Diaz: RGV will have over $1 billion for transportation projects in 2026

MCALLEN, Texas - Luis Diaz, the interim executive director of the RGVMPO, gave a detailed update on his group’s work at a recent South Texas Manufacturers Association meeting.RGVMPO stands for Rio Grande Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization. The STMA meeting took place at the DoubleTree Suites McAllen.Diaz has temporarily taken over the hot seat at the MPO because the previous executive director, Andrew Canon, has taken a job with the Texas Department of transportation in Austin. Canon is now director of international trade, freight and corridor planning for TxDOT. The RGVMPO board of directors is currently conducting a nationwide search for a new executive director.In his 30-minute power point presentation to STMA, Diaz explained what the RGVMPO does and which entities it works closely with, such the bigger cities in the Valley, TxDOT, Hidalgo County Regional Mobility Authority, and Cameron County Regional Mobility Authority.He also spoke about the overall transportation funding that is coming to the RGV, not just MPO monies. Diaz said that in 2026 the total funding for transportation will jump to an astonishing $1 billion.“So going on to the next slide… I can talk about the timeline here. So the next slide talks about our funding. Keep in mind that this is funding overall, this is federal money, this is state money, all of the money for the region,” Diaz said.“So in 2023, we had $39.47 million. And you could see that it actually goes up, which is a good thing of course. So in 2024 we go to $325.4 million and in 2025 we'll have $414.6 million. And in 2026. this is a big jump, we go into $1.1 billion with a ‘B’. "So you can see the progression and growing funds towards the region. So all of these things are for overall projects. Those are your state facilities, the local facilities, all facilities put together. So this is money that's for the entire region put together, not just MPO funds.”Diaz also spoke about the staffing situation at the MPO. He said the organization is currently understaffed but will be hiring additional staff soon. Among them, for the first time, will be communications specialists.“If we go on to the next slide… so this is the structure of the MPO. So, starting all the way on the right which is RGV MPO staff, which is myself, all of our planners. We have GIS staff. We’re going to be acquiring more public information people into our office, people to do social media and those type of things, public outreach. So we have a total of four positions open actually. So we're short staffed right now, but we're hopefully fill those by the turn of the new year.”Diaz also spoke about another TxDOT project, the I-69 Connector.“This is a really relevant project to the region because this will be the gateway from I-69C to I-69E, which will be a gateway to the eventual new causeway to the island. So this is important for that reason. So, right now, what is undergoing is actually a feasibility study to identify where would be the good alignment for that project.”Here is an audio recording of Diaz’s entire presentation. He is introduced by Mike Willis, executive director of the South Texas Manufacturers Association.Editor's Note: Go to the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service to read the full story.Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.