MISSION, Texas - The Rio Grande Valley Partnership recently held a forum on trade and transportation at the Center for Education & Economic Development in Mission.
The event was called RGV Connect.
One of the panelists was Pete Sepulveda, Cameron County Administrator and executive director of Cameron County Regional Mobility Authority.
During his remarks, Sepulveda made a startling claim: that the Texas Department of Transportation has decided to delay development of the I-69 Connector. This east-west corridor would connect Edinburg to Harlingen. Eventually it would connect to a 2nd Causeway for South Padre Island.
Sepulveda said TxDOT’s decision was lamentable. He said the I-69 Connector is a crucial highway for connectivity, pointing out that most of the visitors to SPI are from Hidalgo County.
If TxDOT will not build the I-69 Connector, Hidalgo and Cameron counties should do so, Sepulveda said. He urged the RGV Partnership to work on bringing local stakeholders together to make sure the connector is built.
After the forum had ended, the RGG Business Journal secured an interview with Sepulveda. Here it is:
The RGG Business Journal also secured an interview with Paco Sanchez, president of the RGV Partnership. Sanchez said the RGVP would be happy to convene meetings to see if the Valley can build the I-69 Connector without the support of TxDOT. Here is the interview:
