Canales: Upper Valley’s ‘ask’ for transportation infrastructure funding is close to half a billion dollars

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MISSION, Texas – State Rep. Terry Canales of Edinburg says Hidalgo County needs at least half a billion dollars to complete its transportation infrastructure wish list.

This week, Canales, chairman of the House Committee on Transportation, participated in roundtable discussion at Anzalduas International Bridge on ways to get truck traffic moving more efficiently and safely to and from Hidalgo County’s land ports of entry.

Also in attendance was state Sen. Robert Nichols, R-Jacksonville, chairman of the Senate Committee on Transportation. Canales said that was important.

“He (Sen. Nichols) is an extremely important person when it comes to our goals in the legislature. Moving forward, we’ve got, easily, close to half a billion dollars in asks,” Canales said.

“When we go to the Legislature and when we talk to Senator Nichols… I’m pretty simply drawing a picture. But, when we bring him here, he can see it firsthand. He can see the explosive growth. He can see the necessity. He can see what we’re doing with the money that’s allocated to us and he knows how important it is, not only to Hidalgo County, not only to South Texas, but to the state and the region.”

Canales said when the rest of the country is in a recession, South Texas is not. He said this is because of trade with Mexico. He noted that Mexico is now the United States’ largest trading partner. “Making that trade efficient but also marrying it with border security is absolutely imperative,” Canales said.

Canales said that while the roundtable took place at Anzalduas International Bridge, the discussion was not limited to expanding that bridge.

“What we’re talking about here today is not only the expansion of the Anzalduas Bridge, but a coalition of all the bridges, how they function together, and how the infrastructure ties them together, and how we’re able to, in the future, move all those commercial vehicles around Hidalgo County for the safety of our residents.”

Canales said he wants to stop trucks “driving through our community streets, tearing up our city streets.”

Asked what Sen. Nichols said after he heard the presentations, Canales said: “Robert Nichols was actually on the TxDOT Commission, so he has intimate knowledge of South Texas. This is not his first time, but it’s been a long time since he’s been here. He’s obviously impressed. He’s excited to help.”

But, Canales said, every other region of Texas wants more money for transportation infrastructure. “This is our way of advocating for our region, and bringing down someone in Sen. Nichols’ position, so he can see it and breathe it and know how important it is… his reaction was, he’s impressed, and I think he’s very, very apt to help.”

Asked how important it is to get Anzalduas International Bridge expanded so it can take fully loaded trucks both north- and south-bound, Canales said the infrastructure projects of all land ports of entry in the Valley are important.

“They’re all ten out of tens. They’re all part of a machine. They’re all spokes in a wheel. So, we need all different segments to come together. They may all be divided projects but in the scheme of things, it’s all one wheel with a bunch of spokes, and they all need to be in place for it to run efficiently,” Canales said.

Sen. Hinojosa

Another key stakeholder at the roundtable discussion was state Sen. Juan Hinojosa of McAllen. Asked what was discussed in the meeting, Hinojosa said:

“Today we had a meeting with Chairman Nichols, the chairman of the transportation committee and we talked about the needs that we have, to expand and grow our infrastructure, grow our economy.

“Our trade with Mexico continues to grow every year by leaps and bounds, by billions dollars. So, we need to make sure that we are able to accommodate and expand our capacity to deal with all the commercial trucks coming across (the international bridges). It creates jobs and it also boosts our economy.

“The Valley now is taking an approach to these issues. It is important we communicate to the leadership in Austin, what our needs are, what our priorities are.”

Hinojosa said when Anzalduas International Bridge is fully operational it would relieve some of the pressure on the Pharr International Bridge. He said Anzalduas should be ready to take fully loaded trucks by February 2025.

Hinojosa also pointed out that by merging the three metropolitan planning organizations in the Valley, which happened a few years ago, more transportation dollars are now flowing to the region.

“So, we have now a new mindset. Instead of having a Friday Night Football mentality what you now have is focusing on the region as a whole.”

Mayor Villalobos

Another key stakeholder at the roundtable discussion was McAllen Mayor Javier Villalobos. Like Sen. Hinojosa, Villalobos said Valley leaders are now taking a more regional approach to transportation infrastructure.

“Our area now, for a few years, has been working as a region, whereas before everybody was working for themselves. Now, we’re working as a region and when you work together, it’s a lot more beneficial. The senators, the legislators, the governor’s office, they want you to work as a team, and that is what the Rio Grande Valley has been doing,” Villalobos said.

Editor’s Note: The above news story is the second in a three-part series on the roundtable discussion about transportation infrastructure held at Anzalduas International Bridge. Click here for Part One. Part Three will be posted in our next edition.

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