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Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) celebrated the General Services Administration (GSA)’s adoption of Viable Action Alternative #4 for the Bridge of the Americas (Puente Libre, BOTA) project. Viable Action Alternative #4, one of several design proposals, which removes all commercial cargo operations and modernizes the bridge with a focus on customer service and environmental justice, comes after years of work and commitment by the Congresswoman to ensure that BOTA is modernized in a way that responds to El Pasoans needs and challenges, including the health and environmental risks posed to residents near the bridge caused by idling commercial traffic.

"After years of advocacy and work for the modernization of our ports of entry, with particular care given to health and environmental impacts on El Pasoans, I am so excited to announce that GSA has finalized the best (and most popular) design option for the Bridge of the Americas," Congresswoman Escobar said. "Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Biden- Harris Administration’s commitment to environmental justice, we are one step closer to delivering transformational investment – over $650 million – to our border region which will lead to cleaner air and a healthier community for generations to come. I look forward to seeing these designs come to life for a land port that will prioritize El Pasoans, create jobs, and promote economic growth and development for our community. I’m grateful to GSA and CBP who were great partners throughout this process, and grateful to all El Pasoans who took part in these important conversations."

$650 - $700 million was appropriated to GSA for Bridge of the Americas modernization in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, signed into law by President Biden in November of 2021. Congresswoman Escobar was the only representative in this region to vote in favor of the funding.

Since the funding announcement – Congresswoman Escobar and her office have held a series of listening sessions, public engagements, and surveys with community leaders, neighborhood associations, business and environmental stakeholders, alongside both Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and GSA. These sessions were critical in ensuring the GSA and CBP made decisions based on facts and community input.

Congresswoman Escobar’s Push to Remove Commercial Traffic and Prioritize El Pasoans at the Bridge of the Americas: 

• August 2022- Congresswoman Escobar hosted a meeting with GSA to kick off stakeholder engagement for the BOTA modernization. Local government, Customs and Border Protection (CBP), International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC), Department of State, HOME, neighborhood associations near the bridge and other stakeholders attended to learn about the process. GSA committed to robust community engagement throughout the design concept and environmental impact process. 

• GSA hosted a series of community meetings beginning in Fall 2022, where the Congresswoman helped ensure local community members were present and their voices heard at the highest levels 

• April 7, 2023 – Congresswoman Escobar met with GSA to provide feedback on concerns and issues shared with her by El Paso stakeholders.
• July 5, 2023 – Congresswoman Escobar met with members of the San Xavier, Chamizal, and Washington-Delta neighborhood associations regarding their experiences with past construction projects impacting their communities and their concerns about the BOTA modernization project.  

• July 19, 2023 – Congresswoman Escobar sent a letter to GSA requesting a Health Impact Assessment to be included as part of the Environmental Impact Survey process. 

• October 19, 2023 –Congresswoman Escobar announced a series of listening sessionson BOTA with various stakeholders and sent out an email survey asking constituents their opinion on commercial traffic at BOTA.  

• October 27, 2023 – Congresswoman Escobar hosted a convening of governmental stakeholders- United States federally, Texas state, local and Ciudad Juarez and State of Chihuahua attending. 

• November 13, 2023 – Congresswoman Escobar hosted a virtual town hall with a legislative update, including an update on the BOTA LPOE modernization project, with over 2,000 constituents in attendance. 

• November 17,  2023 – Congresswoman Escobar hosted a listening session with US and Mexico industry leaders (maquilas, custom brokers, trucking companies, etc) 

• January 2024 – Congresswoman Escobar hosted a listening session at the Chamizal Recreational Center with GSA, IBWC, and CBP leadership to hear from the community members including Familias Unidas, San Xavier and Washington-Delta Neighborhood Associations 

• May 2024 – Congresswoman Escobar hosted a meeting with GSA, CBP, City and County to discuss BOTA and what can be done for City and County to prepare for additional traffic at other ports of entry. 

• July 2024 – Congresswoman Escobar hosted an update meeting with local and federal governmental stakeholders for BOTA, including Juarez Mayor and ANAM Director.

More information about the Bridge of the Americas project and Alternative #4 can be found here.