The El Paso City Council has a great opportunity today to honor Ted Houghton’s contributions to El Paso. We encourage them to begin the process of naming a major new thoroughfare for Houghton.
City Rep. Cortney Niland has proposed the name “Ted Houghton Expressway” for the segment of Loop 375 currently under construction between South El Paso and Racetrack Drive on the West Side. The City Council today will consider recommending that name to the state, which almost certainly would agree to such an idea.
The honor is fitting because that critical infrastructure project — and many others — likely would not have been possible without Houghton’s 11-year tenure on the Texas Transportation Commission that ended this year, including the final four years as chairman.
During that time, El Paso saw an unprecedented burst of transportation construction projects that reshaped our community.
“Over the last decade, El Paso has received over $2 billion of transportation infrastructure that has laid the framework for our economic prosperity,” Niland said. “There are not enough words or awards to express the gratitude for the impact he has made for our great city. I think it’s imperative that we bestow this recognition on behalf of all El Pasoans to thank him for his amazing devotion to El Paso and Texas. By naming the border highway west project the Ted Houghton Expressway we can remind future generations the huge impact one person can make by devoting their life to public service.”
U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke of El Paso also supports naming the border highway west project — which will complete Loop 375 around the city — for Houghton.
“Mr. Houghton’s advocacy and leadership have been critical to improving El Paso’s standing in the state of Texas and beyond. Mr. Houghton’s appointment to the commission led the way for other influential El Pasoans to attain state appointments, and his advocacy was central to Texas Tech opening the Paul L. Foster School of Medicine and the Gayle Grieve Hunt School of Nursing in El Paso.”
Houghton’s role on the Transportation Commission also was key in obtaining funding for Loop 601, which was crucial for the Army’s expansion of Fort Bliss.
This editorial board has said previously that Houghton was likely the most influential El Pasoan in state government since R.E. Thomason served as speaker of the House in 1920 and 1921.
Naming a major transportation project in his honor is fitting.
We encourage the City Council to support Niland’s request to name the final section of Loop 375 the Ted Houghton Expressway..
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