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Vol. 9, No. 10 March 2025

BRG Celebrates 40 Years of Service

From Left to Right: OmniTRAX CEO Dean Piacente; Brownsville Navigation District Commissioner John Wood; Brownsville & Rio Grande International Railway President Shariff Gonnella; Port of Brownsville Director and CEO William Dietrich; and Broe Group Founder and CEO Pat Broe.

OmniTRAX, the rail and real estate affiliate of The Broe Group, commemorated the 40th anniversary of its Texas rail affiliate, Brownsville and Rio Grande International Railway (BRG), at a ceremony of economic and community partners in Brownsville, Texas. Dignitaries from the Port of Brownsville, state and local economic partners, community leaders, and rail customers joined a leadership delegation from OmniTRAX and BRG to recognize the railroad's pivotal role in keeping North American supply chains moving safely and smoothly. A $12 billion North American commerce engine, the Port of Brownsville handled nearly 18 million tons of cargo over the past year.


"For four decades, The Brownsville & Rio Grande International Railway has kept America's supply chains moving with vital rail service that connects the Port of Brownsville to the North American freight network," said Texas Governor Greg Abbott. "We celebrate the BRG's 40th anniversary and look forward to decades more of partnership as the Port of Brownsville continues to be a major economic engine of North American commerce."


Brownsville and Rio Grande International Railway was formed in 1984 to serve the rail service needs for the Brownsville Navigation District. The BND, which manages the Port of Brownsville's 40,000 acres, enlisted safety and service leader OmniTRAX to operate the Port's 45 miles of rail lines within the Port of Brownsville. The BRG interchanges with Union Pacific, CPKC's Mexican line, and BNSF, seamlessly connecting the Port's record-breaking shipments of steel, agricultural products, food products, and commodities to the North American rail network.

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The Finance Department team gathers for a photo to celebrate earning the prestigious Certificate of Distinction.

BND Finance Department Earns Certificate of Distinction for Investment Policy

The Brownsville Navigation District (BND) Finance Department was awarded the prestigious Certificate of Distinction by the Government Treasurers’ Organization of Texas (GTOT) for its investment policy.


This recognition underscores the BND’s commitment to responsible financial management and adherence to the highest public investing standards.



The GTOT Investment Policy Review Committee found that BND’s policy meets the requirements of the Public Funds Investment Act and GTOT’s best practices for prudent public investing—with no recommendations for improvement. The certification remains valid for a two-year period, expiring on June 30, 2026.

Rio Grande LNG Phase 1 on Track as NextDecade Plans Facility Expansion

NextDecade Corporation is making steady progress on the construction and development of the Rio Grande LNG facility at the Port of Brownsville, with Phase 1 advancing on schedule.


As of early 2025, engineering for Trains 1 and 2 is nearly 85% complete, while Train 3 has reached 15.3% completion. The company is also pushing forward with Trains 4 and 5, working to secure commercial agreements and financing for a final investment decision.


NextDecade has also announced expansion plans, including Train 6, which will be developed within the existing levee, and Trains 7 and 8, which will extend beyond the current site. The additions will increase the facility’s liquefaction capacity by approximately 18 million tons per year, reinforcing its position as a key LNG export hub.

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Brownville Navigation District Chairman Esteban Guerra, Brownville Navigation District Commissioner Ernesto Gutierrez, and Port Director and CEO William Dietrich led the Charro Days spirit on the port's float in the parade on Elizabeth Street on March 1.

Celebrating Charro Days: A Tradition of Prosperity and Partnership

Since 1937, the Brownsville community unites to celebrate Charro Days, honoring the city’s rich culture and strong ties its sister city across the border, Matamoros. Established during the Great Depression to uplift the community, the festival shares its spirit of opportunity with the Port of Brownsville, founded in 1936 as a key economic driver.


This year, the Port of Brownsville proudly continued its tradition of participating in Charro Days and Sombrero Festival, held at Washington Park. These community events showcase the port as a vital hub for commerce, linking small and large businesses to international markets—especially Mexico.


Handling millions of tons of cargo annually, the port fuels industries like steel manufacturing, energy, and logistics, driving job creation and economic growth across the Rio Grande Valley.

Sombrero Festival attendees line up to visit the Port of Brownsville's tent at Washington Park on Mar. 1. The festival attracts crowds of 60,000 people annually.

Port Abilities: 56K Tons of Steel

The force is strong at the Port of Brownsville. In February, the MV Draft Vader called on the Port of Brownsville carrying more than 56,000 metric tons of steel slab from Brazil. The raw steel was unloaded by Gulf Stream Marine and will be transported by rail to Mexico for processing at Ternium's hot rolling steel mill.


ABOUT PORT ABILITIES

Port Abilities is a video series produced by the Port of Brownsville highlighting the seamless capabilities of the port's marine terminals serving industries worldwide.

BROWNSVILLE NAVIGATION DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS


Esteban Guerra

Chairman


Sergio Tito Lopez

Vice Chairman


John Reed

Secretary


John Wood

Commissioner


Ernesto Gutierrez

Commissioner

PORT OF BROWNSVILLE ADMINISTRATION


William Dietrich

Port Director & CEO


Port Administration


Contact Us:

Ph: 956.831.4592 / 800.378.5395

Fax: 956.831.5006

www.portofbrownsville.com

CALENDAR

March 19

BND Board Meeting 


March 20

First Day of Spring


April 2

BND Board Meeting

 

April 16

BND Board Meeting


April 18

Good Friday- Port Offices Closed

ILA Ratifies Six-Year Contract with 99% Approval

The final stamp of approval for a new six-year Master Contract Agreement between the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and United States Maritime Alliance (USMX), was secured today as ILA rank-and-file members, working at ports on the Atlantic and Gulf Coast Ports, overwhelmingly ratified the landmark agreement. The extension to the Master Contract will be effective October 1, 2024, through September 30, 2030.


With nearly all ILA reporting results of the ratification vote, nearly 99 percent of ILA members voted in favor of the new Master Contract Agreement.

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