WESLACO, Texas - Andrew Canon, executive director of the Rio Grande Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization, has welcomed a new transportation initiative from Gov. Greg Abbott.
Abbott has called on the Texas Transportation Commission and the Texas Department of Transportation to allocate $150 million in the Unified Transportation Program (UTP) to support construction of the International Bridge Trade Corridor (IBTC) in Hidalgo County.
The IBTC is a proposed non-tolled, four-lane divided roadway that would provide direct interstate access for several international ports of entry and expedite the movement of goods and freight through the border region.
“Since its inception, the IBTC has been a regional priority for the RGVMPO and its board members. IBTC incapsulates many of the priority factors for both the RGVMPO and TxDOT such as the promotion of economic growth, safe and efficient movement of people and goods and of course freight movement. IBTC provides a safe alternative for the ever-growing amount of produce and freight traffic growing at the Pharr Bridge,” Canon told the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service.
Canon said a “great deal of credit” must be given to Pharr Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez.
“Mayor Hernandez has worked tirelessly to assure that TxDOT and the Governor’s Office are aware of the regional importance the IBTC will have.”
Canon said he would also thank the Texas House Transportation Committee Chairman, Rep. Terry Canales, “for his continued efforts and support of the IBTC.”
Canon also thanked the Texas Transportation Commissioner, Alex Meade, for his “dedication and insight into the region.” Canon predicted Meade will “continue to be beneficial as we continue moving forward on major, impactful transportation projects for the Rio Grande Valley region.”
The proposed project would be constructed in two phases:
The IBTC would begin in south Pharr and extend north to I-2 in Donna. The total length of the proposed project is 13.15 miles and would traverse the cities of Pharr, San Juan, Alamo, and Donna.
Gov. Abbott said the requested allotment he is asking of TTC and TxDOT would provide the majority of the funding needed to advance the IBTC project. He said the remaining funds needed for construction would be authorized with state formula highway funding available to the Lower Rio Grande Valley.
Abbott said the funding will also allow TxDOT to place the project on the state highway system and fund additional project development costs related to highway design, right-of-way acquisition, and utility relocation.
“Strengthening our ports and roadway infrastructure to support international trade will help Texas remain the No. 1 exporting state and a global economic powerhouse,” Abbott said.
“Today, I called on the Texas Transportation Commission and the Texas Department of Transportation to allocate $150 million to support the construction of the IBTC project in the Rio Grande Valley. This project will bolster international trade and accelerate throughput at border checkpoints to better move freight and improve security. Texas is the top exporting state and with this investment, we will boost our state's economy in the Rio Grande Valley and across our state.”
Texas Transportation Chairman Bruce Bugg said: “Enhancing safety, improving mobility, and easing congestion on other state and city roads are also direct benefits of the IBTC project. For local communities, IBTC would mean less truck traffic on local Farm to Market roadways through school zones and business districts.”
Texas Transportation Commissioner Meade said: “The IBTC project has been under planning and development for a number of years, and the funding requested by Governor Abbott would provide the foundation for ensuring construction of this critical project for the region. Construction for the IBTC project, in collaboration with the Hidalgo County Regional Mobility Authority, is slated to begin in 2026 and is anticipated to take three years to complete."
State Sen. Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa of McAllen issued this statement:
“I applaud Governor Abbott for his commitment to investing in our border infrastructure and for calling on the Texas Transportation Commission and TxDOT to allocate $150 million in the Unified Transportation Program to support the construction of the International Bridge Trade Corridor project in the Rio Grande Valley. This project will not only improve transportation and trade between the United States and Mexico, but it will also create jobs and boost economic growth in the region. I also want to thank all our RGV officials, including Pharr Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez, for his tireless advocacy for this project and for working closely with our legislative delegation to make it a reality. Governor Abbott, in collaboration and with the support of Chairman Terry Canales and the Valley legislative delegation, has kept his promise to prioritize the infrastructure needs of our border communities. I look forward to seeing the positive impact this project will have on the Rio Grande Valley and the Texas economy.’’
Rep. Canales of Edinburg said the draft UTP will be released this week by the Texas Transportation Commission and it is anticipated to include $150 million for IBTC. He said the project is an important component for the long-term infrastructure plan in Valley. He predicted it would serve as a critical role in diverting commercial truck traffic from local neighborhoods onto the state highway system.
"Fully funding IBTC has been a priority for me for many years, and I am proud that our countless meetings and correspondence with the Governor’s office, Texas Transportation Commission, and the Texas Department of Transportation is leading to this funding,” Canales said.
"It’s a challenge to overstate just how important IBTC is to the Rio Grande Valley. Our region has over one million commercial motor vehicles driving on our roads every year, and an enormous percentage are trucks funneled from our ports of entry delivering goods to the U.S.”
Right now, Canales said, many of these trucks have to drive many miles on local, city roads to get onto the state highway system, causing serious safety issues for residents and discouraging some businesses from using Valley ports of entry.
“Once the IBTC is finally constructed, it will better streamline international traffic in our region, incentivize businesses to invest more in our region, and provide solutions to some of our current safety issues,” Canales stated.
“I would like to thank Governor Greg Abbott, newly appointed Transportation Commissioner Alex Meade, Edinburg Mayor Ramiro Garza, Pharr Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez, McAllen Mayor Javier Villalobos, and Mission Mayor Norie Gonzalez Garza for their work to get this funding secured.”
Texas law requires TxDOT to create a statewide infrastructure program each year to forecast transportation infrastructure developments across the state. This program is referred to as the UTP. The draft UTP will be viewable on the TxDOT website later this week.
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