2026 Rio Grande Valley International Rail Conference Website Celeste Cruz / Vaquero Radio
RGV Railroad Advocates wants to bring more rail transportation to move commuters in the Rio Grande Valley between cities and connect to Houston, San Antonio, Dallas and Monterrey.
The nonprofit organization will host its second-annual conference and continue to introduce the economic value to the community.
RGV Railroad Advocates Director Dennis Williams said the main goal for the second conference is for community members to share their goals, ideas and thoughts about a railroad system.
“What they would like to see and what we need to have to bring in the rail to bring in this project,” Williams said.
He said the two-day conference will feature 25 speakers.
“Our keynote speaker is Jean-Pierre Arduin,” he said. “He has helped produce high-speed rail projects in the world. … We have local leaders that will be speaking.
The speakers will also answer questions from the audience members to learn what they would like and need to see in the project.
“We’re gonna have an open-mic session,” he said. “We are gonna ask the people in the audience, ‘Tell us what you want. Tell us what you need.”
Williams said he would like Valley local leaders to attend the conference.
“They are the ones that listen and are elected by the constituents,” he said. “They lay out the plans for what their needs are and take care of what’s going on.”
UTRGV psychology student Ashley Nico Cazares said a railroad transportation system in the Valley would save people gas and be a good transportation alternative for people who don’t own vehicles.
“I think it’s a pretty good idea, especially for people that don’t even have a vehicle,” Cazares said. “That can help them get to their location. I feel like it would be safer for them.”
UTRGV marketing student Rafael Dominguez said the railroads can work for faster travel.
The Rio Grande Valley International Rail Conference will take place from noon to 8 p.m. Thursday and from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday in the Balli’s Social Event Center in Mission. For more information about the conference, visit riograndevalleyinternationalrailconference.com.
