If your morning commute takes you down Boca Chica Boulevard, near Honeydale Drive, to Military Highway you might have noticed a reduction in lane traffic.
That’s because the City of Brownsville is working on its BTXFibers project that, when completed, will make the internet accessible and affordable to Brownsville residents and businesses.
Some requirements will need to be met in order for residents to qualify for the service. That information will be provided later.
“Those who qualify, they can get access not for free but at about a 50% reduced cost,” said Jorge Cardenas, director of Enterprise Applications with the City of Brownsville. “This one will not only be cheaper, but it is also going to be more reliable…if a section gets cut the other section will pretty much pick up the load and you will still have connectivity.”
The project will start in six rings or sections making its way around the city.
Work on phase one, or Ring 1, of the project that includes the downtown area began Monday and should be completed in June, Cardenas said.
The first connections should happen in July.
“They are going to go through Alton Gloor, around Alton Gloor back to the trails and back to Boca Chica,” Cardenas said.
The BTXFibers project is the result of a public-private partnership between the city and Lit Communities.
The city committed $20 million to the plan taking money from the American Rescue Plan Act, with Lit Communities investing $70 million to complete the project. Lit Communities helps communities set up their own broadband networks.
The second phase, or Ring 2, will include the Southmost area, the Port of Brownsville and Coffee Road.
Ring 3 will connect to Ring 1 and Ring 2. It will go all the way to Old Port Isabel Road and Hugh Emerson Road.
Ring 4 will connect to Ring 3 and Ring 1. It will be on the north side of the city toward Los Fresnos.
Ring 5 will connect all of the Los Fresnos area.
Officials said the completion of each ring should take about four months. The project should be completed in December 2024.
