Residents urge formal MPO review, question county role in Regional Mobility Authority projects

BRYAN, Texas — Residents told the Brazos County Commissioner's Court on Aug. 5 that the county should seek a formal review of the thoroughfare plan to remove the proposed Inner East Loop and that the court should clarify whether it will support the Brazos County Regional Mobility Authority (RMA) financially or administratively.

Precinct 2 resident Christine Schimek summarized the local planning history and said the MPO — the Metropolitan Planning Organization that covers Bryan–College Station — “develops plans, coordinates a transportation planning process,” and that an RMA was created after a 2019 minute order from the Texas Transportation Commission. Schimek asked whether the county intends to provide “creative financing” for the RMA despite voters rejecting funding for some RMA proposals.

Why it matters: The Inner East Loop and related RMA projects have been the focus of months of local debate. If the county or an RMA provides fiscal or personnel support, those choices could affect project scope, timing and whether large capital projects move forward.

Residents and citizens gave specific process requests and timeline estimates. Precinct 2 resident Kyle Greenwood said he met with a state transportation official and with MPO staff and was told the MPO review process to remove a road from the thoroughfare concept would begin with a formal written request and could take “approximately 8 to 12 months.” Greenwood urged that when the county or a community group files such a request it be made public by a press release or social media post.

Schimek reviewed RMA history in her comments, noting a 2019 minute order allowing formation of the RMA and that a 2021 House bill she cited was associated with a failed funding referendum. She asked whether the county’s general counsel–drafted fiscal and personnel management agreement under consideration at an upcoming RMA board meeting would allow Brazos County to serve as the RMA’s fiscal and personnel agent and make the RMA “a county subdivision for the purposes of benefits and other finance related cost savings.”

Multiple speakers referenced imagery and conceptual designs on the RMA website, and Schimek cited a 2018 project estimate she said was “2,000,000,000” and asked whether those concepts — including an underground University Drive — would still be pursued and at what cost.

There was no vote or formal court action on the Inner East Loop at the Aug. 5 meeting. Commenters asked the court to ensure transparency: making any written MPO removal request public, clarifying the county’s role vis-à-vis the RMA and detailing potential fiscal implications before the RMA moves forward with agreements.

Ending: Court members did not take formal action specific to the Inner East Loop during the public comment period. Citizens may follow MPO and RMA agendas; Kyle Greenwood said the RMA was scheduled to hold a regular board meeting the week after the court meeting.