Regional MPO outlines 2050 plan, flags $135 million Gregory Interchange and safety priorities

Rob McDonald, director of the Corpus Christi metropolitan planning organization (MPO), told the San Patricio County Commissioners Court on Nov. 17 that the MPO’s draft Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP 2050) will guide how the region spends federal, state and local transportation funding over the next 25 years and in nearer horizon four‑year programs.

McDonald said the MPO buckets funding by time horizon and project category and asked the court and the public to help set priorities. "Remember, the new Harbor Bridge is $1.2 billion," McDonald said, noting the scale of recent regional investments, and pointing to a roughly $444 million four‑year funding pool the MPO is currently programming. He told the court the Gregory Interchange is on the MPO’s near‑term list and that "the judge is gonna vote on a $135 million for the Gregory Interchange" at a special meeting that afternoon. McDonald also said the MPO will be seeking a $30 million allocation for the Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority (CCRTA).

Why it matters: The MTP determines which road, transit and safety projects receive federal funding authorization and design work, and it influences state and local funding priorities. McDonald stressed the MPO’s role as a clearinghouse for federal, state, local and private projects and encouraged residents and local officials to submit project ideas, comments and survey responses on the MPO website.

McDonald emphasized safety as a top regional priority. Drawing from a regional safety action plan, he said the MPO analyzed recent crashes and identified 32 locations where targeted countermeasures could reduce fatalities and serious injuries. "We listed 32 locations we think we can move the needle to reduce fatalities and serious injury accidents," McDonald said, pointing to remedies that range from retiming a signal for as little as $2,000 to multimillion‑dollar corridor treatments.

Commissioners asked about other corridor concepts, including a previously discussed cross‑bay connector intended to help evacuations and port traffic. McDonald said the proposal had not advanced but that he would consult the Port to determine whether it should be revived for study.

Next steps: McDonald said the MPO will continue public outreach, post materials online and hold public meetings and surveys as the MTP moves through its update cycle. The judge’s planned afternoon vote on the Gregory Interchange and the CCRTA request will determine whether those specific projects move forward for design and funding authorization.