© 2024 Texas Public Radio
Real. Reliable. Texas Public Radio.
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

A New Resolution Places The Rio Grande Valley Under A Single Metropolitan Planning Organization

Ryan Poppe | Texas Public Radio
Gov. Greg Abbott signs a resolution to place the Rio Grande Valley under a single MPO.

Until 2019, three metropolitan planning organizations, or MPOs, were responsible for the Rio Grande Valley's roadways and traffic concerns. But Gov. Greg Abbott said problems endured.

“I have been able to observe firsthand about the growing traffic congestion and the growth in population that has taken place in the Rio Grande Valley.  I’ve seen firsthand the need for traffic congestion relief, the need for transportation infrastructure,” Abbott said.

The resolution combines the transportation agencies in Brownsville, Harlingen-San Benito and Hidalgo County into a single authority, covering more than 80 miles of roads and making it the fifth largest planning organization in the state.

Abbott said that will enable the Valley to receive more state and federal transportation funding for regional improvements.  

State Rep. Terry Canales of Edinburg said the resolution will help improve traffic conditions and fix some of the region's roads now crumbling under the weight of an increase in regional business and truck traffic at the border.

“One of the things is you are using it more so we are at an infrastructure deficit and maintenance and preservation,” Canales said.

Canales said Rio Grande Valley will be able to receive more state and federal funding by creating one larger regional transportation planning group.

Ryan Poppe can be reached at RPoppe@TPR.org and on Twitter at @RyanPoppe1

Ryan started his radio career in 2002 working for Austin’s News Radio KLBJ-AM as a show producer for the station's organic gardening shows. This slowly evolved into a role as the morning show producer and later as the group’s executive producer.