The Teamsters Union formally endorsed Gov. Rick Perry's Trans--Texas Corridor initiative at the governor's mansion Monday.
The $175 billion transportation plan, which could take 50 years to implement, promises to relieve traffic congestion, improve highway safety and provide new economic opportunities.
The Trans--Texas Corridor, when completed, will be 4,000 miles in length, built away from existing highways.
Perry said business and safety concerns led to the endorsement.
"The Teamsters Union is endorsing the Trans--Texas Corridor today as an important tool to relieve traffic congestion and provide safer routes for the transport of cargo across our state and create jobs for hard--working Texans," he said.
The Trans--Texas Corridor will allow trucks and other traffic to bypass urban areas through the addition of toll roads, high--speed rail and underground transportation for water, petroleum, gas and telecommunications.
"In the trucking business, time is money and sitting in traffic is costing people money," Perry said.
The Trans--Texas Corridor plan incorporates toll and non--toll roads, high--speed freight and commuter rail, pipelines and other utility infrastructure. The Texas Transportation Commission is developing an action plan, which includes specific routes, construction and funding methods.
"The question I ask day in and day out is 'What's it going to cost us if we don't do it?'" Perry said.
The Trans--Texas Corridor would require no new taxes, said Randall Dillard, spokesman for the Texas Department of Transportation.
"We're going to be looking to see if the private sector can pay for it," he said. "Another option is toll equity, which allows us to use state highway funds to pay for toll roads."
Safety and reliability of highways were the main concerns of the Teamsters.
"For years the Teamsters Union has been raising concerns over the safety of our highways," said Tyson Johnson, vice--president of the Teamsters Southern Region.
He noted the 3,700 fatalities on the state's highways last year.
Jean Beeman, communication director for environmental affairs in the Texas Department of Transportation, said studies are not complete on the impact of the Trans--Texas Corridor, but a reduction of air pollution should be noticeable.
"Air pollution is greater when you have congestions. When cars are moving, their engines run more efficiently," Beeman said.
Perry said an economist estimated that the corridor would create 77,000 new jobs in the first year and 2.6 million permanent jobs.
Exact routes of the Trans--Texas Corridor are to be finalized this summer.
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