Cruz makes case for an RGV Regional Transit Authority

WESLACO, Texas – Manuel “Manny” Cruz, executive director of the Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council, has made the case for a regional transit authority.

“If we establish a regional transit authority for the region, under the auspices of Valley Metro authority, we can increase our budget tremendously – currently from $15 million to maybe $100 million,” Cruz told the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service. 

Cruz spoke about an RTA when he gave the LRGVDC’s annual report at the group’s first ever State of the COG event. At the conclusion of his speech he gave an exclusive view interview to the Guardian.

Cruz said the transit authority the LRGVDC envisages would be “large, complex, and multi-faceted.” He said: “It would pay big dividends to the region because not only would we get to improve our transit system, but we would also get to contribute to the infrastructure of all the cities, especially if they are all in (support of) creating a regional transit authority.”

By way of example, Cruz referenced Corpus Christi.

“Corpus Christi, they make anywhere between $60 to $70 million a year with their regional transit authority, compared to our $15 million,” Cruz said, pointing out that Corpus has a much smaller population that the Valley.

“Just imagine (the impact),” Cruz said. “But first we need to identify a steady funding source that we’ll be able to sustain for that particular goal or project.”

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