Light Rail in the Rio Grande Valley is a great Return on Investment
EDINBURG, RGV – A transportation leader in the Rio Grande Valley says there is no comparison as to the return on investment from building a light rail system and expanding the I-2/I-69C interchange in Pharr.
A rail system wins hands down, argues Andrew Canon, executive director of Hidalgo County Metropolitan Planning Organization.
“We really appreciate everything Senator Hinojosa and Mayor Hernandez did in securing that $320 million for the (Pharr) Interchange. That is just an example to use because the (improvement to the) Interchange is going to spread out the traffic we already have. It is going to ease that congestion. It is going build momentum so traffic can move more freely and more comfortably through the area. But there is not really much return on investment for the money that is being spent other than move traffic better, and, of course, are quality is an issue,” Canon said.
“But, as far as dollars go, $300 million on a rail line that would be regionally impactful from Hidalgo County to Cameron County, that is going to thrust economic opportunities, that is going to have commercial growth, that is going to have development growth, residential growth, all of these things. That is the direct return on that investment at $300 million. So, while there may be that exorbitant, as some people might consider it, cost upfront, over a couple of years, what is going to be created in tax revenue coming back to the cities and to the county and the community, its is going to be phenomenal. That is definitely a project that is going to have a great return on the investment for the money that is going to be spent.”
Read more: https://riograndeguardian.com/canon-light-rail-in-the-rgv-is-a-great-return-on-investment/
