Listen to the border community, CCRMA executive director tells federal government, Congress

BROWNSVILLE, Texas - Border communities often have the answer to border-specific issues, such as improving truck movements across land ports of entry, and the federal government should listen.This is the view of Pete Sepulveda, executive director of Cameron County Regional Mobility Authority (CCRMA). Sepulveda gave the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service an exclusive interview following his appearance at the recent Better Border for a Better America Conference.Sepulveda spoke at the conference, which was held September 20-21, in El Paso, Texas.“My message (at the conference) was, we are local bridge owners and we have solutions that we feel should be implemented by the federal agencies at our international business, so that we can enhance the mobility of trade and traffic moving through international bridges,” Sepulveda told the Guardian.“I’m not sure if it'll go anywhere, but I think it was a perfect setting for me to put that out there.”Sepulveda said it was good timing for him to deliver his message, because some international bridges along the US-Mexico were temporarily closed last week due to immigration issues. Sepulveda pointed out that a joint working committee has been set up by US and Mexico.  “Going before that committee and presenting our potential solutions and ideas, suggestions on how we can enhance the mobility of of traffic, whether it be commercial vehicles or passenger vehicles; I think we've got tools in our toolbox that should be utilized by federal state agencies, so that we can improve the flow of traffic,” Sepulveda said.“I'm not in any way, form or fashion saying that we should not adhere to any federal or state requirements. I'm just saying, hey, we've got a better way of doing things. At least, at a very minimum, listen to us.”By way of example, Sepulveda referenced the FUEGO tag, CCRMA Fuego Tag.Here is the interview with Sepulveda:Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.