“I am pleased to announce these additional funds for Zapata County road projects,” Congressman Cuellar said. “Thanks to the highway bill, Texas is estimated to receive more than $18 billion over the next five years. That is $2 billion more than provided under current funding levels. The Zapata County road projects will include work on US 83, a local road used daily by both Atascosa County residents and travelers. These road improvement projects will help the commuting experience for local residents and enhance the flow of commercial traffic through the county.

“Since 2000, the population of Zapata County has increased from 12,182 to approximately 14,319, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, a population increase of 18 percent. This has led to a boom in traffic that slows down private vehicle traffic as well as the commercial traffic that drives the county’s economy. This is why the new federal highway authorization legislation is so vitally important to Zapata County.”

The federal highway bill was passed last week by both the House and Senate with resounding majorities. The bipartisan legislation was the first long-term highway authorization bill to be passed by Congress since MAP-21 in 2012.