Garza: South Texas Alliance of Cities is working to get RGV connected to nation’s interstate system

EDINBURG, Texas – Edinburg Mayor Ramiro Garza says San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg is helping the Rio Grande Valley’s efforts to have I-69C and I-69E upgraded to interstate standards all the way north to I-37. 

Garza is inaugural chairman of the South Texas Alliance of Cities. Nirenberg, is a co-founder of the organization. STAC held its quarterly meeting at UT-Rio Grande Valley’s School of Medicine in Edinburg on March 18.

“It’s important, again, to share our needs that we have in our area. Transportation is a big one, right? We have over nine international ports of entry here. How do we get those products transported out of here? Having a fully nonstop interstate system has always been a priority for us,” Garza told the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service, at the conclusion of the STAC meeting.

“So, I think it (STAC) is helping bring that to light and making sure that everybody understands – from San Antonio and even north of that – the importance of having that (interstate system) here. And not only from Mayor Nirenberg but others who support that initiative. So it’s important because when we all go to Austin and even the Federal Highway Administration (in Washington, D.C.), we are all on the same page as to what our needs are and the importance of that.”

Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño, Jr., who was not at the STAC meeting, told the Guardian that the Valley is the largest metro area in the nation not connected to the interstate system.

“We’re reminding the state that we need to make sure that we get those missing gaps filled with regards to interstate access. To bring them all up to interstate standards, because we’re still the largest populated area in the entire country without interstate access. We’re talking about different projects along I-69 East and I-69 Central. We have to keep pushing,” Treviño said.

Editor’s Note: The Guardian interviewed Mayor Garza upon completion of the STAC meeting. In the interview, Garza said the meeting had been very productive. Here is a video recording of the interview:

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