EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The El Paso City Council has approved the allocation of $5 million from the Texas Economic Development (TED) Fund to move forward with a feasibility study to expand and modernize the Ysleta Port of Entry.
The investment is part of a broader effort by the City of El Paso International Bridges Department to strengthen safety, mobility, and efficiency across all City-owned bridges while supporting the region’s role as a vital international trade corridor, the City said in a news release.
“These investments reinforce El Paso’s role as a leading gateway for international trade and travel,” City Manager Dionne Mack said. “By modernizing our bridges, integrating smart technologies, and improving pedestrian access, we are investing in the city’s future and strengthening the economic and cultural ties that connect our community to the world.”
City Rep. Lily Limón, whose district includes the Ysleta Port of Entry, said the project will be both an investment in the local economy and improve the daily lives of residents.
“The Ysleta Port of Entry is more than a trade corridor; it is a connection point for families, businesses, and communities on both sides of the border,” Limón said. “This study moves us closer to a modern, efficient, and safe facility that will serve our region’s growing needs for years to come.”
The approval of the Ysleta Port of Entry funding follows Monday’s International Bridges Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Progress Update to City Council, outlining progress under the five-year CIP (FY2025–2029) — a $67.4 million plan focused on smarter, safer, and more efficient international gateways.
The Ysleta/Zaragoza Port of Entry is one of the region’s most important international gateways, handling approximately 60 percent of total regional international trade — including Santa Teresa, New Mexico — and about 80 percent of trade that passes directly through El Paso ports of entry, the City said.
The port processes more than 1.3 million cargo trucks, 6.9 million personal vehicles, and 2.4 million pedestrians each year, with trade activity valued at over $83 billion annually, according to the City.
The City will invest $5 million from the TED Fund to conduct a comprehensive feasibility and design study that will guide long-term expansion planning, the City said.
The study will assess infrastructure needs, develop design concepts, and evaluate opportunities for automation and operational efficiency, the City said.
It will also prepare technical documentation for a future presidential permit and help position El Paso to meet growing binational trade demands, including those expected with the Bridge of the Americas (BOTA) commercial lane closure in fall 2027, the City said.
The TED Fund allocation builds on a $3 million FY26 Community Project Funding (CPF) appropriation secured through U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar’s office for Phase II planning, the City said.
Read: Read More