WESLACO, Texas - The Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council is hoping to secure funding to study the feasibility of setting up an RGV Regional Transit Authority.
The study would look at the economic impact such a body would bring to the region, as well as identify potential funding sources.
The LRGVDC is the official council of government for Hidalgo, Cameron and Willacy counties. At its most recent board meeting, the group agreed to apply for funds from the Rio Grande Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization.
“Before we engage in creating a Regional Transit Authority we must assess the situation of how we get there. So, one of the main components is to do a feasibility study,” said LRGVDC Executive Director Manuel ‘Manny’ Cruz.
“And so, luckily, the MPO has made available some funds for regional feasibility studies. So, we're going to submit our application to conduct the feasibility study on the RTA, the Regional Transit Authority.”
Cruz said the RGVMPO has set a limit for the funding of feasibility studies at $330,000.
“But if they get limited applications, and they see there's a few that deserve to get more funding, they will allocate more funding to those projects,” Cruz said. “And we have two projects, actually. One for the RTA and another study that we're planning - a transit oriented development feasibility study. So, we're hoping that they can combine both and we can receive over $600,000.”
Asked how long the feasibility study would take to complete, Cruz said: “Historically, maybe a year or less.”
Another factor that comes in to play, Cruz said, is Willacy County’s situation.
“Willacy County is not part of the MPO and so we need to make sure that they're included as well. And so we will be looking for additional funds to to be able to include Willacy County in the (RTA) study.”
Asked why the feasibility study is important, Cruz said:
“The study is important because it's going to identify whether it's feasible to create a Regional Transit Authority. It will assess the economic impact that it will bring to the region. Most importantly, it will identify the potential source of funding that we can target.”
Cruz noted that the Regional Transit Authority is one of the top four priorities in the LRGVDC’s new strategic plan. “Everybody is in support. I haven't heard yet any negative comments,” he said.
Editor’s Note: Here is a video recording of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service’s interview with Manny Cruz:
