Photo courtesy City of Pharr Seated: Pharr Mayor Dr. Ambrosio Hernandez. Standing (l-r): Mission Mayor Dr. Armando O’Caña, McAllen Mayor Jim Darling, Harlingen Mayor Chris Boswell, Edinburg Mayor Pro-Tem David Torres, Brownsville Mayor Tony Martinez, Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez, and Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño, Jr.
Very rare: Valley counties, cities unite
Story courtesy of City of Pharr
PHARR - History was made last week as officials representing the largest cities in the Rio Grande Valley and Hidalgo and Cameron counties came together to formally affix their signatures on a re-designation agreement to officially create the Rio Grande Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization, combining the three existing Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) -- Harlingen-San Benito Metropolitan Planning Organization, Brownsville Metropolitan Planning Organization, and the Hidalgo County Metropolitan Planning Organization -- into one governing body.
A re-designation agreement is required by federal law to effectuate the consolidation, with the required signatories of the Governor (or designee); the cities of McAllen, Edinburg, Mission, Pharr, Harlingen, and Brownsville; and Hidalgo and Cameron counties.
Upon signing the document, RGV MPO leaders met with officials in Austin to present the agreement to the Texas Transportation Commission. The consolidation sets the region up to access millions of dollars of federal funding through TxDOT, which funds transportation projects. According to State Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, “the Valley MPO will be one of the largest in the state and will allow South Texas to access more funds to construct larger projects.” Hinojosa added, “With one voice, the Valley MPO will be a powerful advocate for addressing the infrastructure needs of South Texas that are required to continue being an economic driver for the state.”
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