Brownsville to board new Valley bus service

BROWNSVILLE – Valley residents will have more transit options available beginning in September 2013 when Metro Connect begins service, providing express transit among Brownsville, South Padre Island, the University of Texas-Pan American and McAllen.

The routes will be serviced by Valley Transit Company, making the project a public-private partnership featuring municipalities leveraging $313,222 in local funds to pay for the nearly $1.9 million project.

Construction has ended at Brownsville’s La Plaza and at McAllen’s Central Station, connecting the two, along with South Padre Island, will be the next step.

The blue line, which will run between South Padre Island and Brownsville, will make stops at Brownsville SPI International Airport as well as downtown, and will be a free service.

The green line connecting UTPA to McAllen will cost 50 cents for students and $1 for other riders. The red line will take passengers between Brownsville and McAllen for a $5 fare and will include connections to Valley Transit’s Harlingen terminal.

The express routes will run 365 days a year and will feature free Wi-Fi service.