AUSTIN, TX -- Today, the Texas Transportation Commission (TxDOT) recommended $150 million in funding for the US 83/US 281 Interchange project in the Rio Grande Valley. The monies will come from TxDOT under the 2017 Unified Transportation Program which authorizes projects for construction, development and planning activities and includes projects involving highways, aviation, public transportation, and state and coastal waterways.

Senator Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa issued the following statement:

"It's exciting news that the Rio Grande Valley has been recommended by TxDOT to receive $150 million in funding. As one of the fastest growing areas of the state, infrastructure is key to continue the economic growth of the Rio Grande Valley. The Pharr Interchange is critical to the flow of traffic of the economies of Pharr, Edinburg, McAllen, Mission, and Weslaco.

Since last year I have made the Pharr Interchange project a top legislative priority. This funding is critical to improve our transportation system and infrastructure need that will greatly benefit our local communities. It will address the congestion and bottlenecks that presently exists.

We have had many meetings with our local elected officials, the Governor's office, TxDOT staff and leadership, including Chairman Tryon Lewis and James Bass who made a visit to the Rio Grande Valley.

Thank you to the leadership of Pharr Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez, Hidalgo County Judge Ramon Garcia, the Valley legislative delegation and the Hidalgo County MPO for working together to achieve such great success for our region. The strong local support and investment into these projects from our local communities played a key role in successfully obtaining these funds."

Pharr Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez also issued the following statement:

"As Mayor of Pharr and Vice-Chair of the regional Hidalgo County Metropolitan Planning Organization, transportation and infrastructure improvements have been my top priority. Over the past 18 months, I have used my position to impress upon our local leaders, our state officials, and our federal partners the importance of bringing resources to South Texas to meet the demand of our growing communities.

"We have worked as a regional consortium with a long-term strategy to show that our area has the vision, the knowledge, and the commitment to plan, coordinate and implement viable, regional transportation and infrastructure projects and attract necessary funding to get them done. I am pleased that our state legislature, especially our State Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, House Transportation Vice-Chair Representative Armando “Mando” Martinez, and the entire South Texas delegation, as well as the Texas Transportation Commission, have recognized the importance of projects such as the I-69 Interchange Expansion. On behalf of our citizens, I thank them for their support."

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