EAST LOOP NOT "DEAD" ACCORDING TO MPO DEPUTY DIRECTOR VALLEJO

Alfonso Vallejo, MPO Deputy Director 

In a city workshop December 18, 2018, Pedro Alvarez from the Texas Department of Transportation, Pharr District, made it plain that the so-called East Loop project was NOT in the 10 year plan for the Brownsville MPO.

That was significant because, according to Alvarez, items included in an individual MPO's 10 year plan would be "guaranteed" should that MPO merge to form a regional MPO entity.

In one of his finer moments as a city commissioner, Commissioner Ricardo Longoria, Jr. challenged Alvarez about the much needed project to divert 18 wheelers from International Boulevard and the South Padre Island Highway(Highway48).  Rick said he was "tired of the runaround" from TxDot and indicated that Mayor Martinez would be opposed to the proposed merger of the three RGV MPOs unless the East Loop was  included.

Well, guess what?  In the last MPO meeting that I attended, with MPO Director Mark Lund absent, Deputy Director Alfonso Vallejo mentioned the East Loop as one of the projects involved in the planning.  

So, when I saw Vallejo last night at the "State of the City" event, I asked him about the East Loop.

"Do you remember Pedro Alvarez from TxDot saying the East Loop was not in the Brownsville MPOs 10 year plan?"  I asked Vallejo.

"Yes, I remember that," responded Vallejo.  "But, that's not correct."

"It is in the plan, but politics stopped it some years ago," continued Vallejo.

"Alvarez also stated that any projects in an individual MPOs 10 year plan would be guaranteed if there was a merger," I said.

"That's incorrect also," replied Vallejo.  "But, the East Loop is in our plans."