Texas Road improvement gets wide support

Various government agencies have backed the proposed opening of Texas Road to traffic and utility lines, citing the need to ease congestion along Beach Road.

The House transportation committee is currently reviewing legislation that will seek funding for improvement of that stretch of back road dissecting the villages of San Jose, Susupe and Chalan Kanoa.

HB 12-267 or the “Texas Road Appropriation and Development Act” is sponsored by PUTC chair Rep. Rosiky F. Camacho who has pitched the project as a solution to traffic bottlenecks in Beach Road during rush hours as well as key to sewer, water and power expansion in those areas.

The measure will create a task force to re-assess the viability of such undertaking, as Mr. Camacho noted the Legislature in 1989 came up with an initial study carried out by then Sen. Juan N. Babauta.

Among the steps needed to be taken to push the project, according to Mr. Camacho, are assessment on right-of-way disputes as well as estimated cost of improvement and development.

In supporting the plan, Saipan Mayor Jose C. Sablan said it is about time the government should address the congestion by making Texas Road accessible to serve as an alternative route for motorists.

“I will lobby in both the upper house and the administration for the passage of this practical and crucial piece of legislation,” he wrote to the House committee, noting Marianas High School officials and parents are in favor of the project.

Public Safety Commissioner Charles W. Ingram also expressed his support as did Education Commissioner Rita H. Inos who stressed its significance in helping alleviate the traffic problems during school days.

She pointed out Texas Road could be assigned to route traffic where students can use on certain hours of the day.

“Students’ safety will be well contained if we see that this road can be the overflow road that will bring the students to Marianas High School from a back entrance, rather than the usual front entrance or vice versa,” Ms. Inos said in her testimony.

But she raised fear that if the project pushes through, safety of kindergarten and elementary students at the Oleai Elementary School will have to be considered as well since Texas Road is along its path.

“With these young ones in school, I would like to make sure that we consider the traffic requirements that the alternate road will offer,” Ms. Inos explained, adding the proposed Texas Road Commission should examine such safety concerns.

Likewise, the Commonwealth Utilities Corp., in backing the proposal, underscored the need to upgrade utility services within the San Jose-Susupe-Chalan Kanoa-San Antonio areas.

Sewer lines will have to be installed along Texas Road to service residents in the area, while PVC pipe will replace the asbestos cement pipe for the water system which has been delayed due to right-of-way problems.

For power lines, CUC said it has identified the need to install another feeder from the Chalan Kiya substation to serve the Susupe-Chalan Kanoa areas.

But the limited right-of-way in the Oleai-San Jose area for the new circuit has left them with no choice but to set the system up in Beach Road.

“The acquisition of Texas Road will provide a route for expansion of the 13.8kv system required to improve reliability and load growth in the [southern villages],” CUC said. “We would recommend speedy action to enact this bill into law.”