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Greater Nogales‑Santa Cruz Port Authority reports advocacy, binational coordination and broadband interest
Summary
Port Authority Chair Josh Rubin told supervisors the Authority has focused on strategic advocacy (rail merger engagement), cross‑border infrastructure planning, energy reliability, customs coordination and broadband discussions to position Nogales and Santa Cruz County as a trade gateway.
Josh Rubin, chair of the Greater Nogales‑Santa Cruz Port Authority, briefed the Santa Cruz County Board on recent port authority activities, emphasizing advocacy, binational infrastructure planning and trade visibility.
Rubin said the port authority submitted a letter supporting continued recognition of Nogales in the Union Pacific/Norfolk Southern merger corridor, has met with U.S. and Mexican diplomatic and federal officials on trade and tariff matters, and hosted international journalists to reframe the regional narrative about the border as a gateway for trade and investment.
On infrastructure and cross‑border coordination, Rubin described engagement with Unisource (energy reliability), discussions with ADOT on I‑19 interchange priorities (Ruby Road and Rio Rico Drive), and a work session with Mariposa Corridor operator Nogamix (Libramiento MX‑15) to align corridor strategies on both sides of the border. He also said a broadband provider intends to run connectivity from Querétaro to Phoenix with a node in Nogales, which Rubin said could encourage local broadband competition.
Rubin announced recent board membership changes and gave a summary of ongoing trade monitoring (tariff shifts, tomato suspension agreement withdrawal, cattle crossing issues) and binational outreach efforts, including participation in the Arizona‑Mexico Commission Summit.
Supervisors thanked Rubin and said they valued the port authority’s two‑decade role in regional advocacy. The presentation closed with a routine Q&A and no board action required.
