Posted on 06/02/2006 6:54:42 AM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
Mexican trucks (at the moment but soon to change) are allowed to operate within 20 miles of the border. When the new rules kick in, they'll be allowed anywhere in the U.S. as long as they pass the safety checks and have proof of insurance.
I can recall only 15-20 miles between San Antonio and Austin which can still be classified as rural. Most of the area was speculatively developed as a part of the San Antonio-Austin Metro-mess plan.
I was taking a look at it on Google Earth, and you are right (thanks to several mid-sized cities in between). Much of it is currently 6 lanes - but I see that it could easily be widened to 8 by paving over the median (separated by a concrete barrier), and to 10 in most parts on the shoulder side (there is enough separation from the service roads).
Commuter rail between them on the existing railroad tracks could also work as part (but not all) of the solution.
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