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Policy committee debates expanding MPO boundary, urges coordinated funding for outer loop and US‑45 bridge
Summary
Committee members pressed staff and TxDOT officials to explore expanding the MPO boundary and coordinate funding for large corridor and bridge projects, arguing that bringing projects into the MPO could ease federal environmental review and make projects easier to advance.
Members of the West County Laredo MPO Policy Committee spent substantial discussion time on Oct. 15 urging staff and TxDOT to study expanding the MPO boundary and to coordinate funding for major corridor projects — including the proposed outer loop and a multi-phase US‑45 bridge project — so those projects can access federal review and funding programs.
Several elected officials and members raised concerns that repeatedly moving project letting dates and program years outside the current TIP window inhibits the ability to present shovel-ready projects to funding competitions. One member asked why projects with a single landowner and donation-based right-of-way still experience long acquisition timelines.
Webb County/Laredo RMA and TxDOT staff said planning and design work is underway for the outer loop and other corridor projects, and that TxDOT is hosting coordination meetings and pursuing funding strategies. TxDOT staff asked the committee to consider project readiness while noting statewide constraints in program capacity and consultant resources.
Committee members pressed for a proactive approach. One member suggested a policy that requires overpasses adjacent to railroads to be built with sufficient clearance; staff said they would explore drafting a policy or resolution and bring a proposal back to the committee.
On the question of MPO boundary expansion, staff said the process requires analysis and a request to the governor’s office; they warned an expansion could affect rural funding allocations and said staff would analyze impacts and return with a recommendation. Anthony (MPO advisory for Webb County) and TxDOT representatives said coordination already occurs between TxDOT and county planning for rural funding but acknowledged elected officials sought more direct input.
TxDOT staff described ongoing work: schematic and design contracts are in place for portions of the outer loop, and the agency is conducting regional traffic modeling to prioritize projects. MPO staff told members the MPO had previously programmed development funds for outer-loop planning activities and for related corridor work.
Committee direction: members asked staff to study the boundary-expansion implications (including effects on rural funding and eligibility categories) and to return with analysis and a proposed agenda item at the next meeting. Staff also agreed to develop draft language the committee could use to require appropriate railroad‑adjacent overpass clearances where MPO funding or policy could apply.
No formal vote was taken on boundary expansion or the proposed overpass policy during the Oct. 15 meeting; the committee asked staff to bring the items back for formal consideration at a later meeting.
