New MPO status, airport grant and planning dollars give Eagle Pass tools to pursue roads and runway upgrades

City and county planning staff briefed the joint workshop on transportation priorities after Eagle Pass met the threshold for a metropolitan planning organization (MO). Planners said MO status provides roughly $375,000 annually for planning and technical work and that, once projects are prioritized in required short‑ and long‑range plans, the region becomes eligible to compete for larger construction allocations (planners cited an approximate average of $2.7M/year over a 10‑year horizon as a planning‑level figure for construction dollars allocated to the MO).

County and airport officials reported progress on Maverick County International Airport work and funding: participants said about $16 million in grant funding had been identified to begin a major renovation (runway/tarmac work, terminal and electrical upgrades) and that interim committee appointments and liaison work with the Texas Aviation division could help secure additional support. Officials asked nonprofits and business groups to gather letters of support and incident examples to bolster advocacy.

Planners also emphasized community engagement: surveys and QR‑code outreach are being circulated to gather public input on priorities (safety action plans, truck parking, congestion relief and potential relief routes). Staff asked elected officials and organizational partners to relay the survey and suggested printed copies and library access for residents without internet access.

Next steps: planning staff will compile prioritized project lists for MO consideration and prepare materials for legislative and interim committee advocacy; airport staff will follow up on terminal and FBO inquiries and return to commissioners court with specifics and any required resolutions.