I’m honored to share that I will begin serving as the executive director of the Hidalgo County Regional Mobility Authority (HCRMA) on April 21, 2026.
From assisting the HCRMA with the first overweight corridor design in Texas, to securing Mexican quarries on the AQMP to supply low‑COTE aggregate for CRCP production, to developing TxDOT’s preventive maintenance process for the overweight corridors, to working hand‑in‑hand on the 365 Tollway during construction, the HCRMA has been woven into some of the most meaningful chapters of my professional career.
In this role, I look forward to working closely with our elected officials, the Cameron County RMA, our Hidalgo Ports of Entry, local Economic Development organizations, and city leadership across Hidalgo County to advance projects that reduce congestion, strengthen mobility, and support long‑term economic growth for the region.
A major focus will be re‑elevating the remaining segments of the Hidalgo Loop (a $3.5B regional initiative) back into the Valley’s broader conversation about long‑range infrastructure and its economic contributions. I am also committed to completing the remaining phases of the 365 Tollway, transitioning HCRMA into a full toll‑collection entity, and identifying new ways to increase & diversify revenue.
Beyond delivering megaprojects, issuing overweight permits, and collecting tolls, I intend for the HCRMA to expand the services we provide to local governments and the community. My goal is to position the Authority to be an engaged and active regional partner. I’m excited for the work ahead and grateful for the opportunity to serve our region in this capacity.
I want to extend my deepest gratitude to KCI for everything the organization has done for me during my tenure. From day one, I was treated with respect & fairness, and I always felt genuinely valued and appreciated. Leaving the Harlingen office is especially bittersweet, we worked hard, we supported each other, and we enjoyed each other’s company. The KCI Harlingen-Mission environment & culture is welcoming and feels special once you are a part of it. A special thank you to my now former boss, Randell Prescott, PE, MBA. Randy is a born leader, detailed oriented, calm under pressure, has a great business acumen, and has sound judgment; one of the reasons why KCI is successful. I’m grateful I had the opportunity to work under him even if it was brief.
To young engineers stepping into the workforce, I encourage you to take a close look at KCI , their culture, their benefits, and the opportunities they provide for engineers for career & professional growth.
Editor's Note: The above commentary was provide by Daniel Garcia, the new executive director of Hidalgo County Regional Mobility Authority. The commentary first appeared on Garcia's social media platforms.
Daniel Garcia earned a bachelor’s in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M University at Kingsville where he graduated Summa Cum Laude. He started his career with TxDOT in 2007 where he has served in different roles including a construction project manager, the District's Construction Engineer from 2010 to 2014, the District's Materials & Pavement Engineer from 2014 to 2017, and he is currently the District's Director of Construction. He has specialized in different categories of the construction industry including Pavement Design & Pavement Management, Overweight Corridor Design and Management, Materials Design, construction scheduling, DBE & federal compliance, serving as a subject matter expert for the state in different legal settings, and managing large projects for the district. He played a key role in the development of the four-year plan and the district’s sealcoat & asphalt program. He played the leading role in developing pavement design and management strategies for the district's three overweight corridors, which was adopted by industry. In the mid-2010’s he began to incorporate GIS and computer programming to identify preventive maintenance strategies for the district; and incorporated the use of new materials such as SPG binders and asphalt stabilized base. As Materials & Pavement Engineer, Daniel worked with several Mexican quarries to successfully enter TxDOT's AQMP program, which was vital in securing confidence in the delivery of large CRCP projects such as 365 Tollway. He became Director of Construction in February of 2017. As director, he successfully negotiated a combined $ 84 million dollar deal which allowed for the construction of the frontage roads and main lanes for the US 83 Relief Route from FM 2221 to the western limits of the project. Daniel currently serves as chairman for Item 8 during the specification re-write, TxDOT's Project Manager for the $282 million-dollar 365 Tollway project, is Project Director of the district’s $303 million dollar Design Build Pharr Interchange Project, and oversees a $1 billion dollar construction program. He is currently serving on different statewide committees such as the Heavy Duty Pavement Working Group.
