Middle Rio Grande – Region 24 Regional Public Transportation Coordination Plan (RPTCP 2027-2031)
The Regional Public Transportation Coordination Plan (RPTCP) is a five-year strategic plan required by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) for each of the state’s 24 planning regions.
It’s designed to improve coordination among public transportation and human service transportation providers — ensuring that services are more efficient, inclusive, and responsive to community needs.
As the lead agency for our region, the Southwest Area Regional Transit District (SWART) is working with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and a consultant team to prepare an update of the Regional Public Transportation Coordination Plan (Plan) for Dimmit, Edwards, Kinney, La Salle, Maverick, Real, Uvalde, Val Verde and Zavala counties.
Purpose
The RPTCP identifies mobility needs, service gaps, and coordination opportunities for transportation-disadvantaged populations — including:
• Seniors
• Individuals with disabilities
• Veterans
• Low-income residents
• Youth and zero-car households
• Residents with limited English proficiency
It aims to improve access to jobs, education, healthcare, and essential services through better planning, coordination, and investment.
Key Functions
1. Inventory existing providers and services in the region
2. Assess unmet needs and service gaps
3. Engage the public and stakeholders to understand barriers to mobility
4. Develop goals, strategies, and coordinated projects to address those needs
5. Support eligibility for federal and state funding, such as:
a. FTA Section 5310 (Enhanced Mobility for Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities)
b. Other TxDOT and FTA programs that require consistency with a regional plan
If you are transportation provider in the region such as taxi, non-emergency medical transportation, or non-profit agency that provide transportation services, we want to hear from you!
This survey is open to all residents. By completing this short survey, you will help us learn about your current and future transportation needs and priorities.
If you are an organization that serves older adults, persons with disabilities, low-income individuals, zero-car households, area youth, persons with limited English proficiency, veterans, clients of workforce agencies, or employment/job seekers, please complete the stakeholder survey and provide us with as much information as possible.
The RPTCP is a five-year strategic plan developed to improve coordination among public transportation and human service transportation providers across the Middle Rio Grande region. The plan identifies mobility needs, service gaps, and opportunities to make transportation more efficient and accessible—especially for seniors, people with disabilities, veterans, and low-income residents.
The Southwest Area Regional Transit District (SWART) serves as the lead coordination agency for TxDOT Planning Region 24, which includes 9 counties in the Middle Rio Grande region. SWART works closely with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), local transit agencies, human service providers, and community stakeholders to develop the plan.
The RPTCP helps ensure that transportation services are coordinated, inclusive, and effective. It supports regional goals to improve access to jobs, healthcare, education, and community services. It also serves as a required document to qualify for certain federal and state funding programs such as the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Section 5310 program.
TxDOT requires every region in Texas to update their coordination plan every five years. The 2027–2031 RPTCP will replace the 2022–2026 version currently in place.
The plan includes:
• An inventory of public and human service transportation providers
• Demographic and geographic analyses of the region
• Identification of transportation needs and service gaps
• Public and stakeholder engagement summaries
• Regional goals, strategies, and priority projects
The region covered by this plan is a nine-county area that’s includes the following counties: Dimmit, Edwards, Kinney, La Salle, Maverick, Real, Uvalde, Val Verde and Zavala — and all cities and municipalities within those counties.
• Local transit providers (SWART and the City of Del Rio)
• City and county governments
• Human service agencies and nonprofit organizations
• Riders, residents, and advocacy groups representing transportation-disadvantaged populations
Public input is critical to shaping the plan. There will be regional workshops, focus groups, and online surveys throughout the planning process. Residents can share experiences, identify transportation challenges, and recommend solutions.
Opportunities to participate will be announced through SWART’s website and social media.
The RPTCP identifies strategies and projects that improve connectivity, accessibility, and coordination between transit providers. This could include new or expanded services, better trip planning tools, improved scheduling, shared resources, and coordinated funding opportunities—all aimed at making it easier for residents to get where they need to go.
• November 2025: Project kickoff and work plan finalized
• November 2025 – January 2026: Data collection and provider inventory
• February 2026: Interim Plan due
• Spring–Summer 2026: Public workshops and feedback
• October 2026: Final Plan submitted to TxDOT