AUSTIN, Texas - The Texas Transportation Commission on Tuesday unanimously approved a motion that puts a 2nd Causeway for South Padre Island under the purview of TxDOT.
Previously, it was being spearheaded by Cameron County Regional Mobility Authority. CCRMA has been moving forward with environmental studies for the bridge project but had been stymied by a state moratorium on toll projects.
Previously, the project was “off-system.” Now it is “on-system.”
Off-system is a roadway not designated on the State Highway System and not maintained by TxDOT. On-system roadway is roadway designated on the State Highway System and maintained by TxDOT.
“It’s moving forward,” TxDOT’s Pharr District Engineer Pedro “Pete” Alvarez said of the 2nd Causeway project. Alvarez was interviewed at the TTC meeting.
“A little bit of history, today,” said TTC Chairman J. Bruce Bugg, Jr., immediately after the motion was adopted.
Rio Grande Valley leaders are thrilled with the move, believing it will hasten construction of the long-awaited bridge.
“This Minute Order is an important step for the development of the 2nd Causeway project, said TTC Commissioner Alex Meade. Meade offered the motion to adopt a new minute order drawn up by TxDOT staff.
The Minute Order states:
“Cameron County and the Pharr District have requested to designate SH 104 on a new location on the state highway system from FM 106 eastward to Park Road 100 on South Padre Island, a distance of approximately 11.1 miles.
“Pursuant to Texas Transportation Code, §§201.103 and 221.001, the executive director of the Texas Department of Transportation has recommended these actions.
“The Texas Transportation Commission finds that these actions will facilitate the flow of traffic, promote public safety, and maintain the continuity of the state highway system, and are necessary for the proper development and operation of the system.
“It is therefore ordered by the commission that SH 104 is designated on a new location on the state highway system from FM 106 eastward to Park Road 100 on South Padre Island, a distance of approximately 11.1 miles, as shown in exhibit A.”
Exhibit A is pictured above.
In his remarks, Meade thanked Gov. Greg Abbott for his support. However, adopting the new minute order is “only the first step in planning and constructing the 2nd Causeway,” Meade said.
“By adding this location to the state highway system TxDOT can more directly participate alongside the Cameron County Regional Mobility Authority in the environmental review process. The environmental review process will determine the feasibility and proposed location the bridge,” Meade explained.
“If the 2nd Causeway project moves forward after environmental review process it will require significant partnership between TxDOT, the local entities including the CCRMA and the Rio Grande Valley MPO. Local partners will need to participate in providing significant local funding, along with TxDOT funding to fund this project.”
Meade added: “This commission strives for local communities to prioritize funding on their top priority projects and this instance is no difference. The local community has been discussing the idea of a 2nd Causeway for 20 years now. So I'm excited that the commission has taken this step today and I look forward to hearing progress updates on the environmental review process.”
After Commissioner Meade had made his remarks, Chairman Bugg said two members of the public had signed up to comment on the motion. They were Rio Grande Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization Chairman David Fuentes and Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño, Jr.
“This morning I stand before you in full support of the South Padre Island 2nd Causeway project,” Fuentes said. “This is a much needed project that will provide safety and economic benefits to the entire region and to the entire state. I applaud the Texas Department of Transportation for stepping up in consideration of this request and providing the leadership necessary to bring this project closer to reality.”
Like Meade, Treviño thanked Gov. Abbott. He said the Valley is “experiencing exciting times” and needs TxDOT’s support to ensure that it has the necessary infrastructure in place to benefit from all the growth that is happening.
“This is a momentous day for the Rio Grande Valley, for Cameron County, the City of South Padre Island and obviously for the state of Texas. I'm glad to see that this item is being considered which reflects the interests in the need for this project,” Treviño said.
“Chairman Bugg and members of the commission, a second causeway will ensure the growth along with the safety aspect of South Padre Island. It will improve and spur the economic development of Cameron County, of the RGV in the entire state of Texas.”
On its website, Cameron County Regional Mobility Authority said the SPI 2nd Access project is “said to be one of the most critical safety projects in Texas and the most environmentally complex project in the United States.”
The website states:
“South Padre Island is home to nearly 3,000 residents year-round. During peak seasons, millions of visitors can be seen visiting South Padre Island; in 2016 alone over 8.2 million people visited the island. With an increasing number of vehicles destined to travel to South Padre Island and only one access to the mainland, new infrastructure developments are needed to alleviate traffic congestion and improve safety.
“The CCRMA, in partnership with TxDOT and the Federal Highway Administration, are working on the SPI 2nd Access. The new access will provide an additional emergency evacuation route and improve emergency response times. Along with the further development of a new access, we open the doors to economic development in the northern part of the island. The development of the South Padre Island 2nd Access Project began in 2008 and continues undergoing review for the Environmental Document and preliminary engineering.
“The access is planned to be 8 miles long beginning near Holly Beach and will traverse the Laguna Madre. Currently the design is being developed in a manner to cause the least amount of environmental impacts to the seagrass and other local species habitats we all enjoy when on the water.
“The final Environmental Impact Study for the SPI 2nd Access project is currently under federal review and an environmental approval is expected in the Fall of 2019. Currently, project is on hold by TxDOT.”
