McAllen has a new bus route connecting the downtown area to the Hidalgo-Reynosa International Bridge, giving riders a safer and cheaper way to get to the crossing.

Metro McAllen launched the one-way route this month from the McAllen Central Bus Terminal to the foot of the bridge. The ride costs $3 and helps riders avoid walking through traffic and paying the $1 bridge toll.

The route runs every two hours Monday through Saturday between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. On Sundays, it runs every two hours between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

McAllen City Commissioner Michael Fallek said safety concerns around private shuttles near the bridge pushed the city to act.

"This is really more city staff just seeing some of the safety concerns with overcrowding on some private transportation options — both in terms of potentially unsafe vehicles and overcrowding in some of those vehicles," Fallek said.

Fallek said the route is still being tested and could change.

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