline at Easterwood.
