Cameron County Commissioners Court on Oct. 7 approved a contract to buy Union Pacific Railroad Company’s ownership interest in the Brownsville and Matamoros (B&M) international bridge and authorized county staff to complete closing steps and related documents.

County Judge Trevino opened the presentation and staff described the purchase as a unique transaction that will require additional legal and international approvals. “If Cameron County approves the agreement, then our next steps would be to collaborate with Mexico to dissolve the B and M Bridge Company and negotiate an operating agreement … and confirm approval with the United States Department of State for the transfer of ownership of this international bridge,” a county legal adviser said during the presentation.

The court’s legal team and outside counsel reviewed corporate and tax records and a structural inspection before advising the court that the proposed agreement is lawful and within the court’s authority. Commissioner Sophie Benavides made the motion to approve the purchase agreement and Commissioner Joey Lopez seconded. The motion carried unanimously.

County staff described the sale as historically singular: staff said the transaction would be the first time a binational company jointly owned by a U.S. railroad and a Mexican entity was dissolved so a U.S. county could become an owner alongside Mexico. The purchase contract presented to the court carried contract number 2025C10503.

Officials said additional approvals will be required after the county buys Union Pacific’s shares: the county must coordinate with Mexican authorities to dissolve the private company that operated the bridge and must obtain U.S. federal clearance, including Department of State authorization, before the county’s ownership can be finalized. The county’s presentation stressed this is a multistep process rather than an immediate operational change.

County staff framed the acquisition as part of a broader, long-term investment in the county’s international bridge system, alongside ongoing Gateway Bridge modernization and planning for a pedestrian bridge and a new Florida-Mayo crossing. Presenters said the county expects to integrate the bridge into its interoperable Fuego toll tag system managed by the Cameron County Regional Mobility Authority.

The court did not disclose the purchase price during the public presentation. County staff and counsel said negotiations and closing steps will continue as required by the purchase agreement and by international and federal procedures.

The court’s approval authorizes the county judge and staff to sign documents and take the necessary steps to effect the transaction; further legal and federal approvals were described as prerequisites to a completed ownership transfer.