Editing Brownsville, Texas (section)

==Infrastructure==

===Transportation===

====Major highways====
Brownsville is served by [[Interstate 69E]], sharing its alignment with [[U.S. Route 77 in Texas|U.S. Route 77]]. The highway connects to the cities of [[Kingsville, Texas|Kingsville]] and [[Corpus Christi, Texas|Corpus Christi]]. U.S. Route 77 was a proposed part of the North American Free Trade Agreement's completed [[Interstate 69 in Texas|Interstate 69]] corridor. Other highways that serve the Brownsville area are [[U.S. Route 83 (Texas)|U.S. Route 83]], [[U.S. Route 281 (Texas)|U.S. Route 281]], [[SH 4 (TX)|SH 4]] and [[SH 48 (TX)|SH 48]]. [[Interstate 169 (Texas)|Interstate 169]]/[[SH 550 (TX)|SH 550]] is a toll road that connects North Brownsville to the Port of Brownsville; it forms a loop around the outer city limits of Brownsville. An interchange in nearby [[Olmito, Texas|Olmito]] carries traffic from Interstate 69E onto the highway.<ref>{{cite web |title=National Highway System: Brownsville, TX |url=https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/national_highway_system/nhs_maps/east_texas/brownsville_tx.pdf |website=United States Department of Transportation |publisher=Federal Highway Administration |access-date=January 3, 2019 |archive-date=March 3, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170303133535/https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/national_highway_system/nhs_maps/east_texas/brownsville_tx.pdf |url-status=dead}}</ref>

====Mass transit====
Established in mid-Brownsville in 1978, the [[Brownsville Urban System]] (BUS), currently known as the Brownsville Metro, consists of three hubs that run 13 routes covering a large portion of Brownsville. The system provides 11 [[paratransit]] vans to disabled passengers, complying with the standards for the [[Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990|Americans with Disabilities Act]]. It is the only mass transit system in its county and one of the largest in the Rio Grande Valley.{{citation needed|date=April 2019}} Annual ridership for 2015 was 1,384,474.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.governing.com/gov-data/transportation-infrastructure/public-transportation-agency-ridership-statistics-cities-metro-areas.html |title=Public Transit Agency Ridership Statistics |website=governing.com |date=March 12, 2013 |access-date=January 26, 2019 |archive-date=January 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190127035108/http://www.governing.com/gov-data/transportation-infrastructure/public-transportation-agency-ridership-statistics-cities-metro-areas.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

====Intercity transit====
The [[Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport]] (BRO) provides passengers with daily nonstop service to [[American Eagle (airline brand)|American Eagle]] hubs [[Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport]], United Express to [[George Bush Intercontinental Airport]] in Houston, and [[World Atlantic Airlines]], which operates charter and on-demand flights to [[Miami International Airport]]. The airport received a $12.7&nbsp;million grant from the [[Federal Aviation Administration]] for the construction of a new {{convert|85,000|ft2|m2|abbr=on}} terminal facility.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Clark |first1=Steve |title=Local airport project advances |url=https://www.brownsvilleherald.com/premium/local-airport-project-advances/article_1ab128b2-3acb-11e8-b0df-3f604257b40e.html |access-date=January 3, 2019 |work=The Brownsville Herald |date=April 7, 2018}}{{Dead link|date=June 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> The project is expected to commence construction by late 2018.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cuadros |first1=Alfredo |title=Brownsville-SPI Airport Terminal to Begin Construction by End of 2018 |url=https://www.kveo.com/news/local-news/brownsville-spi-airport-terminal-to-begin-construction-by-end-of-2018/1613114049 |access-date=January 3, 2019 |publisher=KVEO |date=November 22, 2018 |archive-date=January 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190103210519/https://www.kveo.com/news/local-news/brownsville-spi-airport-terminal-to-begin-construction-by-end-of-2018/1613114049 |url-status=live}}</ref>

====Bike share and trails====
The City of Brownsville currently has {{convert|64|mi|km|abbr=on}} of hike and bike trails and on-street bike lanes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://brownsville.org/play/hike-bike/|title=Hike & Bike Trails|website=Brownsville Convention & Visitors Bureau|access-date=July 2, 2019|archive-date=December 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181204093001/https://brownsville.org/play/hike-bike/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2016, a bike-share program was established in Brownsville in collaboration with the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Garza |first1=Frank |title=Bikeshare program begins this month in Brownsville |url=https://www.brownsvilleherald.com/news/local/bikeshare-program-begins-this-month-in-brownsville/article_0e3825d4-723d-11e6-a471-f7ceea664ce6.html |access-date=January 3, 2019 |work=The Brownsville Herald |date=September 3, 2016}}{{Dead link|date=June 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> Six bike stations were installed. The contract was renewed with another company to provide a "dockless ride-share program" in late 2018.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kelley |first1=Rick |title=New Valley bike-share set for November debut |url=https://www.brownsvilleherald.com/news/valley/new-valley-bike-share-set-for-november-debut/article_843e3228-c443-11e8-b19f-3b4f9de7dd74.html |access-date=January 3, 2019 |work=The Brownsville Herald |date=September 29, 2018 |archive-date=September 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180930095111/https://www.brownsvilleherald.com/news/valley/new-valley-bike-share-set-for-november-debut/article_843e3228-c443-11e8-b19f-3b4f9de7dd74.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

====Railroad====
Several attempts were made to attract a railroad, but the [[St. Louis, Brownsville and Mexico Railway]] did not reach Brownsville until 1904. In 1910, a railroad bridge was constructed between Brownsville and Matamoros (Mexico), and regular service between the two towns began. The introduction of the rail link to Brownsville opened the area for settlement by northern farmers, who subsequently arrived in the lower Rio Grande Valley in large numbers.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Onion |first1=Rebecca |title=America's Lost History of Border Violence |url=https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2016/05/texas-finally-begins-to-grapple-with-its-ugly-history-of-border-violence-against-mexican-americans.html |access-date=January 5, 2019 |work=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]] |date=May 5, 2016 |archive-date=January 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190105145306/https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2016/05/texas-finally-begins-to-grapple-with-its-ugly-history-of-border-violence-against-mexican-americans.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

The new settlers cleared the land of brush, built extensive irrigation systems and roads, and introduced large-scale truck farming. In 1904, H. G. Stillwell Sr. planted the first commercial citrus orchard in the area, thus opening the way for citrus fruit culture, one of the valley's leading industries. The expansion of farming in the area, and the railroad link to the north, brought new prosperity to Brownsville and spurred a host of civic improvements.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hdb04|title=The Handbook of Texas: Brownsville|publisher=[[Texas State Historical Association]]|access-date=May 20, 2015|archive-date=November 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191112123510/https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hdb04|url-status=live}}</ref>

Brownsville was served by the [[Missouri Pacific Railroad]] [[sleeping car|night train]] from Houston, the ''Pioneer'' (#315/316) until 1964, and a daily train from Houston, the ''[[Valley Eagle]]'' (#321/322), until 1962.<ref>December 1960 Missouri Pacific Railroad, Tables T, 15</ref> Today, the [[Brownsville and Rio Grande International Railroad]] (reporting mark BRG) is a terminal switching railroad headquartered in Brownsville. It operates {{convert|45|mi|abbr=on}} of line at the Port of Brownsville, and interchanges with [[Union Pacific Railroad]] and [[Kansas City Southern de México|TFM]]. BRG traffic includes steel, agricultural products, food products, and general commodities.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/freight/single-view/view/omnitrax-to-manage-brownsville-rio-grande-international-railroad.html|title=About Brownsville & Rio Grande International Railway, LLC|publisher=[[OmniTRAX]]|access-date=June 12, 2016|archive-date=May 25, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160525182549/http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/freight/single-view/view/omnitrax-to-manage-brownsville-rio-grande-international-railroad.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

====International bridges====
[[File:Brownsville & Matamoros Bridge office.jpg|thumb|The Brownsville and Matamoros Bridge office pictured in 2006]]

Brownsville has three international bridges that connect to Mexico. These include the [[Brownsville & Matamoros International Bridge]] (B&M),<ref>{{cite news |last1=Espinoza |first1=J. Noel |title=Border commuters offered express option |url=https://www.brownsvilleherald.com/news/local/border-commuters-offered-express-option/article_90957219-7536-5ccb-b7a9-189dac9c908b.html |access-date=January 5, 2019 |work=The Brownsville Herald |date=April 26, 2002}}{{Dead link|date=June 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> [[Gateway International Bridge]] and the [[Veterans International Bridge at Los Tomates]].<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Rhodan |first1=Maya |title=At the U.S. Border, an Invisible Wall Already Exists |url=https://time.com/5375676/us-border-gateway-bridge/ |access-date=January 5, 2019 |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=August 23, 2018 |archive-date=December 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181229070036/http://time.com/5375676/us-border-gateway-bridge/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="TxDOT Veterans">{{cite web|author=[[Texas Department of Transportation]]|url=http://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/projects/studies/statewide/border-crossing/veterans.html|title=Veterans International Bridge at Los Tomates|access-date=May 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150317073229/http://txdot.gov/inside-txdot/projects/studies/statewide/border-crossing/veterans.html|archive-date=March 17, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Utilities===
Electricity, water, and wastewater services in Brownsville are provided by the [[Brownsville Public Utilities Board]]. Since it is a [[public utility]], the city commission appoints six members of the utilities board with the mayor serving as the seventh member (ex-officio).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.brownsville-pub.com/about-us/board-of-directors|title=Board of Directors: Brownsville Public Utilities Board|publisher=Brownsville Public Utilities Board|access-date=June 16, 2016|archive-date=August 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160806172229/http://www.brownsville-pub.com/about-us/board-of-directors|url-status=live}}</ref> As of 2016, it is the 68th-largest public power utility in the country by number of customers served (48,232).<ref name="stats">{{cite web|url=https://www.publicpower.org/system/files/documents/2018-Public-Power-Statistical-Report-Updated.pdf|title=Public Power 2018 Statistical Report|website=Public Power|access-date=January 3, 2019|archive-date=January 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190103210313/https://www.publicpower.org/system/files/documents/2018-Public-Power-Statistical-Report-Updated.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> Its power generation was ranked 51st in the US with 1,638,579 megawatt-hours.<ref name="stats"/> [[Renewable resource]]s were projected to increase with partial help from the proposed addition of a 400-megawatt Tenaska combined-cycle electric generating plant in 2015.<ref>{{cite web |title=Final Permit for PSD Greenhouse Gas Permit for Tenaska Brownsville Partners LLC |url=https://archive.epa.gov/region6/6pd/air/pd-r/ghg/web/pdf/tenaska-brownsville-finalpermit01232015.pdf |website=[[Environmental Protection Agency]] |access-date=January 3, 2019 |archive-date=January 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190103210620/https://archive.epa.gov/region6/6pd/air/pd-r/ghg/web/pdf/tenaska-brownsville-finalpermit01232015.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref>

A series of wind turbines was also built in the northeast part of Cameron County.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kelley |first1=Rick |title=New wind farm coming to South Texas |url=https://www.brownsvilleherald.com/premium/new-wind-farm-coming-to-south-texas/article_acf60f46-42b2-11e8-97e1-83d696960c4b.html |access-date=January 3, 2019 |work=The Brownsville Herald |date=April 17, 2018}}{{Dead link|date=June 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> The board operates three treatment plants in Brownsville; it also owns 92.91% of the Southmost Regional Water Authority groundwater treatment facility.<ref>{{cite web |title=Water & Wastewater |url=http://www.brownsville-pub.com/departments/water-wastewater |publisher=Brownsville Public Utilities Board |access-date=January 3, 2019 |archive-date=January 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190103210231/http://www.brownsville-pub.com/departments/water-wastewater |url-status=live}}</ref> Several [[liquefied natural gas]] companies are currently in the process of establishing pipelines in the city. Two were denied a review of their applications after missing several deadlines.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Reagan |first1=Mark |title=LNG company permits pulled for Port of Brownsville project |url=https://www.themonitor.com/2018/08/15/lng-company-permits-pulled-for-port-of-brownsville-project/ |access-date=January 3, 2019 |work=The Monitor |date=August 15, 2018 |archive-date=January 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190103161428/https://www.themonitor.com/2018/08/15/lng-company-permits-pulled-for-port-of-brownsville-project/ |url-status=live}}</ref>