Villarreal: We have an amazing project that will lead to the transformation western Hidalgo County

3 weeks ago 88

MISSION, Texas – Hidalgo County Commissioner Ever Villarreal has announced what he says is an “amazing” transportation project that will help transform the western part of the county.

Villarreal said the county, working with the City of Mission, is going to become “project sponsor” for two sections of the proposed county loop between Granjeno and Penitas and turn them into non-toll projects.

By becoming project sponsor, Villarreal said, the county, working with the City of Mission, can help find funding for the two sections, ensuring they get built much faster.

“It is an amazing project of not just for the City of Mission, but for the City of McAllen also. That is because the City of McAllen, as you know… they are part owner of the Anzalduas Bridge,” Villarreal said. “And it would be amazing, not just for McAllen and Mission financially, but also for our neighbors on the west side of the county, for the growth this amazing project can usher in.”

Hidalgo County Regional Mobility Authority holds “primacy” or jurisdiction over the entire county loop project. At a recent meeting of the Rio Grande Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization, HCRMA Chairman Robert Lozano strongly opposed taking the two sections away from his organization’s control. He said it was “dysfunctional” to move responsibility away from the RMA.

“I’m bewildered; I’m confused. I don’t get it. I don’t understand,” Lozano told the MPO policy board. “And as the representative of the RMA… look, I’m a citizen of Hidalgo County, and I want what’s best for Hidalgo County. But I sit before you here today as the chair of the Regional Mobility Authority for Hidalgo County, and I’ve got to sit here and represent what I believe is in the best interest of citizens, and that is for the county, the RMA, to continue the work and come before the board in a unified fashion, so that we send a message where these funds need to come from, that we’ve got a unified message. I mean, this is, frankly, quite dysfunctional.”

After discussing a letter penned jointly by Villarreal and Mission Mayor Norie Gonzalez Garza, the RGVMPO policy board took a vote.

Hidalgo County and the City of Mission voted in favor of a motion that read: “To include Western Inner Loop Sections A1 and A2 as non-toll facilities in the RGVMPO’s Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) unfunded project list, with Hidalgo County serving as the project sponsor.”

HCRMA voted against.

The rest of the MPO’s large policy board voted to abstain.

After the meeting, Mayor Gonzalez Garza provided this statement to the Rio Grande Guardian:

“The item on the agenda addressed a letter from Commissioner Villarreal and me requesting primarily to place the two segments of road improvements on the unfunded project list. In doing this, it allows the County which is the project lead and Mission to move forward with the project to include procuring funding sources. This project is important to the city because it connects the anticipated commercial traffic from Anzalduas Highway to Expressway on the West side of Mission without the need to travel through general business and residential zones.”

Villarreal interview

Commissioner Villarreal told the Guardian that he normally would not get involved in projects inside a city. However, he said, the City of Mission asked for his help in order to speed up construction of the county loop in their city.

“I know that the city has been frustrated because they’ve been trying to get this project done for the last 15, 20, years, and nothing has happened. And all this area inside the City of Mission is being developed, and it’s just getting more and more difficult. So, we’re just trying to, you know, push it forward.”

Villarreal continued:

“One of the issues that the City of Mission is having is that, because they have so much growth in the area where this alignment is… there are a couple of large developers that are thinking of developing that area. If that happens, this project pretty much becomes impossible or unaffordable. So, they’re trying to get ahead and work to start a right of way acquisition and align correctly so that we can actually do the project.

“Our intent is not to take it away from the RMA but simply start the project and obviously consult with them over their needs. Obviously, the City and the County might have financial opportunities that the RMA does not qualify for, and we’re working on that. But I think everything’s going to be figured out.”

Getting the county loop built more quickly between Granjeno and Penitas would also be beneficial for McAllen and, in time, Edinburg, Villarreal said.

“I’m going to tell you that I did have several meetings with the City of Edinburg and their staff and McAllen, and they were very interested in this project, very interested in going north with that western loop. Because I don’t know if you know, but the City of McAllen purchased a couple of thousand acres in the Moore Field area where the Moore Air Force Base used to be. And they’re going to do an industrial park there,” Villarreal said.

“So, it’s a big interest for the City of McAllen that this gets done. And, once you go north you meet with a new section that’s coming from the east side through (Highway) 490, more or less where the Edinburg airport is at. So, that is why the City of Edinburg is also interested. However, I’m not going to do anything without their support. This is a very, very large project that the County or the cities cannot do on their own.”

Getting the county loop built more quickly between Granjeno and Penitas would also be beneficial for Penitas, Villarreal said.

“It is going to create new jobs; it’s going to create new infrastructure that is much needed. And as you know, the city of Penitas is growing fast. The county has invested over $37 million in infrastructure there. I’m currently doing Liberty Road, from the expressway to 3 Mile Line at very little cost to the city. And section two, which we have already started, we’re going to start from 3 Mile Line and go to 107, at no cost to the City of Penitas,” Villarreal said.

“So, these are projects that have an extremely positive impact on our smaller cities. And as you can see when you drive by there, the growth is just amazing, and we need to continue to work on our infrastructure to keep up with amount of residential and business growth that we have in the area.”

Villarreal said the section of the county loop to the east of Granjeno is currently being developed by HCRMA.

“The RMA is responsible for and should be working on segment 4A, which is already designated as a toll road. It is going to cost about $150 million, and they haven’t done anything yet. So, we’re actually talking to them that we need to work together. They can work on that part while we assist them working on this other part, further west, so we can pretty much finish at the same time,” Villarreal said.

Asked if there is anything else he would like to say, Commissioner Villarreal said:

“I just want to make it very clear that I was requested by the city (of Mission) to assist them with this amazing project. And I talked to the (County) Judge (Richard Cortez) and everybody is so excited, because it’s an amazing project that is not going to just have a positive impact in Mission, but the whole region. We’re going to connect everything together, and it’s just going to be a boom for the west side and the east side at the same.”

Hidalgo County Regional Mobility Authority’s perspective

The Guardian also approached Lozano, the HCRMA chairman, for comment. He provided it in writing. Lozano wrote:

“Hi Daniela, thanks for reaching out. I’m happy to provide a comment for your story on the recent MPO meeting.

“The RMA is a governmental agency created by the Texas Transportation Commission and the Hidalgo County Commissioners Court.

“Our purpose is to help plan for and accelerate needed transportation projects within the county. The RMA identifies opportunities to expedite essential transportation projects under the direction of a local board, making local decisions about local mobility needs that improve the quality of life and economic growth for all residents in our region. Our seven-member Board of Directors includes four members appointed by the County Commissioners Court, one appointed by the Hidalgo County Judge, one chosen by the City of McAllen (the largest city in the county), and a presiding officer, the Chairman of the Board, who is appointed by the Governor of Texas.

“I was appointed as Chairman of the Hidalgo County Regional Mobility Authority (RMA), which gives me a seat at the Rio Grande Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). The MPO facilitates collaboration among all communities in the Rio Grande Valley and the Texas Department of Transportation to address regional needs and administer federal and state transportation funds allocated to our region.

“Having been appointed to chair the RMA late last year, I quickly learned about the history of the much-discussed Hidalgo County Loop, including its location, construction methods, timeline, and responsible parties. My previous roles as RGV Partnership President, McAllen Chamber President, and McAllen EDC President gave me some familiarity with the loop. However, as RMA Chairman, I quickly discovered that transportation is a complex and often political subject. Questions about where roads are going, who is building them, when they will be built, and how they will be funded all contribute to complexities and debates among stakeholders.

“The RMA holds “primacy” or jurisdiction over the county loop, a subject that has, for some reason, been contested by certain stakeholders in our county. Hidalgo County Commissioner Ever Villarreal and Mission Mayor Nori Gonzalez Garza have repeatedly, through signed communication, requested that the MPO designate the County as the “Project Sponsor” for two western portions of the county loop, Sections A1 and A2, and list these sections as non-tolled facilities on the RGV MPO Metropolitan Transportation Plan unfunded project list.

“The first time this request was made, it did not pass at the MPO due to the question of primacy or jurisdiction—whether it belonged to the RMA or the County. While the primacy question has since been settled and acknowledged by all as belonging to the RMA, the second time the request was made, the MPO Policy Board voted to include Sections A1 and A2 as non-toll facilities in the Metropolitan Transportation Plan unfunded project list, with Hidalgo County as the Project Sponsor.

“Although my knowledge may be limited given my recent involvement, as Chairman, I represent a unanimous board that believes the purpose and reason for the creation of the Regional Mobility Authority are precisely for these types of projects. Therefore, I used my vote on the MPO policy board to vote “against” the request. Mayor Nori, who has a seat on the policy board, made the motion for the request. County Commissioner and current MPO board chairwoman Ellie Torres seconded the motion, with all other policy board members abstaining, leading to the motion’s passage. Apparently, they represent other stakeholders in the county, have advice from their legal counsel, and have been directed through the process by their local engineering consultants, which brings us to where we are today.

“By virtue of the vote at the MPO Policy Board, Hidalgo County, rather than the Hidalgo County RMA, is listed as the Sponsor of Section A1 and A2 of the western portion of the county loop on the MTP’s unfunded project list. Frankly, I am not certain what this ultimately means, but as chair of the RMA, I know that I represent a board that is working to carry out our mission and serve the needs of the citizens of Hidalgo County. Great things are happening in our community, and by working together, I am certain that great things are in store for our future.”

Editor’s Note: Rio Grande Guardian reporter Daniela Capistran assisted with this story.

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