Menu
Road to Asia?
Some day in the future, Nebraska, and U.S. Highway 83 in particular, could be part of an intercontinental transportation system for everything from railways to oil.
The idea of building a transportation system from northern Mexico through Canada, into Alaska and across the Bering Straight into the Asian continent was presented to the a transportation task force appointed by Gov. Mike Johanns. The first part of the Central North American Trade Corridor Association's plan would be to build a transportation system through Northern Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, and through Canada to Alaska.
The ultimate goal of the organization is to encourage economic development along U.S. Highway 83.
Ted Teitjen of Grant told task force members the trade route would not only relieve traffic around major population centers, it could play an important role in Homeland Security, discourage terrorism and save transport carriers 300 miles between the Canadian and Mexican borders.
McCook Mayor Jerda Garey told the group she would like the state to consider expanding U.S. Highway 83 from a two-lane to four-lane highway between McCook and North Platte, which eventually could develop into an expressway from Interstate 70 in Kansas to Interstate 80.
"This is the retail hub of Southwest Nebraska," she told the group. "Think futuristic, think big and help us revitalize Southwest Nebraska," she asked the group.
Doug Vap, chairman of the McCook Airport Advisory Board asked the task force to consider including a request for advertising the state's essential air service in its proposal which will be presented to Gov. Johanns at the end of the year.
Vap, who is also a member of the State Aeronautics Commission, said that many people do not know service is available from many Nebraska cities to major airport hubs. "There's a misconception that getting to an airport in Nebraska can't be accomplished," he said.
"We need to get people away from the concept that driving to Denver or Omaha will save $50." People don't look at the price of an overnight stay, parking and wear and tear on a vehicle, he said.
"The government allows 30 cents a mile; it's not because they want to give us money." It's because that's the actual cost of maintaining a vehicle, he explained. So when a traveler makes the 500 mile round trip to Denver, the drive alone costs $150.
"We need to throw down the gauntlet to the Nebraska Department of Tourism and the Department of Economic Development to work out a feasible program to get our services out and recognized."