Border Trade Advisory Committee
Advisory committees
Overview
The Border Trade Advisory Committee provides a forum for the exchange of communications between the Texas Transportation Commission, TxDOT, the governor, and committee members representing border trade interests.
Purpose
BTAC was created in 2001 by the 77th Texas Legislature to define and develop a strategy and make recommendations to the commission and the governor for addressing the highest priority border trade transportation challenges. BTAC recommendations are included in border reports that are presented to the presiding officers of the state House and state Senate.
Goals
- Ensure the participation of port-of-entry stakeholders in TxDOT's transportation processes.
- Ensure that the Texas-Mexico Border transportation needs are addressed in TxDOT's transportation planning.
- Provide input into the development of the Border Strategic Transportation Initiatives Plan.
- Contribute to the development of a comprehensive Texas Border Transportation Master Plan.
- Advise TxDOT on trade issues, priorities, and projects and funding needs for freight improvements to support the state's economic vitality and global competitiveness.
BTAC meetings
| Date | Time | Location | Agenda | Transcript | Presentation |
| 08/12/25 | 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. CT | TxDOT Greer Bldg 125 E. 11th Street Austin, TX 78701 | 08/12/2025 Agenda | 08/12/2025 Transcript | 08/12/2025 Presentation |
| Date | Time | Location | Agenda | Transcript | Presentation |
| 02/20/24 | 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. MST | El Paso Convention Center, C St El Paso, TX 79901 | 02/20/24 agenda | 02/20/24 transcript | 02/20/24 presentation |
| 04/16/24 | 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. CT | Brownsville Event Center 1 Events Center Blvd Brownsville, TX 78526 | 04/16/24 agenda | 04/16/24 transcript | 04/16/24 presentation |
| 08/27/24 | 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. CT | Hyatt Regency Baytown-Houston 100 Convention Center Way Baytown, TX 77520 | 08/27/24 agenda | 08/27/24 transcript | 08/27/24 presentation |
| 11/12/24 | 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 pm CT | TxDOT Greer Bldg 125 E. 11th Street Austin, TX 78701 | 11/12/24 agenda | 11/12/24 transcript | 11/12/24 presentation |
| Date | Time | Location | Agenda | Transcript | Presentation |
| 02/01/23 | 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. | TxDOT Greer Bldg. 125 E. 11th Street Austin, TX 78701 | 02/01/23 agenda | 02/01/23 transcript | 02/01/23 presentation |
| 04/20/23 | 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. | International Bank of Commerce, Administration Building 2418 Jacaman Road, Laredo, TX, 78041 | 04/20/23 agenda | 04/20/23 transcript | 04/20/23 presentation |
| 08/22/23 | 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. | McAllen Convention Center700 Convention Center Blvd, McAllen, TX 78501 | 08/22/23 agenda | 08/22/23 transcript | 08/22/23 presentation |
| 11/09/23 | 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | TxDOT HQ Building 6230 E. Stassney Lane Austin, TX 78744 | 11/09/23 agenda | 11/09/23 transcript | 11/09/23 presentation |
| Date | Time | Location | Agenda | Transcript | Presentation |
| 10/18/22 | 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. | El Paso Community Foundation 1st Floor Foundation Room 333 N. Oregon, El Paso, TX 79901 | 10/18/22 agenda | 10/18/22 transcript | 10/18/22 presentation |
| 07/19/22 | 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. | TxDOT Greer Bldg. 125 E. 11th Street Austin, TX 78701 | 07/19/22 agenda | 07/19/22 transcript | 07/19/22 presentation |
| 02/24/22 | 8:30 a.m. - 12.00 p.m. | TxDOT Greer Bldg. 125 E. 11th Street Austin, TX 78701 Virtual attendance link | 02/24/22 agenda | 02/24/22 transcript | 02/24/22 presentation |
| Date | Time | Location | Agenda | Transcript | Presentation |
| 05/25/21 | 8:30 a.m. | Virtual | 05/25/21 agenda | 05/25/21 transcript | 05/25/21 presentation |
Appointments confirmed by Texas Transportation Commission
| Name | Organization |
| Hon. Robert Howden | Office of the Texas Secretary of State |
| Rafael M. Aldrete | Texas A&M Transportation Institute |
| Hon. Alvaro “Al” Arreola | City of Del Rio |
| Jon Barela | Borderplex Alliance |
| Luis Alfredo Bazán | Pharr International Bridge |
| Eduardo Calvo | El Paso Metropolitan Planning Organization |
| Adriana Cruz | Texas Economic Development and Tourism |
| William Dietrich | Port of Brownsville |
| Nicholas English | Meridiem Capital |
| John Esparza | Texas Trucking Association |
| Raquel Espinosa | Union Pacific Railroad |
| Susanna L. Gallun | Center for Transportation Research, University of Texas at Austin |
| Ruben Garibay | Puerto Verde |
| Cynthia Garza-Reyes | Pharr Economic Development Corporation |
| Jake Giesbrecht | Presidio International Port Authority |
| Iliana Holguin | Guadalupe-Tornillo Bridge |
| Marga Lopez | Progreso International Bridge |
| Commissioner W.C. "Chad" McIntosh | International Boundary and Water Commission |
| Stan Meador | Texas Pacifico Transportation |
| Michael Medina | Rio Grande Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization |
| Daniel Mendoza | BNSF Railway |
| Juan Olaguibel | McAllen-Hidalgo-Anzalduas International Bridge |
| Gerardo “Gerry” Schwebel | International Bank of Commerce |
| Pete Sepulveda Jr. | Cameron County Bridge System |
| Roberto Tinajero | El Paso International Bridge System |
| Hon. Victor Treviño | City of Laredo |
| Hon. Aaron Valdez | City of Eagle Pass |
| Sam Vale | Starr-Camargo Bridge Company |
| Cameron Walker | Permian Basin Metropolitan Planning Organization |
| Vacant | CPKC Railway |
| Vacant | Donna Port of Entry |
| Vacant | Mission Economic Development Corporation |
| Vacant | Rio Grande Valley Partnership |
Binational regional steering committee meetings
| Nov. 4, 2020 | English | Español |
| Agenda | 11/04/20 agenda | 11/04/20 agenda (Español) |
| Presentation | 11/04/20 presentation | 11/04/20 presentation (Español) |
| Sept. 23, 2020 | English | Español |
| Agenda | 09/23/20 agenda | 09/23/20 agenda (Español) |
| Presentation | 09/23/20 presentation | 09/23/20 presentation (Español) |
| Aug. 17, 2020 | English | Español |
| Agenda | 08/17/20 agenda | 07/27/20 agenda (Español) |
| Presentation | 08/17/20 presentation | 08/17/20 presentation (Español) |
| July 28, 2020 | English | Español |
| Agenda | 07/28/20 agenda | 07/28/20 agenda (Español) |
| Presentation | 07/28/20 presentation | 07/28/20 presentation (Español) |
| July 2, 2020 | English | Español |
| Agenda | 07/02/20 agenda | 07/02/20 Agenda (Español) |
| Presentation | 07/02/20 presentation | 07/02/20 presentation (Español) |
| Materials | 07/02/20 materials | 07/02/20 materials (Español) |
| April 21, 2020 | English | Español |
| Agenda | 04/21/20 agenda | 04/21/20 agenda (Español) |
| Presentation | 04/21/20 presentation | 04/21/20 presentation (Español) |
| Nov. 12, 2019 | English | Español |
| Agenda | 11/12/19 agenda | 11/12/19 agenda (Español) |
| Presentation | 11/12/19 presentation | 11/12/19 presentation (Español) |
| June 5, 2019 | English | Español |
| Agenda | 06/05/19 agenda | /06/0519 agenda (Español) |
| Presentation | 06/05/19 presentation | 06/05/19 presentation (Español) |
| April 30, 2019 | English | Español |
| Agenda | 04/30/19 agenda | 04/30/19 agenda (Español) |
| Presentation | 04/30/19 presentation |
| Nov. 4, 2020 | English | Español |
| Agenda | 11/04/20 agenda | 11/04/20 agenda (Español) |
| Presentation | 11/04/20 presentation | 11/04/20 presentation (Español) |
| Sept. 21, 2020 | English | Español |
| Agenda | 09/21/20 agenda | 09/21/20 agenda (Español) |
| Presentation | 09/21/20 presentation | 09/21/20 presentation (Español) |
| Aug. 18, 2020 | English | Español |
| Agenda | 08/18/20 agenda | 09/21/20 agenda (Español) |
| Presentation | 08/18/20 presentation | 08/18/20 presentation (Español) |
| July 29, 2020 | English | Español |
| Agenda | 07/29/20 agenda | 07/29/20 agenda (Español) |
| Presentation | 07/29/20 presentation | 07/29/20 presentation (Español) |
| June 30, 2020 | English | Español |
| Agenda | 06/30/20 agenda | 06/30/20 agenda (Español) |
| Presentation | 06/30/20 presentation | 06/30/20 presentation (Español) |
| Materials | 06/30/20 materials | 06/30/20 materials (Español) |
| April 22, 2020 | English | Español |
| Agenda | 04/22/20 agenda | 04/22/20 agenda (Español) |
| Presentation | 04/22/20 presentation | 04/22/20 presentation (Español) |
| Oct. 22, 2019 | English | Español |
| Agenda | 10/22/19 agenda | 10/22/19 agenda (Español) |
| Presentation | 10/22/19 presentation | 10/22/19 presentation (Español) |
| June 3, 2019 | English | Español |
| Agenda | 06/03/19 agenda | 06/03/19 agenda (Español) |
| Presentation | 06/03/19 presentation | 06/03/19 presentation (Español) |
| April 23, 2019 | English | Español |
| Agenda | 04/23/19 agenda | 04/23/19 agenda (Español) |
| Presentation | 04/23/19 presentation |
| Nov. 3, 2020 | English | Español |
| Agenda | 11/03/20 agenda | 11/03/20 agenda (Español) |
| Presentation | 11/03/20 presentation | 11/03/20 presentation (Español) |
| Sept. 22, 2020 | English | Español |
| Agenda | 09/22/20 agenda | 09/22/20 agenda (Español) |
| Presentation | 09/22/20 presentation | 09/22/20 presentation (Español) |
| Aug. 19, 2020 | English | Español |
| Agenda | 08/19/20 agenda | 08/19/20 agenda (Español) |
| Presentation | 08/19/20 presentation | 08/19/20 presentation (Español) |
| July 27, 2020 | English | Español |
| Agenda | 07/27/20 agenda | 07/27/20 agenda (Español) |
| Presentation | 07/27/20 presentation | 07/27/20 presentation (Español) |
| July 1, 2020 | English | Español |
| Agenda | 07/01/20 agenda | 07/01/20 agenda (Español) |
| Presentation | 07/01/20 presentation | 07/01/20 presentation (Español) |
| Materials | 07/01/20 materials | 07/01/20 materials (Español) |
| April 23, 2020 | English | Español |
| Agenda | 04/23/20 agenda | 04/23/20 agenda (Español) |
| Presentation | 04/23/20 presentation | 04/23/20 presentation (Español) |
| Oct. 30, 2019 | English | Español |
| Agenda | 10/30/19 agenda | 10/30/19 agenda (Español) |
| Presentation | 10/30/19 presentation | 10/30/19 presentation (Español) |
| June 4, 2019 | English | Español |
| Agenda | 06/04/19 agenda | 06/04/19 agenda (Español) |
| Presentation | 06/04/19 presentation | 06/04/19 presentation (Español) |
| April 3, 2019 | English | Español |
| Agenda | 04/03/19 agenda | 04/03/19 agenda (Español) |
| Presentation | 04/03/19 presentation |