By Valley Morning Star Editorial Board
Those who live in South Texas don’t just consider themselves to be residents of their respective cities. They also see themselves as part of a single Rio Grande Valley community. We have common cultural interests and, generally speaking, common needs.A couple of highways link our Valley cities together like charms on a single bracelet, and most residents think nothing about going from one Valley town to another to shop, for entertainment and to visit friends and family.
Some residents and leaders, therefore, believe we should regionalize our transportation needs and potentially increase our transportation dollars by consolidating our three metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) into one.
Lawmakers and policymakers in Austin claim regional unity would give us a greater voice in asking for state transportation funds. If we merged, we are told, our region could become the state’s fifth-largest MPO, bumping El Paso and behind the MPOs representing population giants such as Houston, Dallas/Fort Worth, Austin and San Antonio.
Three MPOs currently serve the Valley: the Hidalgo County MPO, Brownsville MPO and the Harlingen-San Benito area. Our area has far more MPOs than other areas of Texas. For instance, the North Central Texas Council of Governments is the MPO that represents the North Texas cities of Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington, Denton, Lewisville and McKinney. And that MPO receives the most state funding.
Many local officials support the idea of a merger, which has been discussed and studied for over a year. But some notable holdouts include the mayors of Harlingen, San Benito and Brownsville and even mayors of smaller Hidalgo county cities.
In a joint conference call recently with Brownsville Mayor Tony Martinez, perhaps the most outspoken of the skeptics, he told the editorial boards of The Monitor, Brownsville Herald and Valley Morning Star, that he doesn’t oppose a regional transportation idea outright, but that he needs more information before he would commit the control and possibly funds from the Valley’s largest city to such a joint effort.
We believe his concerns are valid, particularly if answers to his tough questions are not forthcoming.
We call upon lawmakers in Austin and state transportation officials to give Martinez, as well as the mayors of McAllen, Harlingen and San Benito more facts and figures about what monies could be expected from the Texas Department of Transportation, as well as expected discretionary funds from the Legislature, if our region merged into a single MPO.
We also call on local leaders to continue discussions on this proposal and begin to set regional priorities for highway funds to alleviate concerns that one community or one area of the Valley will benefit from a merger at the expense of other communities.
“Can we have some hard answers to some questions? One: If we get more money. Two: How much? Three: Where is it going to go to? Those are the questions that have never been answered,” Martinez asked.
As a lawyer and businessman, it’s understandable that Martinez, who also is chairman of the Brownsville MPO, wants a strategic business plan that is waterproof and foolproof before entering into such a venture.
We respect that.
No one can argue that Brownsville has not shown itself as having been wise with its road funds and projects.
Over the years, the city has aggressively and prudently leveraged its local dollars to enable the creation of many wide-ranging projects to help the city stay ahead of road congestion and population growth. And it has done so with the help of Cameron County.
Last year, Cameron County Commissioners unanimously approved a $1.6 billion plan to fund county wide transportation infrastructure improvements by setting up a county wide Transportation Reinvestment Zone.
The county dedicates a portion of the tax increment on property in the zone to fund the development of road projects. These funds are leveraged with other federal, state and local funding sources to finance new construction and road renovation projects.
That is forward thinking and an example of how political unions and solid planning can provide a greater good.
But such a strategic execution requires solid planning. And as Martinez has reiterated, he and the mayors of San Benito and Harlingen do not feel that state officials have fully explained why it’s in their best interests to merge the MPOs.
McAllen Mayor Jim Darling said he understands that there are many variables at play with regards to the availability of state transportation funds. And he knows nothing is guaranteed. Nor is there a guarantee as to how lawmakers will see fit to disburse funds to a region, or not.
“I think the potential for money is worth the try,” Darling said about one RGV MPO. “Quite frankly with the Legislature’s approval and those kinds of things, if it doesn’t work you go back to what it was, but you won’t get anything if you don’t try.”
Transportation funds ebb and flow depending upon the state’s economy, oil revenue and other factors. When the economy is on an upswing, these monies are more readily available. Funds also are distributed based on several criteria, including traffic congestion, population and area needs.
State Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, D-McAllen, told us that one RGV MPO would enable our region “to have a seat at the table” and be eligible for the discretionary funds that lawmakers dole out.
Hinojosa recently wrote in a column: “The Valley is transforming into a beacon of education, research and technology. And we need this same transformation in transportation and infrastructure to complement the rest of our region’s economic boom. We cannot continue to be three small Metropolitan Planning Organizations that are fighting for transportation dollars, which are merely the leftovers of the state’s big MPOs.”
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19 comments:
Psssssst. The Valley is NOT transforming into a damned thing. Don't be fooled.
Sounds like someone in Brownsville does not like being told what to do. What is the harm in trying
MR. Mayor? What is the harm?
This venture will benefit
the community when the mayor is long gone, but will it benefit him in the present? If the mayor truly cared about the success of the community, he would give this project a green light.
When a politician says he doesn't have enough information to make a decision, it is for 3 reasons, which are as follows: 1) he or she is not engaged and is not competent on the subject matter to make a decision, 2) he or she is holding out to get something in return, 3) he or she is stupid. In this instance we know the mayor is not engaged and has had plenty of time to get the information he seeks. So, he wants something or he is stupid. Either way, the LRGV is on the losing end of the totem pole costing us millions.
As a follow up and as former MPO Chairman and mayor, my opinion is that all LRGV cities join forces for infrastructure benefits by consolidating MPO's. The benefits outweigh the mayor's resistance by obtaining a legal opinion how to override the mayor's refusal to merge with the other cities and counties to merge. The city can get an opinion from TML, hire private and competent counsel to look to this matter. Possible unbiased counsel to get an opinion comes to mind, Brian Janis or John Shurgold. For sure, I do not recommend Sossi.
I believe the commission can introduce a resolution with action to order the mayor to support and sign to merge MPO's. Just a thought....
(Either way, the LRGV is on the losing end of the totem pole)
And look who's talking. A freaking imbecile!
While there may be a homogeneous regional personality and culture in the RGV, the multiple governing bodies (cities, schools districts, special districts) have elected officials who are reluctant to give up power....Tony Martinez is one among many who has delayed this MPO regional concept because he is arrogant, out of touch with the needs of the citizens, and doesn't want to give up any power to a regional entity. Tony and his administration continues to make downtown development their top priority....even though local downtown property owners aren't willing to invest in that project...they want a free ride. Looks like regional unification will move forward and Brownsville will again, end up sucking hind tit. As long as Tony Martinez is in office....the only progress we will make is riding bikes down the toilet. The United States was formed so that the states could "cooperate and graduate"....so we can drive across state lines without a passport. Too bad Brownsville leadership can't see the benefit in the Regional MPO!
Man! Who voted this Old Idiot into office and why can't he think like the McAllen Mayor?
Ahumada get over you aren't anymore the mayor, your time is gone.
Nobody is asking for your opinion Pat
I can appreciate andcrespect Pat's opinion. He educates me. Maybe some people don't like him for whatever reason, but he makes sense. We need input from all sides of the issues, especially this one, to make an informed decision.
Plus, he doesn't hide behind "Anonymous" like all of us. He is a man who puts his name on everything he writes.
MORE INFORMATION NEEDED? WHY DOESN'T THE MPO DIRECTOR GET IT FOR THE MAYOR? DUH!
Pat Ahumada is right. Pat Haters are al on welfare and food stamps. MUGROSOS!
[e is a man who puts his name on everything he writes]
Just goes to prove how much of an idiot he is. If I were as illiterate as he obviously is, I wouldn't want anyone to know who I was. And if someone were to ever find out, I'd go and seriously consider suicide.
Mayim.
Anonymous at 8:45. Maybe you should practice what you preach, Valadez. If anyone should seriously consider suicide , you come to mind. Think about it Cris, you're family would appreciate it.
What is [e? I believe the word you are looking for is mayhem or do you really mean Mayim whatever that is. No one here is illiterate, but you seem to be English challenged. Before you criticize others, look at yourself.
When my mother died at a young age and left with my siblings, I became an emancipated minor at 16 and on a shrimp boat at 17. I earned a honest living and was one of the best shrimpers in the area. While at sea, I read a lot and self taught myself in many ways, most importantly how to survive and raise a family at a young age. I earned my stripes, while those haters in particularly Cris Valadez learned to be leeches with no self respect for himself and others. Not only is he a coward, but a crook looking for easy ways to con people. I managed to lead this city as an outsider under very difficult circumstances with a lot of opposition from the establishment and people like Cris who are vulgar with no class, but I tried and did make things happen, which is more than I can say for others who have followed in my foot steps. I protected the city from leeches like Cris and special interest and tried to be he voice of the people. No one is perfect, but I gave it my all. I was engaged and educated on city needs and issues, which is more than I can say for a lot of those who are elected. You know where to find me Cris, if you have something to say to me or crawl in the hole you hide in. Just make sure I do not get up. People are fed up with you and your constant blogs of hate. Instead, you should try to do something constructive and positive, but I guess that is too much to ask. You need to join your friend Armando Villalobos, who you conspired with on many things and should have gone to jail with him, but I guess you cut a deal and turned against Villalobos to keep yourself safe, just like a worm.
As long as you don't forget which account the "checks" go into again. That'd be kinda like the Britney Spears song, "Oops I did it again". Now when you mention being a worm, you need to clarify. Are we talking being like Big Worm, or just any worm? We have both in Brownsville. Or are we referencing the song, "I'm just a worm"? (Excellent song by the way). We need specifics Pat, specifics.
Who is Cris Valdez? Is that the little Columbian guy from the Café de Columbia commercial that grows my coffee beans? Oh, wait. That's JUAN Valdez. Never mind.
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