Post by Granola on Nov 21, 2019 13:48:10 GMT -6
MCALLEN, RGV – Cameron County Regional Mobility Authority is going to have to change the funding mechanism for a second causeway to South Padre Island if it wants to access state monies for the project.
Up until now, the plan had been to make the causeway a toll project. However, at a recent forum in McAllen, Texas Transportation Commission Chairman J. Bruce Bugg, Jr., spelled out in no uncertain terms that the state of Texas no longer supports toll roads.
Interviewed after the forum, Bugg told the Rio Grande Guardian:
“The voters of the state of Texas approved Proposition 1 by 80 percent for non-toll roads and they approved Proposition 7 by 83 percent for non-toll roads. Those funds are dedicated and cannot be used by law and by constitution for toll roads.
“By extension, the state of Texas, we are in a non-toll environment. All the projects that we are trying to advance at the Texas Transportation Commission are non-toll projects.”
That said, if local RMAs want to pursue a toll road using monies they have self-generated, go ahead, Bugg opined.
“You have two RMAs in the RGV. They are allowed to proceeds with toll projects. So, for example, you have 365 in the area, that is allowed, under the policy to go forward as a toll project,” Bugg said.
“If an RMA, which is created by a state statute, wanted to do a toll road without raising and using any state of Texas funds, then an RMA can advance a toll project – if the local community comes forward and promotes that.”
Asked what he would recommend to local Rio Grande Valley leaders who want to see a second causeway, Bugg told the Rio Grande Guardian: “I cannot comment on what their priorities should be. We are in a non-tolled environment in the State of Texas. But, the RMA are advancing toll projects. It really is up to the local leadership and the RMAs themselves.”
The transportation forum was hosted by the Rio Grande Valley Partnership and held at the DoubleTree Suites in McAllen. Bugg was one of six speakers at the event. Bugg did not refer to the second causeway project in his remarks to the audience. However, two other speakers did.
“We desperately need another causeway, not just for our commerce but for people to evacuate (the island),” said Rio Grande Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization Chairman and Pharr Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez.
riograndeguardian.com/ccrma-is-having-to-revise-funding-strategy-for-2nd-spi-causeway/
