All systems go for new Saipan road

The Tenorio Administration and the CNMI Legislature are laying the groundwork for the construction of a new Saipan thoroughfare, as government officials prepare to launch discussions with private land owners.

House Committee on Public Utilities, Transportation and Communications Chair Rosiky Camacho said Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio has given the go signal for a discussion over possible agreement with land owners whose property will be used for the new road facility.

Mr. Camacho said the governor has assured that funding will be automatically made available once agreements are ironed out with private land owners, who would agree to sell their property to the government for the proposed Texas Road.

He said the government is fast-tracking the construction of the Texas Road due to the need for an improved major thoroughfare in light of traffic congestion along Saipan’s Middle and Beach roads.

House Bill 12-267, also known as the Texas Road Development Act of 2000, will create the Texas Road Commission which will plan for and implement the development of the road, as well as negotiate with private landowners acquisition agreements on behalf of the Commonwealth government.

Leadership of the proposed commission would include ranking officials of the Department of Public Works, Commonwealth Utilities Corporation, Division of Public Lands, Coastal Resources Management, and the Division of Fish and Wildlife.

The special implementing body should also have a CNMI-licensed surveyor and a professional engineer licensed to practice in the Northern Marianas.

Under the Texas Road Project, the Commission would be responsible in designing limits of the development for a two-lane vehicular traffic. utility easement for sewer, water and power, and for pedestrian access on either side of the road.

The bill also requires the soon-to-be established Commission to identify private landowners who will be affected by the proposed project and identify total area of each parcel of private land that will be needed for the construction of the road.

At the same time, HB 12-267 calls for the identification of revenues and make appropriations beginning Fiscal Year 2002 for the acquisition of private properties needed to open and develop Texas Road on Saipan.

“A reserve account shall be set up by the Secretary of Finance to be used solely for the Texas Road Development Project. Annual budget appropriations made by the Legislature shall be deposited in this account,” the bill reads.