History of Proposed Second South Padre Island Causeway
2008
May 22, 2008 – Cameron County Regional Mobility Authority (CCRMA)
Public input was sought on the project Need and Purpose
November 6, 2008 – CCRMA
Public input solicited on the preliminary alternative routes and the draft evaluation criteria
2009
Public input sought on the reasonable alternatives2012
Jan 16, 2012 - SPI Forum
RGV residents weigh in on 2nd Causeway
July 17, 2012 – CCRMA Public Hearing
- 9 Context Sensitive Solutions workshops in 2008-2009, three workshops per community were held at Laguna Vista, Port Isabel, and South Padre Island.
Estimated construction cost
- $452-535 million, depending on the alternative selected – this cost estimate does not include mitigation.
- Project is currently NOT funded
- Proposed funding to be provided by a combination of federal, state, local and private.
CCRMA will begin construction in Fiscal Year 2018
July 19, 2012 – My San Antonio
Ideas regarding the 2nd Causeway have been narrowed and funding for causeway have been discussed.
Aug 12, 2012 - Padre Elite Team Blog
Brief update via CCRMA website & public input contact info
Aug 14, 2012 - EPA
Detailed comments on the draft Environmental Impact Statement for the 2nd causeway
2013
November 2, 2013 - The Brownsville Herald
Texas Transportation Commission approved a $5 million loan to CCRMA for predevelopment studies, design, legal services, and other qualified developmental costs. The commission also approved $5.1 million loan to be used towards the study and development of the Second Causeway Project. Pete Sepulveda Jr. said funds will be used to complete environmental studies as well as for traffic and revenue studies.
2014
May 30, 2014 – Valley Morning Star
Public input in a survey will help CCRMA to better understand travel patterns and determine traffic levels.
August 4, 2014 – Franke Realtors
Second SPI Access Workshops Slated for the Week
November 20, 2014 –Texas Department of Transportation
Project status update states environmental study statement will be released by November 2015 and funding is still being determined.
May 30, 2014 – Valley Morning Star
A survey was done to determine the resident need of another access point to better understand resident traveler’s patterns and preferences.
Dec 30, 2014 – KGBT
Final environmental impact study submitted to federal authorities for review
2015
March 6, 2015 – Rio Grande Guardian
CCRMA & Hidalgo County have an agreement to expand Monte Christo Road to link to the northern part of South Padre Island.
May 7, 2015 – Texas Legislature Online
Relating to certain comprehensive development agreements of the Texas Department of Transportation or a regional mobility authority.
June 19, 2015 – Rio South Texas
Bike lane for second causeway has been proposed and is seen as “extremely doable” by Pete Sepulveda, Jr.
Sept 13, 2015 - Valley Morning Star
Second causeway under review & money will most likely come from public & private funds. Causeway would be a toll road
2016
Feb 11, 2016 - Valley Morning Star
CCRMA began “Industry Outreach Meetings” to be held March 1st to issue a Request for Qualification for a Comprehensive Development
Feb 24, 2016 – KRGV
Planners looking for investors for second causeway and why Cameron County Judge Pete Sepulveda Jr. believes 2nd causeway is needed
Feb 29, 2016 - Rio Grande Guardian
Cameron County Judge Pete Sepulveda Jr. discusses need for 2nd causeway and effects on the RGV
March 9, 2016 - Rio Grande Guardian
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick weighs in on second access to South Padre Island but doesn’t want the “State picking project after project” without seeing if money is available first. State Senator Eddie Lucio agrees with Patrick that Valley legislators should push for additional TxDOT funds
March 22, 2016 –The Monitor
Laguna Vista will benefit from a second causeway which would create commercial development as well as develop areas in the SPI Golf Club
May 6, 2016 – South Padre Island Economic Development Corporation
CCRMA received valuable feedback through many confidential one-on-one meetings during the months of March and April. The Record of Decision date has been moved to summer of 2017 while CCRMA continues working on the Environmental Impact Statement.
June 1, 2016 – El Rrun Rrun Commentary
With the change of county judge, the 2nd Causeway Project may have an impact
August 26, 2016 – Port Isabel Press
A report of the second causeway project was highlighted at the City of South Padre Island Economic Development Corporation.
September 1, 2016 - Property Owners Who Care
Interview with SPI mayor Patel: Value of causeway from SPI perspective.
September 1, 2016 - Property Owners Who Care
Judge Sepulveda stated that the final environmental impact mitigation plan is the most complex project in the United States. There are several options for funding and the State legislature has given the region ability to do a Comprehensive Development Agreement allowing the inclusion of a private developer to close the funding gap thus reducing costs, time schedule and increasing productivity with cooperation agencies.
September 19, 2016 -The Monitor
Reminders of the 2001 causeway collapse as well as heavy traffic during the summer and weekends raises arguments for a second access route. Funding has been sought but progress is slow even after fifteen years.
2017
February 3, 2017 – Port Isabel Press
The Cameron County Regional Mobile Authority provided the Cameron County Commissioners Court a year-end review of several projects which included the Second Causeway. The bridge is expected to pump $1 billion in funding for road infrastructure.
February 14, 2017 – The Monitor
Two years after Texas voted to boost funding for state’s public roadways and bridges, lawmakers question whether they should continue or not. TxDOT has a long-range plan for Proposition 7 and already has local governments submitting proposals to tap into those funds. TxDOT relied on gas tax drivers would pay at the pump as their revenue, but with booming population it can’t keep up.
March 3, 2017 – Port Isabel Press
South Padre Island Economic Development Corporation received update on the Second Causeway project. Funding requests related to the Birding Center and Sea Turtle Inc. were being considered.
March 5, 2017 – Rio Grande Guardian
Edinburg Mayor Richard Garcia spoke about the emphasis TxDOT was giving towards a second causeway from Edinburg to South Padre Island.
March 14, 2017 – Rio Grande Guardian
Executive director of Cameron Regional Mobility Authority said his RMA and Hidalgo County RMA are partnering with TxDOT to get environmental clearance for the second causeway project. Tres Lagos, in north McAllen, will be connected to a second causeway to South Padre Island by use of a farm to market road if expanded.
May 5, 2017 – KRGV
Second causeway to start construction in three years. Meetings regarding environmental approvals are still being held because it is a complex and environmentally sensitive project.
May 11, 2017 – Bandera County Courier
Private toll roads in Texas were voted against. Governor Greg Abbott promises to fix Texas roads without new tolls and kept his promise by killing Rep. Larry Phillips HB 2861, which includes roads in north Texas as well as the South Padre Island Second Causeway.
May 11, 2017 – KRGV
Cost of causeway that was originally projected at $700 million will now cost only $450 million. Due to rethinking of the original design. The new design will consist of two smaller causeways that run approximately 50 feet apart and will be 8 miles long. This newer design will lower the environmental impact and will be cheaper.
June 21, 2017 – Rio Grande Guardian
Pete Sepulveda, executive director of Cameron County Regional Mobility Authority, gave a speech at an international trade symposium stating “We are deep into the environmental process. We really believe that in the next 18 to 24 months we will get the environmental clearance…” The final draft document was submitted to the Federal Highway Administration. CCRMA found some cost saving opportunities even though a key piece of legislation filed by state Senator Eddie Lucio didn’t pass.
August 23, 2017 – Rio Grande Guardian
U.S. Senator Ted Cruz was asked to help push for the second causeway to be built quicker. Ron Whitlock of Ron Whitlock Reports asked Ted Cruz if he’d be willing to commit to asking President Trump to issue an executive order to expedite the environmental document approval. Cruz said an infrastructure bill would probably be passed.
October 19, 2017 – Rio Grande Guardian
Dennis Stahl, South Padre Island mayor pro-tem, believes a second causeway being built is crucial.
November 3, 2017 – Port Isabel Press
On October 24th, two presentations were highlighted at the Economic Development Corporation one being about the Second Causeway project. Executive director of the Cameron County Regional Mobility Authority, Pete Sepulveda provided a progress report on the Second Causeway project. After an engineering study, different options regarding the design of the structure were found. The changes would reduce mitigation from around 130 acre of sea grass to approximately 6-8 acres. A twin structure may be included.
November 9, 2017 – Rio Grande Guardian
TxDOT’s Pharr District Engineer, Pedro “Pete” Alvarez said a corridor between Roma and a second causeway to South Padre Island is needed due to our population growth.
2018
January 10, 2018 – Brownsville Herald
Cameron County Regional Mobility Authority Executive Director Pete Sepulveda Jr updated that Cameron County road construction projects are “cruising along.” Plans for the second causeway are in the environmental impact study phase. Input from outside engineers gave input so some resubmissions of the study were done. The toll road idea has been scrapped because there hasn’t been a return in revenue.
January 26, 2018 – Port Isabel Press
Pete Sepulveda, provided updates during a meeting of the Cameron County Commissioner’s Court. He stated that the Second Causeway may not have a toll since new “value engineering” reduced the project cost.
May 25, 2018 – Port Isabel Press
During a South Padre Island City Council meeting, Executive Director, Pete Sepulveda stated there had been changes at the staff level to try and complete the final phase involving the environmental documents. A draft of the environmental impact statement has been revised once to address comments from the Federal agencies reviewing the document. A new firm was selected to close the current phase of the project.
June 23, 2018 – Valley Morning Star
The environmental study is near the end of completion but can’t be completed until TxDOT lifts a ban on all Texas toll road projects. The project is currently being developed as a toll road but a change to a non-toll road will be requested during or after the development of the second causeway. The Regional Mobility Authority changed consultants and hired Figg Engineering.
August 3, 2018 – Port Isabel Press
During a Port Isabel town hall meeting, Port Isabel City Manager Jared Hockema brought up development and transportation concerns and the future of the current causeway as well as the proposed second causeway.
August 5, 2018 – Rio Grande Guardian
Senator Juan Hinojosa spoke at a ribbon cutting ceremony for the widening of Owassa Road. A merger of Hidalgo County MPO, Harlingen-San Benito MPO, and Brownsville MPO is being negotiated. If the merge were to happen, $140 million would be accessible over a ten year period.
September 12, 2018 – Brownsville Herald
A northern east-west route connecting Cameron and Hidalgo counties has been proposed using the second causeway to South Padre Island.
November 6, 2018 – Brownsville Herald
Eddie Trevino, Jr, Cameron County Judge, plans to push forward the planned second causeway upon re-election.