Texas looks for partner for huge toll road

Two private-sector teams, ZAI ACS TTC-69 and Bluebonnet Infrastructure are facing a March 5, 2008 deadline to submit detailed plans to TxDOT for a 650-mile Interstate 69 Trans Texas Corridor toll road.

The route will link south Texas and northeast Texas and will ultimately become part of an interstate corridor extending from the Canadian border at Port Huron, Michigan to the Texas/Mexico border.

Both ZAI ACS TTC-69, led by Zachry American Infrastructure and Bluebonnet Infrastructure, led by Cintra, submitted initial public-private partnership bids last year.
If built, the multi-billion dollar toll road would become part of the TxTag electronic toll collection network in Texas.

TxDOT issued a formal request for proposals last week to the two private developer teams for detailed plans on how to finance, design, construct, operate and maintain I-69/TTC.

“The I-69 corridor has been a work in progress for the past 16 years and it is high time we pour some concrete,” says Ned Holmes, a member of the Texas Transportation Commission. “In fact we are ready to proceed to the next step.”

TxDOT is expected to make a recommendation next spring on which plan provides the best long-term value for the public.

11 December 2007