LA LINDA: Legislation that Needs to Be ReIntroduced...

[STARLITDARKNESS3]

Time to write the gov. and Senators.... 

[homerboy2u]

From today's Alpine Avalance:

http://www.alpineavalanche.com/articles/2007/12/06/front/news01.txt

The most positive news I've read in a long time!

Voni
  sMiling

La Linda talk heats up
Can a one-lane bridge lead to prosperity?

By Mike Perry /
mikeperry@alpineavalanche.com


 Why don't we put the story here, just in cas the Alpine Avalanche would take it off the net, to save space:

Business, political, economic and ecotourism leaders from both sides of the border are working hard to make the opening of the La Linda border crossing a reality.

La Linda, once a small but thriving mining town on the border just a few miles east of Big Bend National Park, has a bridge crossing the Rio Grande. Yet the bridge has been closed for years.

Those involved in the process, however, say the one-lane bridge is in good shape.

More importantly, they say, reopening the bridge would be a huge first step toward two goals:

Ђ Ensuring that Alpine and Far West Texas receive the economic benefits of the growing ecotourism business in the northern Mexican states of Coahuila and Chihuahua.

Ђ Ensuring that Far West Texas and Northern Mexico residents have the same economic benefits and transportation access available to other citizens along this border and the U.S.-Canadian border. That includes giving our citizens - on both sides - better access to neighbors, family, basic supplies and opportunities.

Proponents say that opening the bridge is an important alternative for developing a sustainable resource-based tourism industry in the area. (Supporters have formed a nonprofit organization named COLINDA, Consortium of La Linda.)

Currently, there are no legal border crossings between Presidio-Ojinaga and Del Rio-Acuna, almost 400 miles.

On either side of the border are significant outdoor recreation areas. Some have been developed, some are being developed, some are in the planning stages.

Opening the La Linda crossing would go a long way toward ensuring that the Alpine-Terlingua-Marathon triangle benefits from the expected surge in ecotourism in Coahuila and Chihuahua.

Leaders who can make this dream become a reality gathered in Alpine at Sul Ross recently to brainstorm the path to reopening the bridge.

The La Linda Bridge was built by companies involved in mining in Northern Mexico in the last half of the 20th century. When the mining companies pulled out of the immediate area, the town of La Linda, which was a thriving community estimated at anywhere from 2,000 to 5,000 residents at one time, disappeared. The bridge, however, did not disappear.

Proponents of reopening have several arguments for their proposals, including:

Ђ The area needs a crossing. The gap between Del Rio and Presidio is the longest distance along Mexico's border with the U.S. without a crossing.

Ђ The people of Far West Texas and the people in the Northern Mexico states of Coahuila and Chihuahua have much in common - both familial and economically.

Ђ Far West Texas is cut off from much of Mexico. If you do business in Mexico or if you have family in Mexico - or vice versa - opening La Linda crossing would be a huge transportation savings, cutting cross-border travel in half and more.

Ђ Past decisions have been made by people living thousands of miles from Far West Texas. These decisions must take into account the economic potential and family needs of our region, united by geography and common economic needs, divided by lines on a map.

Ђ One area resident said, "fear of terrorists in other parts of the nation" has placed unfair hardship on our people.

Mike Davidson, director of the Big Bend Tourism Council, put that notion in perspective: "Heck, a lot more terrorists are entering this country from Canada than from Mexico."

Expanding on that, Davidson said, "I would say that there has been no documented instance that I have ever heard about of terrorists entering the U.S. via Mexico, but there have been numerous cases documented from Canada.

"Either way, a legal crossing in La Linda will result in better security with established law enforcement presence. If people return to live and work in and near La Linda, we will have a network of neighbors with whom we have shared values and goals, and who will 'watch our backs.'"

Of course, there's the argument that the drug business is a reason to keep border crossings closed.

Just the opposite, La Linda proponents say. If La Linda is designated a point of entry, then money immediately becomes available for security installations and manpower to track the comings and goings.

The state departments of Mexico and the United States have given supporters (Colinda) a 16-point program to complete before reopening.

Topping the list - and easily the most time-consuming point - involves bringing the bridge under one ownership, probably nonprofit. Once that is done, they say, the bridge can be turned over to an agency - TxDOT, a nonprofit management corporation, etc. - to operate and maintain.

It seems that just about every organized body on either side of the border has endorsed the project in one way or another. Most of those organizations sent representatives to the workshop at Sul Ross.

Among those attending were Tyrus Fain, Rio Grande Institute, Marathon; Alberto Garza Santois, Museo Maderas del Carmen; Davidson; Hilda Flores Escalera, secretary of tourism of Coahuila; Dr. Hector Franco Lopez.

Before the conference, Davidson said, "COLINDA and the Brewster County Tourism Council wish to thank state Rep. Pete Gallego, state Sen. Carlos Uresti and Gov. Rick Perry for their support in reopening the La Linda Bridge in accordance with legislation enacted by the Texas Legislature in 2007.

"The Texas Department of Transportation and the Texas Parks and Wildlife [Department] will implement that legislation," he added.

Davidson said the Sul Ross workshop is one of several meetings contemplated to gather information and insights to inform TxDOT, TPWD and state authorities.

"The same information will be provided to the state of Coahuila and to U.S. and Mexican officials on the Bridges and Border Crossings Working Group when it convenes in 2008," he said.

Participants at the workshop discussed infrastructure and strategic understandings required for a viable cross-border tourism corridor consistent with the conservation and socio-economic development objectives of Brewster County, the cities of Acuna and Muzquiz, and associated state and federal protected areas.

Davidson told the Avalanche that all participants - from both sides of the border - want to ensure that plans do not allow development of a commercial truck route. He emphasized that the one-lane bridge is sufficient for increasing low-impact tourism and economic development. He said no one he is working with would support any plans for commercial freight traffic. That would destroy the goal, he said, which involves bringing in more tourists to see an unspoiled part of our planet.

Davidson said the Coahuila state government is "real serious about improving access [to La Linda] and believe in the tourism possibilities."

He added that a two-lane "improved gravel" road is planned that would connect Acuna with the La Linda area.

"This is going to be an economic driver, and we'd like to see Brewster County get its share," he added.

La Linda has survived attempts aimed at its demolition. For instance, after the mining companies pulled out, the U.S. Coast Guard declared the bridge a hazard to navigation. They even issued an order to demolish the bridge. Political pressure stopped that nonsense.

The bridge was built as the result of legislation in the U.S. Congress in the early 1960s.

Mexico appears determined to improve access for eco-tourism in Northern Mexico. It can do so from the Del Rio/Acuna area just as easily as from La Linda.

If that were to occur, Davidson said, Brewster County, Marathon, Alpine and the greater Big Bend :will have missed out on a great opportunity to benefit socially and economically.

[SHANEA]

One man's vision of sustainable ecotourism