SUBJECT
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A resolution of the City Council of Laredo, Texas, authorizing the City Manager to amend the application for the Small-Scale Donation Acceptance Program (DAP) Project for the Laredo World Trade Bridge.
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PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION
On January 28, 2025, City Council approved resolution 2025-R-31 authorizing the City Manager to prepare all necessary documents for the submission of an application to U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Donation Acceptance Program for the City of Laredo World Trade Bridge Port of Entry Expansion Project.
BACKGROUND
This is a proposal to amend the Small-Scale Donation Acceptance Program (DAP) Project that will connect the new northbound bridge being constructed as part of the Laredo World Trade Bridge Expansion Project to the pre-primary inspection area of the federal property at the Port of Entry (POE). The original proposal was tentatively selected by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on March 26, 2025. This DAP Project is essential to the completion of this International Bridge Expansion Project, and the amendment is proposed to allow for the timely completion of the Expansion Project without unnecessary delays.
The Expansion Project was issued a Presidential Permit on May 31, 2024.The World Trade Bridge Expansion Project will construct an additional eight lane bridge for northbound traffic adjacent to the existing bridge. The Expansion Project will also construct an additional two lanes for south bound traffic on the north side of the existing bridge, which will be entirely on City owned property, outside of the POE and thus will not be part of this DAP Project. The Expansion Project is fully supported by CBP, as it will facilitate the throughput of traffic at the World Trade Bridge POE, the nation’s number 1 commercial crossing. Planning for the Expansion Project is well underway.The City has submitted the Final Conceptual Plans and 2D HEC-RAS Flood Baseline Study to the U.S. Section of the U.S.-Mexico International Boundary and Water Commission (USIBWC). The City is preparing to transmit the Final Plans, Specifications, and Estimates (PS&E) Submittal to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) in February 2026. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is the lead federal agency on the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review, with the support of TxDOT; these agencies are reviewing the draft Environmental Assessment (EA), and a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) is expected in early May 2026. The Mexican Federal Government supports the Expansion Project, and the State of Tamaulipas is the sponsor of the Mexican side and plans to start construction of their project in early 2026.
As part of the Expansion Project, the City of Laredo will construct a new eight lane bridge for northbound commercial traffic that will align with the Multi Energy Portals (MEP) in the pre-primary inspection area of the POE. The original DAP Project Proposal envisioned a single Project to connect this new bridge to the pre-primary inspection area. This amended Proposal would divide the Project into two separate construction contracts.
The first construction contract, DAP Phase 1, would consist of the main construction elements. It would be included in the TxDOT Final PS&E that covers the construction of the new northbound bridge, and it would encompass the DAP Project components required to tie the bridge to the existing northbound POE area. The City, working with CBP and the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), would first construct a temporary secure perimeter fence/concrete barrier around the affected section of thePOE. The remaining DAP Phase 1 components will be constructed on federal property outside of and beyond the temporary secure perimeter fence/concrete barrier. DAP Phase 1 project components are depicted on the attached drawings and include but are not limited to:
• New northbound departure embankment.
• Removal and replacement of main POE security perimeter fence, as indicated.
• New northbound bridge rolling gate and operator.
• New and replacement roadway lighting within POE perimeter.
• New concrete pavement section.
• Modification of drainage between existing pavement and new northbound bridge.
• New pavement markings, delineators, signage, and special traffic control devices required for approach to MEP units.
These items were included in the 30% DAP PS&E Submittal transmitted to CBP and GSA on October 6, 2025. They have been reviewed and commented on by CBP and GSA.
After all other components of the DAP Project are completed and the new permanent secure perimeter fence is in place, the temporary secure perimeter fence/concrete barrier will be removed.
DAP Phase 1 will take place as a part of construction of the new north bound bridge, expected to begin in January 2027, and it will be completed prior to the opening of the new bridge, expected in September 2027. The components of DAP Phase 1 are standard engineering and construction elements and are not expected to pose any significant challenges. The City will coordinate closely with CBP and GSA throughout DAP Phase 1. Construction is anticipated to take approximately nine months. The cost of DAP Phase 1 is estimated to be $1.5 million.
The second construction contract, DAP Phase 1A, will comprise the Special Systems construction components of the DAP Project. DAP Phase 1A will be constructed on the federal property within the temporary operational secure perimeter. DAP Phase 1A project components include but are not limited to:
• Four new lanes of MEP Early Read Equipment to be installed directly in front of the existing MEP unit structures.
o Required infrastructure connection to the existing NII control building, operational testing. and acceptance by CBP are included in this item.
• New Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras and associated equipment as required by the CBP Design Guide for security and monitoring of the new northbound bridge and POE gate.
o Required infrastructure connection to the existing POE CCTV system, operational testing, and acceptance by CBP are included in this item.
These items were not included in the October 30% DAP PS&E Submittal and will require multiple design review submittals and approvals prior to construction. Rapiscan Systems Inc. will provide the required details for installation of the MEP Early Read Equipment. SEA/JMT will provide the construction plans and will utilize TxDOT standard designs and drawings where possible for the CCTV equipment.
The City will coordinate closely with CBP and GSA throughout DAP Phase 1A. Construction is anticipated to take approximately three months. The cost of DAP Phase 1A is estimated to be $1.5 million.
The City will donate all aspects of the DAP Project to CBP and/or GSA upon completion.
VIVA LAREDO PLAN ALIGNMENT
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COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
N/A
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Approval of this motion.
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Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Year: 2026
Budgeted Y/N?: Y
Source of Funds: Bridge Construction Fund
Account #: 553-4050-587-7301
Change Order: Exceeds 25% Y/N: N/A
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Funding is available in the Bridge Construction Fund.