Cameron County Commissioners Court Unanimously Approves $1 Billion Dollar Plan to Fund County-Wide Transportation Infrastructure Improvements

Cameron County Commissioner’s Court today on a 4-0 vote approved an Order establishing a County-Wide Transportation Reinvestment Zone that is projected to support approximately $1.6 billion in transportation projects that will promote safety, support development, and facilitate the movement of traffic in Cameron County. In approving the Order, the Commissioners Court also approved an Interlocal Agreement between Cameron County and the Cameron County Regional Mobility Authority (CCRMA) that identifies over fifty (50) projects that are critical to the long term transportation infrastructure needs of the County.

The plan calls for the County to dedicate a portion of the tax increment on property in the Zone to fund the development of some or all of the projects. This plan specifically calls for funds raised from the tax increment to be leveraged with other funding sources (federal, state and local) to finance the project development, rehabilitation/reconstruction of roads, and construction of new corridors. In approving the measure the Commissioners Court is assured that projects on the list will be developed accordingly and that the annual tax increment available to the CCRMA will be capped at 25%.

Commissioners Court members all expressed support to the plan laid out today. County Judge Pro-Tem Alex Dominguez stated, “this agreement paves the way for greater flexibility for the CCRMA to accomplish over fifty county wide projects without any tax increase or cost to the taxpayers while still allowing oversight and involvement by the Commissioners Court”. Commissioner David A. Garza involved in transportation committees at the state noted, “this is a big deal for Cameron County as it represents the largest infusion of local dollars for transportation investments that I can ever think of. He went on to add, “when I am in D.C. or Austin visiting with top transportation officials I make it a point to stress that Cameron County has skin in the game. We are pouring in our resources to get projects shovel ready and to construction.”

The CCRMA, the transportation entity created by the Cameron County Commissioners Court and in operation since 2005, has been working on the major infrastructure projects throughout the County. This Agreement will enable the CCRMA and the County to keep local control and oversight of project development as they work with the Federal Highway Administration and the Texas Department of Transportation to build roads, highways, bridges, and other added improvements to address the transportation needs of the county.

CCRMA Chairman David E. Allex stated, “I am extremely thankful in the continued confidence and support the County Commissioners have placed on the Board of Directors and Staff of the CCRMA”. In attendance at today’s meeting were Board Members David N. Garza and Mark Esparza. Commission Members also noted that it has been many years since the County has pumped significant investment dollars into transportation projects citing the Project Roadmap from the early 1990’s.

The proposed project improvements are short term, mid-term and long-term and will be built based on the project development demands and complexities of each individual project. The public though will start to see improvements over the course of the next 12 to 24 months at the very latest.

County staff and the CCRMA will be working to keep the public apprised and presentations will continue to be made to show the level of major infrastructure improvements being made in Cameron County.