Real Incorporated outlines $30 million Rancho Alegre transit hub, asks county help on waterline

Real Incorporated gave a detailed presentation to the Jim Wells County Commissioners Court about a proposed multimodal transit facility at 349 Farm to Market 1554 in Alice, describing the project as an approximately $29.9 million investment and asking the county to help secure a 12-inch waterline extension needed for construction to start.

The presentation, delivered by Martin Ornelas, regional transportation lead for Real Incorporated, described a 40,000-square-foot central building with administrative space, a regional training center with capacity for about 175 people, a maintenance facility with three bays, a wash bay and fuel station, electric vehicle charging, a park-and-ride area and space to house an 82-vehicle fleet. Ornelas said the facility is intended to serve county and regional transit connections and to operate as a warming and cooling center when needed. "For every dollar invested, there's a $6 return," Ornelas said, speaking to the project’s economic case for the county.

Nut graf: The presentation did not request an immediate vote; Real Incorporated instead sought the court’s cooperation on a single construction prerequisite — extending a 12-inch potable water main to the site. Ornelas said the absence of an adequate water line means construction cannot begin without a known water source, and that resolving the water connection is the primary hurdle to starting the project.

Most of the presentation focused on the facility’s design and community role. Ornelas described two retention ponds on the site and said the front pond will be fenced for safety. He said the complex will include a maintenance yard capable of supporting the nonprofit’s existing fleet and reduce the need for on-street parking near its current facility. Real has engaged Bridal Construction as general contractor and listed Able City (architecture) and Para and Associates (engineering) as partners. Ornelas said Real has partnered with TxDOT and the Federal Transit Administration for funding support.

On financing and schedule, Ornelas described the project cost as roughly $29.9 million and said construction costs are roughly $27.25 million; those figures were stated in the meeting presentation and are reported here as Real’s estimates. He said the organization expects to break ground in phases and tentatively hopes to make some facilities available after June 2026. Ornelas also said TxDOT has set a 15.9% Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) contracting goal for the project and that Real plans to maximize local contract participation.

The single operational barrier Real asked the court to consider was access to a 12-inch water line. Ornelas showed county maps indicating an existing 12-inch main on Highway 281 and an existing project that can extend roughly two to three hundred feet west before tapering to a smaller residential line; the Real site sits beyond that endpoint. He said Real has discussed options with the region’s water engineer and would like county cooperation to identify or fund the necessary extension so construction does not stall once it begins.

Court members asked about local hiring and contractor commitments; Ornelas said Real plans to pursue the DBE goal and to prioritize local contractors where feasible. He also answered questions about the retention ponds, calling the rear pond “temporary” but not specifying a defined duration for that temporary status.

Ending: Real Incorporated did not request an immediate vote. Ornelas closed by asking the court to work with the nonprofit to identify a water solution and agreed to return with concrete cost figures. The court did not take formal action during the presentation; staff and Real representatives indicated they would follow up with additional information and cost estimates.