Commissioners greenlight negotiations with RRP for Roma suspension‑bridge engineering work

The Starr County Commissioners Court voted to begin negotiations with RRP Consulting Engineers LLC to provide professional engineering services for rehabilitation work on the suspension bridge in Roma and potential related work at the nearby port of entry.

County staff and members of a selection committee said the procurement will use previously allocated grant/earmarked funds from the Texas Department of Transportation. "TxDOT has that money ready," a county presenter said during the discussion, adding the funds would be used to cover engineering costs. Reyna Guerra, a member of the selection committee, told the court that three proposals were submitted and the committee found RRP to be the most qualified for the project: "we did find that, our RRP was most qualified in, this type of projects that is gonna be utilized for our bridge," Guerra said.

The court moved and seconded approval to begin negotiations with RRP; commissioners voted to approve the committee recommendation. The project has been on hold for three to four years, staff said, and the goal is to engage a firm that can start the engineering scope required to advance both bridge rehabilitation and possible conversion of a pedestrian lane at the port of entry into an additional vehicle lane.

Supporting details: staff said the work is primarily engineering services tied to an existing TxDOT earmark that has been waiting to be spent. The selection committee was composed of local and city representatives from Starr County and the City of Roma; the committee reviewed three proposals and recommended RRP Consulting Engineers LLC.

Next steps: staff will negotiate a scope and fee with RRP and return to the commissioners for contract approval before work begins.