border trade advisory committee

MCALLEN, Texas - Cameron County Regional Mobility Authority has a lot of consequential  highway projects going on.

That is the only conclusion one can draw based on a power point presentation its executive director, Pete Sepulveda, made at a recent meeting of TxDOT’s Border Trade Advisory Committee.

The group met at the McAllen Convention Center.

"We have developed about a $1.3 billion system plan that we've been working on the last couple of years,” Sepulveda said.

Editor's Note: Click here to read the full story in the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service.

To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

MCALLEN, Texas - The City of McAllen’s superintendent of bridges says Customs and Border Protection is set to use state-of-the-art inspection equipment at Anzalduas International Bridge. 

The equipment will be in use when Anzalduas starts crossing fully-loaded trucks carrying dry goods north- and south-bound, said Juan Olaguibel. This should be happening by next summer, the superintendent said.

“We’re hoping that this bridge will be the fastest, most efficient bridge on the border, throughout the United States,” Olaguibel said.

Olaguibel made his comments at a recent TxDOT Border Trade Advisory Committee meeting held at McAllen Convention Center. 

Olaguibel noted that two of the largest industrial parks in Reynosa are just a stone’s throw from Anzalduas International Bridge. He said these two parks house more than 200 manufacturing companies, many of them Fortune 500 companies.

Olaguibel predicted the bridge will be popular because it will offer a faster route for truckers headed to Monterrey from the Rio Grande Valley. He noted that Nuevo León is leading the way in near-shoring, so this also should be a boost for Anzalduas. 

Here is an audio recording of Olaguibel’s remarks to the Border Trade Advisory Committee.

To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

MCALLEN, Texas - Brownsville Navigation District’s port director, Eduardo ‘Eddie’ Campirano recently spoke at a meeting of TxDOT’s Border Trade Advisory Committee.

In his presentation, Campirano spoke about a project underway to deepen the Port of Brownsville’s ship channel, plus plans to build an industrial park and construct a liquefied natural gas export terminal. 


"Maritime transportation is critical to cross-border trade. It is the piece of transportation nobody thinks about," Campirano said. "There is no better example of that than the Port of Brownsville. Ninety percent of our business at the port is focused on trade with Mexico. Eighty-five percent of our rail cargo moves south into Mexico. So, it is integral to what we do."

The BTAC meeting was held at the McAllen Convention Center.

To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

MCALLEN, Texas - Pharr Bridge Director Luis Bazan recently spoke at a meeting of TxDOT’s Border Trade Advisory Committee.

In his presentation, Bazan listed some of the improvements happening at the bridge, including construction of a second span. With four more lanes, the new span will effectively double the capacity of the bridge. Bazan said Mexico is already building its half of the second span.

After his presentation, Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson asked Bazan to reiterate how much fresh produce the Pharr bridge crosses. The answer: Sixty-five percent of the imported fresh fruit and vegetables consumed in Texas. “That is absolutely phenomenal,” said Nelson, who chaired the BTAC meeting. 

Bazan said the new produce season will kickoff in October. He said Pharr Bridge Board is slated to host an Avocado Festival the same month.

The BTAC meeting was held at the McAllen Convention Center.

To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

MCALLEN, Texas - The chairman of the Texas House Transportation Committee said he wanted to lay down some facts when he spoke before TxDOT’s Border Trade Advisory Committee.

State Rep. Terry Canales of Edinburg spoke about some of his achievements in the area of transportation during the most recent legislative session. He then gave a big picture view of the importance of the advisory committee.

“I want to give you a bit of perspective. The United States is the greatest superpower the world has ever seen. That’s a fact. Mexico is now our largest trading partner, as reported by all news outlets. That's a fact. That means this committee and the work that this committee does, probably makes this the most powerful Trade Advisory Committee on the face of the planet. That's a fact,” Canales said.

“So moving forward, what do we do?” Canales asked. How do we fund the Border Master Plan?”

Canales answered his own question. He said funding the Border Master Plan is should be the work of the advisory committee. 

"So I leave you with that. You are the most powerful Trade Advisory Committee on the face of the planet. And the work and movement that you do here will forge and form the future of not only Texas, not only the Rio Grande Valley, but the entire United States. 

"And so figuring out how we fund the projects that are in the Border Master Plan; I would challenge this committee to say we're going to find that funding one way or another. Through moving TxDOT funds, or however you do it. And build out the Border Master Plan over the next 25 years. It is possible. It's a challenge you should accept. It is incumbent upon us.”

Secretary of State Jane Nelson chaired the meeting, which was held at the McAllen Convention Center. Nelson said Canales’ remarks were “inspiring.”

Meade’s analysis

Alejandro ‘Alex’ Meade, the new Texas Transportation Commission member, also spoke at the Border Trade Advisory Committee meeting.

Meade said he agreed with Canales. “This could not be a more powerful committee,” Meade said. “The State of Texas is the fastest growing state in the nation. We have the eighth largest economy in the world. And the only way we can do that is by having a strong border. Investing in the border is investing in Texas. And so we have to remind ourselves and remind our partners that we have to continue investing in the border.”

Meade pointed out that trade with Mexico, in just the Valley and Laredo regions, is worth $1 billion a day.  

“Nothing happens in Texas without the border. Nothing happens in this country without the border.”

Here is an audio recording of the entire remarks Canales and Meade made at the Border Trade Advisory Committee meeting.

To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.