Public Transit in Brownsville Continues to Evolve

Updated: April 23, 2025

By Mike Villarreal

Brownsville city officials and community members recently gathered to celebrate the grand opening of the new Multimodal Transportation East Transfer Station, a significant $10 million investment in public transportation situated on Jose Colunga Boulevard. This state-of-the-art facility, managed by BMetro— the largest transit provider in the Rio Grande Valley—serves over 1.3 million riders annually. It represents a remarkable advancement in Brownsville’s ongoing efforts to enhance mobility and access for all its residents.

City Manager Helen Ramirez indicated that this ambitious project has been in development for approximately a decade, with its realization made possible through funding from the Texas Department of Transportation and the Federal Transit Administration. The new transfer station greatly improves the city’s transit infrastructure by increasing operational capacity, adding two new bus routes that cater to previously underserved areas, and boosting connectivity for residents living on the city’s east side. The facility has a modern warehouse and an automated bus washing system, drastically improving operational efficiency by removing the need for staff to wash buses manually.

The East Transfer Station embodies Brownsville’s commitment to developing robust infrastructure, stimulating economic growth, and providing high-quality public services to its residents. In line with these goals, the city’s Multimodal Transportation Department is exploring innovative microtransit options—an adaptable, on-demand transportation service designed to complement BMetro’s existing routes.

This micro-transit service utilizes a user-friendly app that allows riders to book rides in real time via their smartphones or computers or by contacting customer service. Typically, this service utilizes smaller vehicles, such as vans or minibusses, to provide rapid and convenient public transportation options. An ongoing study aims to pinpoint how BMetro can further enhance connectivity, minimize wait times, and elevate the overall quality of transit services available to the community. Your opinions and feedback will be invaluable in shaping the future of transportation in Brownsville!

In addition to the new transit facility, the BMetro Transit Team was recently recognized for their outstanding performance, as Brownsville’s transit operators excelled at the 2025 Texas Transit Association (TTA) State Roadeo, hosted this year by McAllen Metro. Their impressive achievements highlight their dedication to safety and excellence in public transportation.

Fixed Route Achievements:

2nd Place: Reynaldo Flores

3rd Place: Jaime Caraveo

5th Place: Esteban Lara

7th Place: Sandra Caballero

Paratransit Achievements:

8th Place: Carlos Avendaño

Congratulations to all participants for their hard work, skill, and significant accomplishments in advancing public transportation in Brownsville!

Information and photos from the City of Brownsville, TX- Municipal Government Facebook page