BTA to Texas senators: Support economic study of removal of commercial traffic from BOTA

The Border Trade Alliance on February 24, 2026 sent a letter to Texas U.S. Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz supporting a request from the El Paso Chamber that additional time be granted to complete an independent economic impact study before any final decision is made regarding the removal of commercial traffic from the Bridge of the Americas. The request comes as federal officials advance modernization plans for the port that could significantly alter freight flows in the region.

This letter builds on concerns BTA raised in November 2024 to the General Services Administration during the draft Environmental Impact Statement process. In that earlier correspondence, BTA warned that removing commercial truck traffic from BOTA could increase freight costs, shift trucks to tolled bridges, exacerbate congestion at other ports of entry, and disrupt established cross-border supply chains.