|
Post by Granola on Feb 20, 2017 13:36:23 GMT -6
I wonder whatever happened with the "Merger of the MPOs Resolution" that was sent up to Gov. Abbott by Hidalgo County last year? Any word on that? Or are state leaders still obsessed with protecting us from all the lawlessness our war-zone is experiencing? hahahahaha!
|
|
|
Post by Minion on Feb 20, 2017 13:39:18 GMT -6
I wonder whatever happened with the "Merger of the MPOs Resolution" that was sent up to Gov. Abbott by Hidalgo County last year? Any word on that? Or are state leaders still obsessed with protecting us from all the lawlessness our war-zone is experiencing? hahahahaha! Good question.Anyone?
|
|
|
Post by Minion on Aug 3, 2017 8:56:22 GMT -6
A Case For Combined MSAs
By: Mike Blum Creating economic clout The Rio Grande Valley, often referred to as Rio South Texas, offers many choices for both global business location and generous economic development incentives. With a dynamic young labor force, great weather, low cost of living and plenty of recreational activities year round, the Rio South Texas region is an ideal location for companies looking to expand or relocate. For several decades, business leaders across the Rio Grande Valley have advocated taking steps to combine the Metropolitan Statistical Area designations for McAllen-Mission-Edinburg with Brownsville-Harlingen into a Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Area. The idea behind combining the two Valley MSAs is rooted in the theory that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. The McAllen MSA, with a 2015 population of 842,304, is the fifth largest MSA in Texas. It ranks ahead of El Paso and 66th in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Economic Analysis. The Brownsville MSA ranks eighth in Texas as well as 103rd nationally, based on the U.S. Census 2015, with a population estimate of 422,156. With a total estimated population today of approximately 1.35 million in the two MSAs, a combined McAllen-Brownsville area would move up the rankings to 46th in the nation. This is without including Starr or Willacy counties in the equation. The combined MSA would still rank fifth in Texas, but would put substantial distance between the Valley and sixth-ranked El Paso. CLICK FOR MORE.... www.valleybusinessreport.com/news/combining-rgv-msas/
|
|
|
Post by Minion on Sept 11, 2017 19:51:45 GMT -6
|
|
|
Post by vyzee on Sept 11, 2017 21:46:00 GMT -6
Really surprised that Harlingen and Brownsville haven't merged MPO's to form a Cameron County MPO.
|
|
|
Post by Minion on Sept 12, 2017 7:27:50 GMT -6
Really surprised that Harlingen and Brownsville haven't merged MPO's to form a Cameron County MPO. They don't understand the benefits far outweigh any perceived negatives. If all you need is a 50,000 population threshold to create one, Mission, Edinburg and Pharr (and probably Weslaco soon) can all have one. But do they? NO. Because they know that they can get more funding as a united county than they could ever get alone. Cameron should follow suit, at least for their own county to start with.
|
|
|
Post by btx on Sept 12, 2017 12:44:42 GMT -6
No. Until the upper valley discusses how the money will be divied up between cities either percentagewise, $ amount, etc. How many board members, would there be even split between upper/lower, comparison of how much MORE money will each city in the mega MPO would receive compared to today, etc. There's to many unanswered questions, which is why the lower valley is not willing to consider it. I'm against until these and other questions are answered and so far at no time since the discussion of the merged MPOs have these been answered or even mentioned.
|
|
|
Post by Minion on Sept 12, 2017 13:11:32 GMT -6
No. Until the upper valley discusses how the money will be divied up between cities either percentagewise, $ amount, etc. How many board members, would there be even split between upper/lower, comparison of how much MORE money will each city in the mega MPO would receive compared to today, etc. There's to many unanswered questions, which is why the lower valley is not willing to consider it. I'm against until these and other questions are answered and so far at no time since the discussion of the merged MPOs have these been answered or even mentioned. How can the upper valley discuss it with the lower valley if they won't come to the table to discuss it? There's been many meetings held where they are invited to discuss the possibilities and benefits but they don't show up. They can't get to the point of seriously discussing a merger if they can't even agree to meet.
|
|
|
Post by btx on Sept 12, 2017 18:37:32 GMT -6
I can't disagree with your point. It can also be that our city/county leaders know it's a bad deal to start with but honestly I don't know why they aren't even attending the meetings. Maybe also just rivalry mentality. But I would agree that our city/county leaders should attend the meetings and let us know what was discussed.
|
|
|
Post by Granola on Sept 13, 2017 8:44:01 GMT -6
We're never going to be able to compete with the 4 larger MSAs for highway money if we stay in 5th place in population. We need to combine the two county's populations into 1.3 million to get more money for this area. The big cities are laughing all the way to the bank. They want us to stay split - that means more money for them.
|
|