Connectivity

Brownsville has a total of 9 Industrial Parks: Airport Industrial, North Industrial, 802, Victoria Lake, NAFTA, South East Corridor, and Port of Brownsville Business, which include the following industries: Aerospace, Manufacturing and Assembly, Health and Life, Logistics, and Business Support Services. The Brownsville-Matamoros Binational Region makes up a total of 16 Industrial Parks.

Industrial parks in Brownsville, Texas, play a significant role in the region’s economic growth and development. The Port of Brownsville is a major center for intermodal transportation and industrial development, being the only deepwater seaport directly on the U.S./Mexico border1. The port has developed a versatile marine terminal operation for liquid and dry cargoes.
The Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation (GBIC) has proactively attracted new tenants to the North Brownsville Industrial Park. This tract of land has been undeveloped for far too long and has not produced tax revenue for the city or much-needed employment for the Brownsville community. Several companies in Brownsville use innovative technologies to create existing products and the creation of new products.

SpaceX is making historic achievements with Starship at their South Texas Launch Site, also known as Starbase. The advancements they are making in human space flight will one day lead us to Mars and beyond.

Road connectivity in Brownsville, Texas, is of significant importance for its economic development and the well-being of its residents. The city has taken a Texas-sized step toward the creation of better broadband options for its residents and businesses, as city commissioners voted to build a citywide fiber network known as BTX Fiber. U.S. 77:
U.S. 77 provides one of the main routes to the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas from points north. The route doubles as the corridor for Interstate 69E north from Brownsville to Kingsville, Corpus Christi, Refugio, and Victoria.

Interstate 169 (I-169): I-169 is an auxiliary route of I-69E in Texas that currently runs from I-69E in Brownsville southeast concurrently with State Highway 550 (SH 550), a toll road under construction that connects to the Port of Brownsville.

These highways are vital for the movement of goods and people, facilitating trade, economic growth, and the overall development of the city.

The international border crossing in Brownsville, Texas, is of essential importance. The border crossings are vital to the economies of both Texas and Mexico, contributing to Mexico’s status as Texas’ #1 trading partner.

The Gateway International Bridge unites the Matamoros–Brownsville Metropolitan Area, which has a population of 1,136,995, making it the 4th largest metropolitan area on the Mexico-US border. This bridge links the downtown business districts of Brownsville and Matamoros.

Veterans International Bridge at Los Tomates is the primary commercial vehicle crossing in the Brownsville region, processing all northbound trucks. The bridge is part of a designated “heavy truck corridor” that allows permitted, overweight trucks to travel between Mexico and the Port of Brownsville.

The air connectivity in Brownsville, Texas, is of great importance for several reasons. The Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport (BRO) serves as an important transportation hub for the region, offering flights to destinations within the United States and international connections. The airport offers flights to several major cities, facilitating business and leisure travel for local residents and promoting tourism in the region.

Air connectivity also has a significant economic impact. The airport generates employment, facilitates trade, and attracts investments to the region.

For local businesses, access to global markets is crucial, and air connectivity facilitates this access. It allows for the quick and efficient transport of goods, which is especially important for industries that rely on international trade.

Marine connectivity in Brownsville, Texas, is of immense importance for a multitude of reasons. The Port of Brownsville is the only deep-water seaport directly on the U.S./Mexico border. It is a major center for intermodal transportation and industrial development.

With approximately 40,000 acres of land available for development and 17 miles of waterfront access, the port offers a direct route to non-congested international bridge crossings and rail connections. The port is responsible for more than 51,000 jobs and $3 billion in annual state economic activity.

The port offers multiple modes of transportation, including ocean-going vessels, all major U.S. and Mexican truck lines, rail service, barge service via the U.S. Intracoastal and Inland Waterway System, pipeline access to U.S. and Mexican terminals, and air freight service at the Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport.

The railway connectivity in Brownsville, Texas, plays an important role in the transportation of goods. The Brownsville & Rio Grande International Railway (BRG) provides exclusive common carrier rail transportation to all facilities located within the Brownsville Navigation District of Cameron County, Texas. It operates 45 miles of line at the Port of Brownsville and interchanges with Union Pacific and KCSM.

The BRG traffic includes steel, agricultural products, food products, and general commodities. The railway connectivity has a significant impact on the local economy by facilitating the transport of various goods.

Moreover, the railway system in Brownsville provides a crucial link between Texas and other states, as well as international connectivity with Mexico. Overall, the railway connectivity of Brownsville, Texas, plays a vital role in the region’s transportation infrastructure, contributing to its economic development and growth.