Texas Border Business
McAllen, (2013) – Metro Connect, the Valley’s newest Regional Public Transportation provider, has started service in South Texas. On Wednesday, November 6, Metro Connect invited citizens to try the new system, free of charge, which offers express service throughout the Rio Grande Valley.
“Brownsville, McAllen and South Padre Island transit departments decided to work together because regionalization is important because it is becoming more difficult to acquire the necessary funding for projects,” said Norma Zamora, Brownsville Metro Director. She said, “Metro Connect benefits our entire region. When Rio Grande Valley cities can work together in projects like this it makes it more viable and improves our chances for acquiring the funds needed.”
In May, the City of Brownsville was awarded $1.4 million in grant funds from the Texas Department of Transportation to provide a new intercity express bus service between Brownsville, South Padre Island, McAllen and other cities. The City of Brownsville in partnership with Valley Transit Company, the City of McAllen, and the City of South Padre Island will utilize $1.4 million in funds to operate Metro Connect, the express bus service system, throughout the region.
“This is a great project for the Rio Grande Valley. Metro Connect gives our community access to affordable, reliable transportation and to an improved quality of life for its customers,” said Elizabeth Suarez, McAllen Transit Director.
Rio Grande Valley commuters can now do so in an express fashion with Metro Connect. Metro Connect currently operates three (3) bus lines: the green line connecting UTPA to McAllen, the red line connecting McAllen to Brownsville (with connections to VTC’s Harlingen Terminal and the Rio Grande Valley Premium Outlets), and the blue line connecting Brownsville to South Padre Island. Current hours of operation are Monday through Sunday from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Metro Connect will not operate on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Years Day in observance of the holiday. Currently service is free of charge, but effective December 9, 2013 a $5.00 daily pass will apply to the Red Line. The Green and Blue Lines will remain free of charge. Monthly passes will be available at a discounted rate.
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