TxDOT receives $96M in state, federal funding

PHARR, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Texas Department of Transportation announced that the Texas Transportation Commission awarded $96 million in a combined state and federal funding transit program to help both rural and urban communities across the state.

The TxDOT Pharr District will receive part of the funding as it will be distributed across transit agencies across the state of Texas.

“These funds will provide Texans in both rural and urban areas with safe, reliable transportation options that enhance quality of life and expand economic opportunity,” said Alvin New, Texas Transportation Commissioner. “These programs help connect people to their communities and offer vital mobility for those who may otherwise have no means of getting around."

In a new release from TxDOT, funding such as this one can help support transit agencies and residents, such as McAllen resident Alejandra Sanchez, who is blind and uses the TxDOT-funded Valley Association for Independent Living (VAIL) program.

"The travel training program changed my life. I am more independent, and I learned how to navigate the community using public transportation,” Sanchez said. “I'm happy to say that I feel more confident in getting around my community for work and recreation. I never had an opportunity like that before."

This program helps people such as Sanchez receive specialized travel training to teach them how to navigate and use their local transit system.