Anzalduas International Bridge Project Fact Sheet

Anzalduas International Bridge Project Fact Sheet

By Rio Grande Guardian

By Staff

Link to article

(Photo: RGG/Steve Taylor) Mexican President Felipe Calderón shakes hands with U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk after unveiling a plaque at the new Anzalduas International Bridge on Monday. 

REYNOSA, Jan. 12 - The City of McAllen has issued a Fact Sheet on the Anzalduas International Bridge Project.
Here it is:
• Bridge is located in Mission, Texas south of Military Highway and Bryan Road. Crossing is three miles west of the Hidalgo-Reynosa International Bridge, off of Military Highway and Anzalduas Highway (FM 396).

• Anzalduas is the closest international crossing to Mexico City and Monterrey. Route will reduce travel time to Monterrey by 30-45 minutes.

• Anzalduas International Bridge has four entrance lanes, including a SENTRI Lane in the United States. Bridge span is 3.2 miles (5.1 KM) from port to port and features 4 lanes, two safety bump-out spaces, and a pedestrian walkway. Lanes elevated to preserve nearby U.S. Fish and Wildlife Refuge.

• Anzalduas is a joint public project between the cities of McAllen, Mission, Hidalgo and Granjeno, TxDOT, the federal government (GSA) and the Republic of Mexico worth over $100 million dollars.

• In Texas, the Anzalduas International Bridge connects to the McAllen Foreign Trade Zone, where more than 410 companies are based; and the Sharyland Plantation, a 6,000 acre residential, industrial and retail development.

• Dozens of multi-national corporations are located in state of the art industrial areas near Anzalduas’ entry in west Reynosa, MX. The companies include: Nokia, Matsushita, Black and Decker, Fujitsu, Seimens, Corning, TRW and Symbol Technologies

• Anzalduas International Bridge hours of operation: 6 am to 10 pm, daily


Time Line:
1992-1998 Preliminary design and site location studies by Halff and Associates

1994 Wilbur Smith Associates complete traffic study

1994-1998 Review of preliminary application for U.S. Permit by U.S. federal agencies

1995 Four party agreement with federal agencies for land use at site

July 1999 U.S. Presidential Permit issued by President Clinton

Feb 2001 Initial exchange of diplomatic notes with Mexico

Fall 2003 Approval by federal agencies of construction plans

Fall 2007 June 2007, bridge groundbreaking ceremony

Fall of 2009 Anzalduas International Bridge Completed

Anzalduas Bridge Board Summary of Costs from 2007 to 2009:
Bridge Contract to Williams Bros - $28,713, 014

Toll Plaza Building & Landscaping - $3,078,014

Roadways, Drainage & Site Improvements - $3,961,122

Water, Sanitary Sewer Lines - $2,296,078

Furniture, Fixtures & Equipment - $909,011

Electrical Utilities & Lighting - $1,543,206

All other owner’s expense - $2,796,171

Grand Total - $43,296,616

Anzalduas Bridge ushers in new era of trading opportunities, say Valley leaders

Anzalduas Bridge ushers in new era of trading opportunities, say Valley leaders

Rio Grande Guardian

By Staff

Picture: Carlos I. Garza, chairman of the Anzalduas International Bridge Board.

MISSION, Dec. 15 – The opening of the Anzalduas International Bridge on Tuesday will boost trade between Texas and Mexico and improve the border economy, say local political leaders.

“This bridge increases our capacity for cross border trade and traveling to and from Mexico,” said Carlos I. Garza, chairman of the Anzalduas International Bridge Board. “An increase in cross border activity will improve the economies on both sides of the border.”

Anzalduas International Bridge is situated three miles west of the Hidalgo/Reynosa International Bridge, off of Military Highway and Anzalduas Highway (FM 396) in Mission. It connects Mission, Texas, with the west side of Reynosa, Tamaulipas.

The bridge will operate seven days a week from 6 am to 10 pm. Traffic began flowing on the bridge at 6 a.m. on Tuesday. Unless and until a federal permit is obtained, Anzalduas will not be able to handle commercial traffic. It is restricted at this stage to handling non-commercial vehicular traffic. City officials in Pharr have protested Anzalduas obtaining a permit for commercial traffic because their international bridge is yet to hit capacity for such traffic.

The international port of entry includes southbound tolling and administrative facilities. The federal government’s Customs and Border Protection will operate inspection facilities on the northbound lanes. The General Services Administration built the bridge’s federal facilities.

Garza pointed out that Mexico is Texas’ biggest trading partner. He said he expects the Anzalduas route to significantly reduce travel time to the Mexican city of Monterrey, a major manufacturing center and important trade partner for Texas.

The new crossing will cut down commute time for thousands of U.S. workers employed at maquiladoras, manufacturing plants immediately across the border in Mexico, Garza said, pointing out that the span also connects McAllen’s Foreign Trade Zone and the massive Sharyland Plantation development directly to Reynosa’s fast-growing west side and its modern industrial parks.

McAllen Mayor Richard Cortez said the new crossing is the result of intense collaboration on the international, federal, state and local levels and an investment worth more than $100 million. It is a collaborative project between the cities of McAllen, Mission, Hidalgo and Granjeno and a decade in the making.

“The opening of the Anzalduas International Bridge will get us closer to being the destination of choice for international business development and it will make it easier for Mexican tourists to cross more efficiently,” Cortez said. “It is a complement to the many assets we are developing to make our region the choice to many who are seeking quality of life.”

Bringing Anzalduas International Bridge from concept to reality has taken more than a decade. Mission Mayor Norbeto “Beto” Salinas said he was excited to finally be celebrating the bridge’s opening.

“We have been working really hard on this project for the last 12 years along with McAllen, Hidalgo and Granjeno,” Salinas said. “This is going to be very good for our communities, including Mexico; it will stimulate business and tourism for both countries. We built this bridge that will strengthen our ties with our neighbors to the South as well as a stronger economic future for our area.”

Hidalgo Mayor John David Franz also expressed excitement about the completion and opening of the bridge.

“The opening of the Anzalduas International Bridge brings us closer to being the best option for international business development and it facilitates travel for Mexican tourists, allowing faster crossings,” Franz said.

The official bridge inauguration is scheduled for January 2010.

Here is an Anzalduas International Bridge Project Fact Sheet produced by the Anzalduas International Bridge Board:

• Bridge is located in Mission, Texas south of Military Highway and Bryan Road. Crossing is 3 miles west of the Hidalgo-Reynosa International Bridge, off of Military Highway and Anzalduas Highway (FM 396).

• Anzalduas is the closest international crossing to Mexico City and Monterrey. Route will reduce travel time to Monterrey by 30-45 minutes.

• Anzalduas International Bridge has four entrance lanes, including a SENTRI Lane in the United States. Bridge span is 3.2 miles (5.1 KM) from port to port and features 4 lanes, two safety bump-out spaces, and a pedestrian walkway. Lanes elevated to preserve nearby U.S. Fish and Wildlife Refuge.

• Anzalduas is a joint public project between the cities of McAllen, Mission, Hidalgo and Granjeno, TX DOT, the federal government (GSA) and the Republic of Mexico worth over $100 million dollars.

• In Texas, the Anzalduas International Bridge connects to the McAllen Foreign Trade Zone, where more than 410 companies are based; and the Sharyland Plantation, a 6,000 acre residential, industrial and retail development.

• Dozens of multi-national corporations are located in state of the art industrial areas near Anzalduas’ entry in west Reynosa, MX. The companies include: Nokia, Matsushita, Black and Decker, Fujitsu, Seimens, Corning, TRW and Symbol Technologies

• Anzalduas International Bridge hours of operation: 6 am to 10 pm, daily

• Official bridge inauguration is planned for January of 2010


Time Line

1992-1998 Preliminary design and site location studies by Halff and Associates

1994 Wilbur Smith Associates complete traffic study

1994-1998 Review of preliminary application for U.S. Permit by U.S. federal agencies

1995 Four party agreement with federal agencies for land use at site

July 1999 U.S. Presidential Permit issued by President Clinton

Feb 2001 Initial exchange of diplomatic notes with Mexico

Fall 2003 Approval by federal agencies of construction plans

Fall 2007 June 2007, bridge groundbreaking ceremony

Fall of 2009 Anzalduas International Bridge Completed


Anzalduas Bridge Board Summary of Costs from 2007 to 2009

Bridge Contract to Williams Bros - $28,713, 014

Toll Plaza Building & Landscaping - $3,078,014

Roadways, Drainage & Site Improvements - $3,961,122

Water, Sanitary Sewer Lines - $2,296,078

Furniture, Fixtures & Equipment - $909,011

Electrical Utilities & Lighting - $1,543,206

All other owner’s expense - $2,796,171

Grand Total - $43,296,616

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Legendary former McAllen Mayor Othal Brand passes away

Legendary former McAllen Mayor Othal Brand passes away

Rio Grande Guardian

By Steve Taylor and Ron Whitlock

McALLEN, Dec. 12 - McAllen Mayor Richard Cortez and his city commission colleagues have paid their tribute to former Mayor Othal Brand, who died Saturday aged 90.

“On behalf of the City of McAllen, we extend our warmest and sincerest condolences to the Othal Brand, Sr., family. Brand served as a public official in the City of McAllen for 30 years and he still continued to work tirelessly for the McAllen community to make it better,” Cortez said.

“He always said he loved this community and we felt the same about him.”

Brand died peacefully in his sleep at 1.05 a.m. Saturday morning at Rio Grande Regional Hospital in McAllen. His son Othal, Jr., otherwise known as O.E., and his daughter Karen were by his side when he died.

Brand had been flown from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, by air ambulance on Friday at the request of his wife Katherine, better known as Kay, so that he could be back in his beloved Rio Grande Valley.

“Othal’s passing was uneventful and peaceful,” a family member told the Guardian and Ron Whitlock Reports. “He was given a mild sedative at 11 p.m. last night even though he was not in pain. Those at peace with the Lord go peacefully.”


The Brand family went forward with a ceremony Saturday evening at the Valley Christian Heritage School in Alamo to honor Othal Brand, Sr, and Kay Brand. O.E. Brand sang at the event.

Brand served as mayor of the City of Palms for 20 years and many of its business and political leaders say he made the city what it is today, a progressive yet financially stable municipality.

Eddie Zamora, a Republican candidate for Congressional District 15, has worked for Othal Brand Sr. and Jr. for the past five years.

“McAllen, the Rio Grande Valley, Texas, America lost a very good patriot, a good conservative, an American. He served his country, as did his wife, admirably in World War II. He was boxing champion in the Marine Corps back in 1942,” Zamora said.

“In fact, when I started working there five years ago he was still working out on the punching bags. He was a go-getter.”

Anthony Covacevich, a former Weslaco city manager who now works for Hollis Rutledge & Associates, said: “Whether you agreed with him or not, Othal Brand always had the best interests of McAllen in his heart.”

Brand was flown to the Mayo Clinic two weeks ago for tests and observations after Valley doctors found three liters of fluid on his left lung. Discussing the visit, O.E. Brand said: “It is called old age. My father jokingly said to me the other day, ‘the body is no different to a machine, eventually it just wears out’.”

Earlier this year, state Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, D-McAllen, passed a resolution in the legislature honoring Mayor Brand.

As well as serving as mayor of McAllen for 20 years, Brand was a founder of Griffin & Brand, a McAllen firm specializing in growing and shipping fruits and vegetables.

Up until his death Brand served in elected office, as a member of the Hidalgo County Water Control and Improvement District No. 3 in McAllen. He served on the board with his son and another former McAllen Mayor, Leo Montalvo.

Brand was recognized with a Resolution by the City of McAllen at a meeting last January. The proclamation read as follows:

Whereas, Othal E. Brand Sr. (Mayor Brand) was the eldest of six children born to Homer and Ilee Brand (both deceased) on August 12, 1919 in Grayson, Georgia. Mayor Brand was raised in Atlanta where he was exposed to the fruit and vegetable industry at an early age following his father’s footsteps. Mayor Brand and his brother Bill, began peddling produce at an early age and with hard work and determination, established their produce business as Brand Brothers Produce of Atlanta, Georgia; and

Whereas, in 1941, Mayor Brand enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and served during World War II. Upon his return from the war in the early 1950’s, Mayor Brand rebuilt the produce business and later partnered with Jack Griffin to establish Griffin & Brand of McAllen, a major refrigeration, packing and distribution center. Mayor Brand became a leading figure in the Texas vegetable industry and one of the nation’s largest vegetable producers, processors and shippers and in 2004, he was inducted into the Texas Heritage Hall of Honor for his significant contributions to agriculture and ranching in Texas; and

Whereas, in 1973, Mayor Brand was elected City Commissioner of the City of McAllen and in 1977 was elected Mayor, where he served continuously for 20 years until 1997. Through his leadership and vision, he was instrumental in establishing the McAllen Economic Development Corporation and the Boys & Girls Clubs of McAllen and planned for McAllen’s future by acquiring land for future growth. Mayor Brand served on numerous boards and committees both on the local and state levels; and

Whereas, citizens of McAllen give credit to some of the city’s evolution to Mayor Brand as during his tenure in office, the city flourished economically as seen in infrastructure and placed McAllen on the map as a thriving city; and

Whereas, Mayor Brand has been married to Kathryn Louise since 1945 and they have four children: Lynn, Karyn, Cynthia, and Othal Jr. They also have numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren; and

Whereas, the City of McAllen hereby extends their most sincere gratitude to Othal Brand Sr. for his leadership and commitment toward the betterment of this great city;

Now therefore, I, Richard Cortez, Mayor of the City of McAllen, Texas by virtue of the authority vested in me and on behalf of the Mayor and the City Commission, do hereby proclaim January 26, 2009 as

“Mayor Othal Brand Day”

Ron Whitlock of KVEO-TV's Ron Whitlock Reports contributed to this story.

Send your tributes to Othal Brand to updates@riograndeguardian.com.

Write Steve Taylor and Ron Whitlock

Peña: Santana Textiles manufacturing plant propels Edinburg into the global marketplace

Peña: Santana Textiles manufacturing plant propels Edinburg into the global marketplace

By Steve Taylor

Rio Grande Guardian

Click Here for Full Article

Picture: State Representative Aaron Peña, D-Edinburg. (File photo: RGG/Steve Taylor)

EDINBURG, Nov. 25 - When state Rep. Aaron Peña, D-Edinburg, was growing up he used to sell copies of the Edinburg Review on street corners.

Remembering back to those days he always thought of his hometown as a sleepy little college town, totally divorced from the hustle and bustle of big cities like Houston and Monterrey.

He now believes all that has changed and the realization that Edinburg is very much part of the global economy was reinforced this week when he participated in high level discussions in the Governor’s Office in Austin over plans to bring a state-of-the-art denim manufacturing plant owned by Brazil-based Santana Textiles to his city.

“We had an amazing series of meetings in Austin. The meetings were complex and sometimes technical and I came to realize just how much my community is affected by the global marketplace,” Peña said.

“The number of countries affected by this single enterprise is truly global. We will be using cotton from Texas. We will be exporting to markets all over the globe. We talked about China, Europe, Argentina. It really struck me that Edinburg is now in a global economy and we are no longer some provincial little town in deep South Texas.”

Gov. Rick Perry visited the University of Texas-Pan American in July 2008 to announce the state of Texas would be investing $1.65 million from the Texas Enterprise Fund to lure Santana Textiles to Edinburg. He said the $180 million manufacturing plant would employ 800 people when fully operational.

Many Edinburg residents have questioned whether the project would go ahead because since Perry’s announcement things appear to have gone cold, with little sign of construction.

Peña assured the Guardian that things are very much on track and that the series of meetings in the Governor’s Office on Monday were designed to put the finishing touches to the financial part of the project.

“The Santana project is on target. You have to remember that the world has changed since July 2008. So many of the variables have changed - the economy has changed, the markets have changed. And so, the general financing mix has had to be changed. All sides are making the necessary adjustments to bring this to fruition,” Peña said.

Peña said the Santana Textiles plant in Edinburg would change the complexion of the denim manufacturing market because of the revolutionary technology being installed by the company.

“They have a unique niche in the global marketplace because of the specialized technology they have,” Peña said. “But there is more to the story than just that. There is the aspect that this plant is being built in Texas using Texas cotton. We are affording them national security. It was mentioned in the meeting that we are in effect creating a reverse-maquila.”

Among those in the series of meetings were Santana representatives, Edinburg Mayor Richard Garcia, newly-appointed Edinburg City Manager Ramiro Garza, Texas Economic Development Bank CFO Michael Chrobak, Michael Bryant, an assistant general counsel in the Governor’s Office, and Jerry Haddican, from state Sen. Juan Hinojosa’s Austin office.

“I have to acknowledge the depth of knowledge Ramiro Garza has for this project,” Peña said. “I was very impressed with his presentation. He knows the project and all the financial aspects. This confirms to me that he was a great pick for city manager.”

Garza was heavily involved in bringing Santana to Edinburg in his previous capacity as executive director of the Edinburg Economic Development Corporation.

Peña acknowledged the meetings in the Governor’s Office were complex and technical at times. “We discussed production details, global economics, market share, labor costs, transportation costs, economic stability. It was really absorbing,” he said.

The City of Edinburg now has a population of 71,520, a 48 percent increase on the 2000 Census count. If current trends continue and an accurate count is taken in the 2010 Census, Edinburg could have a population of 78,000 in 2010. If the same growth pattern continues, the city could have a population of 100,000 by 2015.

These statistics reinforce Peña’s observation that the Edinburg of old has gone forever.

“I come from a little town where I used to sell newspapers on the streets. Back then we really were incubated from Houston and Monterrey. I realize we are now in the thick of it. It is amazing,” he said. He said a major reason things have changed is the growth in trade between Texas and Mexico.

“This is the unique thing about South Texas. We are like the finger that dips deep into Mexico. We are bicultural. We are bilingual. The discussions we had in the Governor’s Office were in Spanish and in English and many of the many Anglos in the room spoke Spanish,” Peña said.

“It was very apparent to me that we...

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Rene Ramirez appointed interim Hidalgo County Judge

Rene Ramirez appointed interim Hidalgo County Judge

Rio Grnade Cuardian

By Joey Gomez
EDINBURG, Oct. 27 - Hidalgo County Commissioners Court has appointed Rene Ramirez, chief of staff to state Sen. Juan Hinojosa, as interim County Judge.

Ramirez takes over from J.D. Salinas, who resigned Monday in readiness to take up a position Region 7 Administrator with the General Services Administration.

"I am deeply honored. I take this position very seriously," Ramirez told the Guardian, in a phone interview.

Once he is sworn into office, Ramirez will be head of county government in the sixth largest county in Texas until January, 2001. Asked what his main attributes for the job are, Ramirez said: "I have an understanding of government both on a state and federal level and am able to communicate with people. I want to continue the good work of Judge Salinas."

Salinas was on the dais at Commissioners Court on Tuesday afternoon, even though he handed in his resignation Monday. Salinas participated in the vote for his temporary successor.

Salinas, along with County Commissioners Tito Palacios, Oscar Garza and Sylvia Handy voted for Ramirez. County Commissioner Joey Flores did not. Handy later rescinded her vote saying she thought she was voting for Rene Ramirez, the Pharr attorney.

Earlier in the day, McAllen attorney Rick Schell was unsuccessful in his bid to get an injunction against Commissioners Court taking a vote today. Schell filed the injunction in state District Judge Noe Gonzalez’s District 370 Court in Hidalgo County on behalf of Weslaco resident Servanto Herraro.

Schell did not believe Salinas had the authority to participate in the vote having already resigned.

“Judge Gonzalez denied the injunction on pretty technical legal arguments,” Schell told the Guardian via a text message.

The Guardian will have more on this developing story later today.

Updated: Salinas hands in his resignation as Hidalgo County Judge

Updated: Salinas hands in his resignation as Hidalgo County Judge

Rio Grande Guardian

By Joey Gomez and Steve Taylor

Photo: J.D. Salinas submitted his resignation as Hidalgo County Judge on Monday, effective immediately. (File photo: RGG/Steve Taylor)

EDINBURG, Oct. 26 - Hidalgo County Judge J.D. Salinas has handed in his resignation, effective immediately, according to a letter posted on the county’s Web site.

The letter, dated Oct. 26, was sent to County Clerk Arturo Guajardo by Salinas. Guajarado’s office has a date and time stamp on the letter of 1.33 p.m., Oct. 26.

The letter states:

Dear Mr. Guajardo,

I hereby resign as County Judge of Hidalgo County, effective immediately. As you know, I will soon assume the office of Regional Administrator of the U.S. General Services Administration. I resign in anticipation of my induction into that office.

It has been my distinct honor to server the people of Hidalgo County first as their County Clerk and then as County Judge. I appreciate their support, and look forward to serving them in my new capacity as well.
Thank you.

Sincerely,
J.D. Salinas III.
CC: Commissioners Court

Salinas could not be reached for comment on Monday. Annette C. Muñiz, chief deputy with the County Clerk's office confirmed to the Guardian that Salinas tendered his resignation on Monday afternoon. Salinas will present his resignation at County Commissioner's Court on Tuesday afternoon at 1:30 p.m.

An addendum agenda for Tuesday’s regular Commissioners Court meeting that has been posted on the County’s Web site has Salinas’ letter of resignation as an attachment. Click here to read the agenda. The agenda states that Commissioners Court will take up the matter of an interim county judge on Tuesday.

At a news conference on Friday, Salinas said he would stay on as county judge for a couple of weeks to ensure a smooth transition while a interim judge is selected.

Although Salinas has resigned, effective immediately, he will still be able to participate in the vote for an interim county judge. The law provides that the county judge, even after resigning, can vote on his/her successor. The vacancy, from a legal perspective, exists until the next person takes the oath.

There has been speculation that County Commissioners Joe Flores and Sylvia Handy would like to see former County Judge Ramon Garcia installed as interim county judge. Garcia has already announced he is running for county judge in next year’s elections. If elected, Garcia would take over the helm of the sixth largest county in Texas in January 2011.

There has been speculation that the other two County Commissioners, Tito Palacios and Oscar Garza, would like to see Rene Ramirez, chief of staff to state Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, D-McAllen, installed as interim county judge. With Salinas still able to cast a vote, Ramirez looks favorite to succeed him, albeit in a temporary capacity.

Former Hidalgo County Democratic Party Chair Bobby Guerra told the Guardian last week that he would be honored to serve as county judge for the interim.

Unconfirmed reports over the weekend had Palacios coming under pressure to go with Garcia as interim county judge. Palacios’ brother, Pharr Mayor Polo Palacios, has endorsed Garcia for county judge.

The White House announced Friday that Salinas would start as administrator for Region 7 at the GSA on Nov. 9. Region 7 covers the states of Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. It is headquartered out of Fort Worth.

The General Services Administration is the federal agency that looks after federal property. According to the GSA’s Web site, the agency’s mission statement is to leverage the buying power of the federal government to acquire best value for taxpayers and its federal customers. “We exercise responsible asset management. We deliver superior workplaces, quality acquisition services, and expert business solutions. We develop innovative and effective management policies,” the statement says.

In the past, Hidalgo County Republican Party Chairman Hollis Rutledge has been a regional director of the GSA. Serving under the first President Bush, Rutledge looked after 11 states. He was senior executive services administrator and manager of GSA Region 7 for three and a half years.

Salinas is a graduate of La Joya High School. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Texas A&M University and a Masters in Public Administration from the University of Texas Pan American. Salinas was elected Hidalgo County Clerk in 1998 and re-elected in 2002. In 2004, he was Texas County Clerk of the Year by his peers. Before winning elected office, Salinas was chief South Texas liaison to former State Comptroller John Sharp.

The Texas Border Coalition issued a statement on Monday praising the Obama Administration for selecting Salinas as GSA administrator for Region 7.

Editor's Note: This story has been amended from the first edition to reflect new information about who might vote for interim county judge.

Salinas' first gig as GSA administrator will be TBC conference in Laredo

Salinas' first gig as GSA administrator will be TBC conference in Laredo

Rio Grande Guardian

By Joey Gomez and Steve Taylor

EDINBURG, Oct. 24 - J.D. Salinas says his first official engagement as administrator for Region 7 at the General Services Administration will be a Texas Border Coalition conference in Laredo on Nov. 13.

Salinas made the announcement at a news conference called Friday afternoon to confirm he was stepping down as Hidalgo County Judge to accept a post in the Obama Administration. He starts work for the federal government on Nov. 9.

“It’s a great honor to have been asked to serve. I accept with pleasure and with great hopes for fulfilling the agency’s vision of achieving excellence in business of government,” Salinas said.

The Texas Border Coalition’s conference is titled ‘Balancing Security, Trade and Travel: A Looming Crisis at U.S. Ports of Entry.’ It takes place at Laredo Community College on Nov. 13.

As Region 7 Administrator, Salinas will, among many other things, oversee the procurement and supervision of federal resources for some of the nation’s busiest inland ports of entry. Region 7 covers the states of Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. It is headquartered out of Fort Worth.

As the title of the TBC conference implies, Texas border mayors are particularly concerned that ports of entry are not receiving the funding levels necessary to keep up with growth in international trade. About 80 percent of U.S. trade with Mexico goes through Texas ports. Bottlenecks at the ports are hampering international commerce, the lifeblood of border communities, Texas border mayors have long argued.

“I’m sure I will listen to a lot of the mayors there about some of the things… about how they feel,” Salinas said, referring to the TBC’s upcoming conference.

Salinas speculated that the White House may have factored in the fast growing border region when making their decision to appoint him a regional GSA administrator.

“I’m glad they recognized that it takes someone from here to know the area. The southwest border is growing fast. I grew up here and I know the area well,” he said.

Salinas said his appointment to the GSA would not have been possible without the strong support of U.S. Reps. Rubén Hinojosa, D-Mercedes, Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, and Solomon Ortiz, D-Corpus Christi. In April, they secured the endorsement of the Texas congressional delegation to recommend Salinas to the White House. “I say thank you, thank you, thank you,” Salinas said, referencing the three South Texas congressmen.

Salinas looked a little tired at the news conference. He acknowledged it was a “bittersweet” moment to be leaving Hidalgo County government to take up the GSA post. He first went to work at the county courthouse as an administrative assistant to the county judge in 1991. At age 29 he was elected county clerk in 1998 and in 2004was honored by his peers as Texas County Clerk of the Year. More than once at the press conference, Salinas called county employees his “family.”

“It’s a bittersweet moment in my life personally and my wife Janie and the kids but my father always said, ‘you’ve got to minimize missed opportunities’,” Salinas said. “I am really honored that the White House selected me and my family to serve in this capacity. I think it is a voice for South Texas and a good opportunity for us to be directly involved in the policy making of some of the decisions that get made federally.”

Salinas thanked his colleagues on Hidalgo County Commissioners’ Court for their work on many “extraordinary projects” that have benefited not just the county but South Texas generally. He said millions of dollars have been secured for first responder vehicles, economic development planning, disaster relief, new trails and ‘green’ projects.

Salinas noted that the Prescription Discount Card that the county kicked off last year has helped save half a million dollars for local residents, particularly those who struggle to buy medicines because of a lack of insurance.

Salinas said the region was closer to getting an interstate quality highway after the county helped secure $115 million for removing bottlenecks along U.S. 281. He also predicted economic prosperity would flow from the decision to fund the Education First project because employers would have a more talented workforce. The recent formation of the Rio South Texas Economic Council would also help, Salinas said. A regional alliance of 18 stakeholders across the four-county Valley region, the RSTEC plans to market the region nationally and internationally to help attract new investment.

One of the most controversial projects in Hidalgo County while Salinas has been county judge has been the construction of a series of concrete levee walls. If the levees had not been fixed the county would have been at great risk of the Rio Grande flooding in the aftermath of a hurricane or tropical storm. FEMA was threatening to issue new maps showing the county in a flood zone. As well as deterring new investment, designating much of the county as flood prone would have resulted in much higher flood insurance for residents and businesses.

Over the years the federal government had been allocating small amounts of money to the International Boundary and Water Commission to fix the levees. At the rate the money was coming in, the IBWC would have taken decades to rehabilitate the levees. Salinas and the county commissioners took a bold step. They agreed to enter into an agreement with the Bush Administration to speed up repair of the levees through construction of concrete walls, which satisfied the Department of Homeland Security’s push to erect stronger border barriers to deter illegal immigration and drug smuggling. The agreement required Hidalgo County to spend millions of local tax dollars that was to have gone towards drainage repairs. The county is still waiting for Congress to reimburse it.

“I’m proud to have also worked and accomplished on the levee barrier rehabilitation project by forming an historic partnership with local, state and federal leaders,” Salinas said of the project. “We get over $300 million of funding to fix the levees, avoid a border fence; protect residents from the threat of flooding and (having) to pay mandatory flood insurance.”

Salinas pointed out that the Texas Association of Counties recently awarded Hidalgo County a Best Practices Award for the innovative way it had secured funding for the levee-wall project and the speed at which the project got moving. The county received two Best Practices awards from the TAC during Salinas’ time as county judge. It had never previously been honored in this way.

The business community in particular was pleased with the way the levees were repaired so quickly. Last December, McAllen Chamber of Commerce President Steve Ahlenius presented Salinas with the Chamber’s Teddy Roosevelt Award. “Twenty five years from now, people are going to say thank goodness people had enough foresight today to fix the levees,” Ahlenius said, at a luncheon honoring Salinas.

Environmentalists and some landowners are less happy with the levee-wall project. Eloisa Tamez, a landowner in Cameron County, said of Salinas’ appointment to the GSA: “So after we give land away to the federal government, we can get a position to look over federal land. Not bad.”

Salinas said he would continue to serve as county judge for the next few weeks, during which time he and county commissioners will appoint an interim county judge. Voters will elect a new county judge next year. That person will assume responsibilities in January 2011.

When Salinas defeated incumbent County Judge Ramon Garcia in 2006 he argued that the position required full-time attention. He made the same point at Friday’s press conference, stating that a “full time” county judge was needed to ensure that the county budget is balanced and every county department gets the resources it needs.

“I am confident great things will continue to happen in Hidalgo County, especially if you continue with a full-time county judge,” Salinas said.

Asked by a reporter about that comment, Salinas said: “I’m not going to lie to you. This office took a lot of time. But it was very, very, enjoyable and educational.”

 

IBWC awards $20.9 million Valley levee contract to Ballenger Construction

IBWC awards $20.9 million Valley levee contract to Ballenger Construction

Rio Grande Guardian

By Joey Gomez and Steve Taylor

Picture: Bill Ruth, U.S. commissioner at the IBWC, is slated to speak to members of the IBWC's Lower Rio Grande Citizens Forum in Mercedes on Wednesday.

MERCEDES, Oct. 19 - The U.S. Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission has awarded a construction contract worth $20.9 million for rehabilitation of Lower Rio Grande Flood Control Project levees.

The announcement was made just two days before the IBWC’s Lower Rio Grande Citizens Forum meets in Mercedes.

The contract has gone to Ballenger Construction Company of Harlingen to construct 48 miles of levee improvements along the North Floodway and Arroyo Colorado in Hidalgo and Cameron counties. In accordance with the contract, Ballenger Construction Company will furnish all labor, materials, and equipment for the levee construction.

In a statement, IBWC said the work will provide enhanced flood protection for the communities of Weslaco, Mercedes, La Villa, and La Feria.

The funding comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The Recovery Act includes $220 million for USIBWC levee projects. IBWC expects to award all its federal stimulus dollars for construction contracts in the Valley by the end of 2009. Construction should be complete by the end of 2010.

IBWC said it is raising the levee height and making structural improvements to bring the levee into compliance with standards established by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for the 100-year flood. Construction is expected to be completed by September 2010. Construction contracts were previously awarded for the Banker North Floodway and the Main Floodway.

The Recovery Act funding has enabled IBWC to accelerate work on its aging Rio Grande flood control system in Texas and New Mexico to provide adequate flood protection for over three million U.S. residents. Before the stimulus money became available, Congress was only providing about $20 million a year for Valley levee rehabilitation work.

When the federal stimulus dollars for the Valley levee projects were first announced last May, local elected officials said the projects would create nearly 5,000 jobs and $508 million in economic impact.

U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, along with Hidalgo County officials held a news conference to celebrate the start of a $110 million injection of stimulus funds to complete more than 100 miles of levee restoration on the border.

“This project is a sweeping, bold, and decisive step that will create jobs right away and strengthen the economy in the Rio Grande Valley for years to come. Nearly 5,000 jobs to be created as a result of the levee construction, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is living up to what it was intended to do – to stimulate the economy,” Cuellar said.

“This historical and unprecedented infusion of federal dollars to the Rio Grande Valley is an indication of the great working relationships between local, state, and federal governments.

Cuellar said that once fully operational, the levees will protect life and property. “You provide security to our community by business community and others knowing that the levees will protect them from flooding,” he said.

Another additional benefit, Cuellar said, is the saving of millions, maybe even billions of dollars, over a period of time in insurance premiums.

The event took place at the Birding Center Nature Park located on the grounds of the historic Hidalgo Pump House.

Hidalgo County Judge J.D. Salinas released an economic impact study, commissioned by his office and conducted by Sai Mullapudi of the University of Texas-Pan American’s Data & Information Systems Center Division of Community Engagement.

Salinas said the study indicates that the entire levee rehabilitation project, when complete, will produce nearly 5,000 local jobs and generate $508 million in economic impact.

“The infusion of federal funds and the fusion of our ideas have made Hidalgo County a better place all around,” Salinas said. “This levee project saves lives, protects property and, may well be considered the ultimate stimulus package for our county. In this time of stress and hardship, this is some good news that uplifts our community to know that we are helping to create jobs and keep the economy strong.”

The next meeting of IBWC’s Lower Rio Grande Citizens Forum takes place on Wednesday at the IBWC’s Mercedes office from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. At the meeting, engineer Larry Voice and flood insurance specialist Linda Delamare from FEMA’s regional office in Denton, Texas will discuss the current effort to update Flood Insurance Rate Maps. The maps will be used to determine flood risk, applicable flood insurance requirements, and flood insurance rates for property owners.

Prior to the FEMA presentation, IBWC U.S. Commissioner Bill Ruth will make brief remarks to welcome new Lower Rio Grande Citizens Forum board members. Ruth appointed new board members in September. This is the first meeting of the newboard.

At the same meeting, IBWC Public Affairs Officer Sally Spener will give an overview of Commission responsibilities and will review the duties of the Lower Rio Grande Citizens Forum Board. IBWC Area Operations Manager Rodolfo Montero will present nformation about the Commission’s current activities in the Valley, including operation and maintenance of the Lower Rio Grande Flood Control Project, work on the Morillo Drain salinity control project, and operation of diversion dams.

IBWC provides regular public updates on its planning and spending of Recovery Act funds at http://www.recovery.govand%20www.state.gov/recovery. An updated project schedule is available at http://www.ibwc.gov/Files/LRG_Schedule.pdf.

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Oberstar's whirlwind tour of Cameron County a big success, say officials

Oberstar's whirlwind tour of Cameron County a big success, say officials
Rio Grande Guardian

By Steve Taylor

Picture: U.S. Rep. James Oberstar, D-Minnesota, (left) visits the 'Mexican side' of the border wall at Hope Park in Brownsville.

BROWNSVILLE, Oct. 19 - Local political leaders say a whirlwind tour of Cameron County by a key U.S. House committee chairman will produce tremendous short and long term benefits for the area.

U.S. Rep. James Oberstar, chairman of House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, paid his first visit to the Rio Grande Valley on Sunday, as a guest of U.S. Rep. Solomon Ortiz, D-Corpus Christi.

“It was a brilliant day for Cameron County,” said Cameron County Commissioner David Garza. “Chairman Oberstar was totally impressed by the partnerships we have with our friends in Mexico and by the important projects we are working on. We told him we are not waiting for handouts. Rather we are getting things done with public and private partnerships.”

Oberstar, D-Minnesota, landed in Harlingen just before 11 a.m. on Sunday morning. Over the next 12 hours he visited the Port of Brownsville, the Fun N Sun RV Resort in San Benito, the Brownsville-South Padre Island International Airport, the Veterans International Bridge at Los Tomates, the West Railroad Project, the downtown Brownsville Levee Project and observed construction of the border fence at Hope Park in Brownsville, the Cameron County floodway system, the Bahia Grande wetland restoration project, and the potential site of the second causeway. Ortiz and the Cameron County leaders even found time to throw a fundraiser for Oberstar at the Sea Ranch Restaurant on South Padre Island.

Possibly the most important aspect of the tour, given that Oberstar chairs the transportation committee, was discussion on funding for I-69.

“Our meeting on I-69 was most productive. We discussed our application for Tiger grants,” Garza said. “Many people do not realize that Chairman Oberstar was in Congress as a committee clerk before he entered Congress so he has been involved in transportation issues for 40 years. This gentleman was a working encyclopedia in terms of information on the interstate system and the politics on why some areas of the country do not have interstate.”

Cameron County Judge Carlos Cascos emphasized the need for an interstate and the need to bring more jobs and infrastructure to the area. “We have four modes of transportation in Cameron County – highway, rail, maritime and air – and we need to take advantage of that,” Cascos told Oberstar.

Ortiz said Oberstar’s visit will unquestionably boost Cameron County’s chances of obtaining federal funding for transportation and infrastructure-related projects.

“Chairman Oberstar was kind enough to join us in South Texas this weekend so he could hear first-hand from community, county and state representatives about the needs of our community,” Ortiz said. “I am thankful he was able to join us as we visited some of the most important on-going and future projects that are in need of funding or reauthorizations.”

Garza said because the border wall is not finished in Hope Park, Oberstar was able to go around to the “Mexican side” of the fence. “It is one of those things where you are either in jail or out of jail,” Garza said.

Garza said there was also discussion about Cameron County’s growth projections. In 2000 the Census Bureau said the county’s population was around 330,000. Garza said he believes the 2010 Census Bureau figures will show the county’s population to be more than 400,000. “Chairman Oberstar told us that if you wait for things to happen in Congress you can wait 40 or 50 years. He told us to be proactive and was, I think, very impressed with our vision,” Garza said.

David Allex, chair of the Cameron County Regional Mobility Authority, pointed out the urgency of addressing projected growth patterns over the next 20 to 30 years. “In the year 2040 the population in our area will be in excess of seven to ten million. We need to start working to address mobility, congestion and economic development for the benefit of future generations today not tomorrow,” Allex said..

Garza said he liked the phrase Ortiz coined at the dinner for Oberstar. “Congressman Ortiz said we are sitting on a goldmine in Cameron County and that all we need are the tools to get it out of the ground and use it. I agree with that. My phrase is: ‘the stars are aligned.”

Among those who visited with Oberstar on the tour were Garza, Cascos, Allex, TxDOT Pharr District Engineer Mario Jorge, Port of Brownsville CEO Eduardo A. Campirano, Port of Brownsville Chair Carlos Masso, Port of Brownsville Commissioner Ralph Cowen, and Cameron County Bridge Director Pete Sepulveda, Jr.

Oberstar said he was impressed with everyone and everything he saw on the whirlwind tour.

“Today, community leaders in South Texas reaffirmed to me the needs this community has,” Oberstar said. “This community is rich in culture and history, and I will do all I can to help the continued growth and development of this area.”

Write Steve Taylor