Valley has a seat at the table in Austin, but TxDOT says leaders must get their act together
From left, RGV Partnership CEO Paco Sanchez, Texas Transportation Commissioner Alex Meade, Texas Department of Transportation Pharr District Engineer Pedro “Pete” Alvarez and TxDOT Deputy Executive Director for Program Delivery Brian Barth discuss regional infrastructure priorities during the RGV Partnership Infrastructure Summit in Mission on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026. Photo Credit | Matt Wilson

MISSION — Texas Transportation Commissioner Alex Meade told a story at Tuesday’s RGV Partnership Infrastructure Summit that he’d heard from former State Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr. at some point.

Lucio’s story went that years ago a Rio Grande Valley delegation arrived in Austin in search of funding for something or another.

They appealed to Texas Lieutenant Gov. Bob Bullock, who seemed receptive and asked only for the delegation to tell him who would lead on planning for the funding.

The delegation couldn’t do it.

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