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2	For more information contact: Greater Houston Partnership (713) 844-3656 Carolina Mederos Patton Boggs LLP (202) 457-5653
3	Interstate 69 Interstate 69 is the pre-eminent opportunity to create a new national highway linking the economic centers of the United States, Canada, and Mexico. No other route offers this level of national significance. By connecting North American economic centers, I-69 will support economic development in a wide geographic area of the United States, from urban centers to rural communities by-passed, up to now, by major highways of commerce. International trade carried along this new, national commercial highway will be both the result of, and the cause of, economic development. I-69 links economic centers, serves hemispheric trade, and builds economic development for the people of the United States and North America.
4	I-69 Links Economic Centers, Serves Hemispheric Trade and Builds Economic Development I-69 connects the economic centers of North America and is the most direct trade highway between Mexico/South Texas and Canada/U.S. Northeast. I-69’s border-crossing ports in Texas from Laredo to Brownsville handle over 49% of all U.S. truck-borne trade with Mexico. I-69’s border-crossing ports in Michigan handle 48% of U.S. truck-borne trade with Canada. All totaled, I-69 Corridor states and states using I-69 and its border-crossing ports account for over 63% of total U.S. truck-borne trade with North America. No other highway comes close to matching I-69 for trade volume and service efficiency. The trade linkages created by I-69 will mean economic development for urban areas on the route and will create zones of economic opportunity for impoverished rural populations located along the highway between metropolitan areas. I-69 investment leverages Federal anti-poverty initiatives for impoverished areas.
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6	I-69 Serves U.S. Trade with Mexico and Canada U.S./Mexican trade grew rapidly between 1990 and 1999. Since the inception of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in 1994, total U.S./Mexican trade has more than doubled. U.S. imports were up 175% from 1993 to 1999 U.S. exports rose 109% from 1993 to 1999 Canadian/U.S. import, export and total trade went up 73% from 1993 to 1999. 73% of U.S. Trade with Mexico and 66% of U.S. trade with Canada goes by truck. NAFTA has accelerated the trade growth that had been developing well before the passage of NAFTA. Similar rapid growth is likely in the future
7	Rapid Growth of U.S. Trade with North America
8	I-69 is the Direct Route for Trade Between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico I-69 is the direct route between Canada and Mexico through the United States. I-69 currently exists from Indianapolis to Port Huron, Michigan on the Canadian border. Extending I-69 southwest from Indianapolis to Memphis, Shreveport, Houston, and South Texas will reduce travel time, fuel consumption, and costs over the existing circuitous route. The forecast growth in Latin American trade predicted by the Latin America Trade and Transportation Study (LATTS) highlights the need for transportation infrastructure improvements such as the completion of I-69.
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10	I-69 Drives Trade and Links North American Economic Centers The Northeast Quadrant of the United States has nearly 42% of U.S. population and 44% of national Gross Domestic Product. The Canadian Provinces of Ontario and Quebec served by I-69 border-crossing ports lead the Canadian economy with about 62% of population and 63% of Gross Domestic Product. I-69 border-crossing ports in South Texas provide direct entry to Mexico’s economic heartland. I-69 connects the economic centers of North America and is the most direct trade highway between Mexico/South Texas and Canada/U.S. Northeast.
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12	I-69 Connects Top Border-Crossing Ports I-69 is the highway best positioned to serve NAFTA trade. I-69’s border-crossing ports in Texas from Laredo to Brownsville handle over 49% of all U.S. truck-borne trade with Mexico. I-69’s border-crossing ports in Michigan handle 48% of U.S. truck-borne trade with Canada. I-69 connects these two top border crossing areas and will link-up with existing and planned Mexican and Canadian highway infrastructure.
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14	I-69 Serves the Nation Best for NAFTA Trade Corridor states account for 51% of U.S. truck-borne trade with Mexico and 37% of U.S./Canadian truck-borne trade. Over 54% of the truck-borne trade between the western states and Canada uses the I-69 Corridor and/or I-69 border-crossing ports. Nearly 57% of the truck-borne trade between the central states and Canada uses the I-69 Corridor and/or its border-crossing ports. Over 67% of the truck-borne trade between Mexico and the states of the northeast and southeast uses the I-69 Corridor and/or its border-crossing ports. All totaled, I-69 Corridor states and states using the I-69 Corridor and/or its border-crossing ports account for over 63% of total U.S. truck-borne trade with North America. No other highway comes close to matching I-69 for trade volume and service efficiency.
15	I-69 Carries the Nation’s NAFTA Trade
16	Texas and Northeast Quadrant States Lead in Mexican Trade and are Best Served by I-69 Texas and the U.S. Northeast and Southeast Quadrants account for 69% of U.S. truck-borne trade with Mexico and almost 88% of truck-borne trade with Mexico via I-69’s border-crossing ports in South Texas. Texas accounts for nearly 35% of U.S. truck-borne trade with Mexico and 40% of truck-borne trade through I-69’s border-crossing ports in Texas. States of the U.S.Northeast and Southeast Quadrants account for almost 34% of U.S. truck-borne trade with Mexico and nearly 48% of truck-borne trade through I-69’s border-crossing ports in Texas. Improving the highway system that moves this overwhelming majority of U.S./Mexican trade is an absolute necessity to meet the terms of TEA-21. I-69 is the best new Interstate choice for U.S./Mexican trade because it most directly connects top border-crossing ports with top trading states.
17	Texas and Northeast Quadrant States Lead in Truck-borne Trade with Mexico
18	The Northeast Quadrant Dominates U.S. Highway Trade with Canada The Northeast Quadrant accounts for almost 68% of U.S. trade with Canada and close to 72% of truck-borne trade with Canada through I-69 border-crossing ports in Michigan. The Southeast Quadrant accounts for over 10% of U.S. trade with Canada and more than 7% of truck-borne trade with Canada through I-69 border-crossing ports in Michigan. Texas and states of the central and western United States account for nearly 22% of U.S. truck-borne trade with Canada and nearly 22% of truck-borne trade with Canada through I-69 border-crossing ports in Michigan. I-69 border-crossing ports in Michigan handle 48.0% of U.S./Canada trade. I-69 is the best highway route between the U.S., Mexico, and Canada because it most directly connects top border ports with top trading states and provinces.
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20	I-69 Offers Excellent International and Interregional Transportation and Distribution Connections 17 of the nation's top 25 seaports (1999) are directly connected to I-69 4 are on I-69 4 more are in the Northeast Quadrant 9 more are in the Southeast Quadrant 15 of the nation's top 25 air cargo airports (1999) are readily accessible by I-69 4 are in metropolitan areas along the path of I-69 4 more are within 75 to 150 miles of I-69 via Interstates 5 more are in the Northeast Quadrant 2 more are elsewhere in the Southeast Quadrant
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22	I-69 Builds Interregional Trade Thirteen important metropolitan areas lie on I-69’s path from Mexico to Canada. These metropolitan areas have a combined population of nearly 24.8 million. States encompassing these metro areas have a population of more than 69 million. These metropolitan areas contain three of the nation’s top 25 seaports and four of the country’s top 25 airports for air cargo. Four more airports are within 75 to 150 miles of I-69 via Interstates. 14 more seaports and 8 additional airports are in the Northeast and Southeast Quadrants I-69 provides excellent support for interregional trade and transportation. The trade linkages created by I-69 will mean economic development for urban areas on the route and will create zones of economic opportunity for impoverished rural populations located along the highway between metropolitan areas.
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24	I-69 has a Strong Economic Development Impact I-69 Corridor states have over 9.1 million people living below the poverty level. The percent population in poverty exceeds the U.S. average in six corridor states (Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas). Predominantly rural counties affected by I-69 in those six states have 2.6 million people below the poverty level, an average of 18.6% of the county population. The Corridor 18 feasibility study estimates significant economic development impact in the Houston-to-Indianapolis segment of I-69 which passes through this area of unacceptable poverty. According to the study, I-69 will: Create 27,000 jobs (2025) Add $11 billion in wages (1995-2025) Produce $19 billion in value added (1995-2025) Create $11 billion transportation efficiency benefit (Corridor 18 Special Issues Study) Businesses will locate in regions adjacent to and along I-69, bringing new jobs and opportunity to areas that are currently below the poverty level.
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26	I-69 Benefits Impoverished Rural Areas The FHWA's progress report on the Lower Delta Region recognizes the extremely positive economic impact transportation investments have made in the region's impoverished rural areas, especially those designated as Rural Empowerment Zones (REZs) and Enterprise Communities. The I-69 route goes through two REZs: Mid-Delta (Mississippi) and Rio Grande Valley. Other beneficiaries located along the I-69 route are five Rural Enterprise Communities (in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee), four urban Enterprise Communities, one Enhanced Enterprise Community and one urban Empowerment Zone. The Delta Regional Authority, signed into law in December 2000, involves eight states in a program to prepare coordinated plans for the economic development of the region. Six of the eight are I-69 corridor states. I-69 is an important part of meeting the economic development needs of the Delta. I-69 investment leverages Federal anti-poverty initiatives for impoverished areas.
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28	Interstate 69 Interstate 69 is the pre-eminent opportunity to create a new national highway linking the economic centers of the United States, Canada, and Mexico. No other route offers this level of national significance. By connecting North American economic centers, I-69 will support economic development in a wide geographic area of the United States, from urban centers to rural communities by-passed, up to now, by major highways of commerce. International trade carried along this new, national commercial highway will be both the result of, and the cause of, economic development. I-69 links economic centers, serves hemispheric trade, and builds economic development for the people of the United States and North America.
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