County Judge slams Texas transportation leaders for proposed decrease in RGVMPO funding

1 month ago 49

KENEDY COUNTY, Texas – When three metropolitan planning organizations were merged into one in the Rio Grande Valley, the understanding was that the region would get more transportation funding.

But that is not happening, says Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño, Jr.

Speaking at a Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) groundbreaking ceremony in Kenedy County, Judge Treviño said that under the latest Unified Transportation Plan (UTP) developed by the Texas Transportation Commission (TTC), the RGV Metropolitan Planning Organization will be $400 worse off.

The groundbreaking ceremony was held to celebrate the start of a $191 million project to get US 77 up to interstate standards near the Willacy-Kenedy County line. Another $173 million will be spent on a similar project further north in Kenedy County.

Treviño, along with Cameron County Commissioner David Garza and Harlingen Mayor Norma Sepulveda, said that with the Valley’s incredible growth, RGVMPO should be getting more money, not less.

“When you work hard, you hope to be rewarded. And we worked hard recently to have the RGV named a metro district by TxDOT. We thought that that would mean additional funds,” Treviño said from the podium.

“Usually when you get a better designation as a metro district (you are) supposed to do better. Well, unfortunately under the current draft of the UTP, the RGV is actually losing $400 million.”

Treviño said he wished someone other than TxDOT’s Pharr district engineer, Pete Alvarez, was present at the groundbreaking ceremony. He said he wished TTC Commissioner Alex Meade, a Valley native, could have been there.

“But Pete, you’re the only one here that I get to complain to. I’m complaining to you, and we’re going to make sure that everyone hears (us). This should not happen. The Rio Grande Valley, in particular Cameron County, we’re blowing and going and we’re blowing and going in the most positive way. This is generational change that we’ve been waiting for, for a long, long time.”

Treviño pointed out that the RGV is the largest metropolitan area in the United States that is not served by an interstate.

“I don’t say that to brag I say that to comment and make the realization clear that it is unfortunate and it’s disappointing that here we are 30 years later, since the idea first began of the I-69, and yet we still need a little bit more.”

Treviño said the Valley needs “everybody’s help and commitment,” to get the additional funds needed to complete I-69 East between Corpus Christi and Brownsville.

“We’re not done. This is a great day for all of us, but we’re not done. So, let’s be working towards making I-69 complete and total reality.”

TxDOT’s Alvarez said he took on board Judge Treviño’s criticism.

“Judge Treviño, I’m listening. I am doing whatever I can behind the scenes to ensure that TxDOT or the administration understands the importance of projects like this and many other projects here (in the region),” Alvarez said.

Mayor Sepulveda’s perspective

Mayor Sepulveda of Harlingen thanked Judge Treviño for his remarks.

“I think Judge Treviño said it perfectly. It is important to celebrate these milestones and celebrate the moment that we are in, but definitely, (we have) lots of work to do,” Sepulveda said.

“We are going to be holding your (TxDOT’s) feet to the fire. We are definitely wanting to see that we can participate in the future of making sure that we have 100 percent connectivity so that way we can do the work of the people because that is what’s happening in South Texas. We are the gateway for the entire United States. And until people realize that… that’s when they are going to shift the focus on making sure that our community is able to serve the rest of the country.”

Commissioner Garza’s perspective

In his remarks from the podium, Commissioner Garza, of Cameron County, said TTC’s UTP has not yet been officially adopted. So there is time to get the commission to change the amount of money RGVMPO gets.“Folks, the key is to be in front of these people on a regular basis,” Garza said.

Garza said the RGV had not been represented on the five-member TTC for the longest time. That was despite the fact that then-state Sen. Eddie Lucio of Brownsville had passed legislation to increase the size of the TTC from three to five.

Garza said the appointment of Commissioner Meade has helped.

“He’s been a great, great help in getting the word out and making sure that we’re represented on there (TTC) well,” Garza said.

Garza complained that shovel-ready projects proposed to TxDOT by the RGVMPO were languishing at No. 17 or 18 on the agency’s to-do list. He said he has asked Commissioner Meade how this can be.

“We are on the cusp, on the cusp of connecting the RGV to the interstate system,” Garza said, as he urged full funding to get US 77 upgraded to interstate standard all the way from Brownsville to Corpus Christi.

Garza pointed out that the Valley is growing fast. He said Elon Musk could be bringing 7,000 new employees to his SpaceX compound at Boca Chica. He noted that SpaceX and a liquefied natural gas company building an export terminal at the Port of Brownsville do not manufacture everything in the Valley. Therefore, so many of their raw materials need to be transported to the region using US 77.

“We need to have efficient operations, and we need to have the capacity for what’s to come. The Valley is on the cusp of totally transforming how we do business,” Garza said.

“Senator, all we need is $350 million in the TxDOT budget so that we can complete the whole (I-69E) thing,” Garza said, pointing to state Sen. Morgan LaMantia, another speaker at the groundbreaking ceremony.

Garza asked Jennifer Shepard, executive director of the Alliance for I-69 Texas, if she remembered him saying, 20 years ago, that it would only take $14 billion to complete I-69 from the Valley to Texarkana.

“Now, $14 billion is spent on one project in the Houston Metroplex because of the complexity and the expense of what it is. If they would have listened to us this interstate would have been built from here to Texarkana, Garza said.

“I want to thank TxDOT for everything they’ve done. But it’s not enough. I want more.”

Garza won applause for this statement.

TxDOT’s Alvarez responded: “Boy, have I got some homework to do.”

As for the two TxDOT projects to upgrade US 77 in Kenedy County, Alvarez said: “The projects, in general, in Kenedy County will have overpasses every five miles or so to allow turnarounds for emergency vehicles and to provide access to major ranches in the area.

“Both of these projects have two lanes in each direction with shoulders, and in the future, they will have two-lane main lanes in each direction. We’re adding overpasses, and we’re adding frontage roads to the major ranch entrances.”