Regional transit system could solve congestion, pollution issues

WESLACO, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Cutting congestion and tackling pollution are some of the reasons the Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council (LRGVDC) is spearheading efforts to create a regional transit authority.

People seem to favor such a system that would interconnect more with the region.

Ken Hosanna lives in Mission and fully supports the idea of a regional transit system because it would save people money traveling throughout the Rio Grande Valley.

“Pretty convenient for people that work in McAllen but live in Brownsville or Harlingen," Hosanna said. "That will be pretty convenient for them to be able to take a bus instead of paying for gas since it is pretty far away.”

However, he says raising taxes to pay for the service should not be an option.

“If it's anything like the expressway and they want to raise the taxes on that, I would probably say no," Hosanna said.

LRGVDC Executive Director Manny Cruz said this project would bring many benefits like cutting congestion, and pollution and help colonia residents get around. However, how to pay for it is the problem.

“Sales tax is maxed," Cruz said. "We can't increase it anymore. So, we need to identify other potential funding sources.”

Cruz said Corpus Christi, with a population of more than 300,000, developed a similar authority. Now, it makes about $70 million a year.

He believes the Valley with a population of 1.3 million would make more money.

Currently, the Rio Grande Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization (RGVMPO), which was once a divided system, makes about $14 to $15 million a year. A regional transit system could make up to five times more.

“I would imagine that in the future we would share something like the RGVMPO," Cruz said. "There were three MPOs - Hidalgo County, Harlingen, and Brownsville - and so each had their pot of money but once they became a regional MPO, RGVMPO, they had more money and currently have more money to work with.”

Cruz said the transit system would create more routes and interconnect the Rio Grande Valley. He said the counties of Starr and Zapata could also be included.

“We need to get the Valley prepared for the future," Cruz said. "The population is increasing, and we see that by 2030, estimated numbers are about 1.7 million, and those are just estimated numbers."