An interview with CCRMA's Pete Sepulveda about preparing for LNG
BROWNSVILLE, Texas - With a huge LNG project at the Port of Brownsville projected to create a massive increase in truck traffic, Cameron County RMA has started a master plan study of State Highway 48.
At the peak of its construction phase, NextDecade’s liquefied natural gas export terminal will see the hiring of 5,000 workers. Most of these may be transported into the port by bus. Cameron County and the City of Brownsville are looking into this.
But, then there are the trucks bringing in raw materials and taking out waste materials. Pete Sepulveda, executive director of Cameron County Regional Mobility Authority (CCRMA), says he would not be surprised to see 10,000, 15,000 or even 20,000 workers using SH 48 within a few years, particularly as it is also used by SpaceX.
“So what we're doing is we're working on a master plan for State Highway 48. Because you know that the 5,000 number that you mentioned, that's only one LNG. As you know, there's two LNG companies that are coming to the Port of Brownsville,” Sepulveda told the Rio Grande Guardian International News
Service.
“There are other industries that are coming to the board as well. SpaceX is already there. They already have 15,000 to 16,000 employees.”
Sepulveda said that working with Brownsville Navigation District, CCRMA is working on traffic projections.
“In the course of the next ten, 20, 30 years, as far as traffic is concerned, what is the traffic demand modeling we are going to need for Highway 48? And what is the ultimate configuration and industry coming into the Port of Brownsville? That is what we are going to study,” Sepulveda said.
“We're trying to determine what grade separations and what overpasses are needed. What additional infrastructure improvements are needed. What connecting roads are needed in that whole area to be able to provide ingress and egress to 10,000 employees that are going to be working out of that area or projected to be in the future.”
Sepulveda said once the master plan is complete it will be presented to the Texas Department of Transportation. After all, TxDOT maintains SH 48.
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