The Greater NogalesSanta Cruz County Port Authority told Nogalescity leaders on Nov. 5 that it is pressing regional, state and federal partners to protect and expand the citys role as a North American trade gateway.

"When Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern announced their merger, we quickly moved to issue a formal letter of support ... to make sure that Nogales was not forgotten in the process," Josh Rubin, chairman of the Port Authority, said during a quarterly update to the city council. He also described a separate letter backing UniSources Santa Cruz North Reliability Project, which adds a second circuit to improve power capacity and reduce outages.

Rubin said the port authority has hosted international press delegations and met with U.S. and Mexican diplomats and members of Congress to raise Nogaless profile. He said the authority is engaging Arizona Department of Transportation planning teams and Mexican corridor operators on multimodal options that include rail, truck and logistics.

The update included initial timing and funding context for a potential Mariposa/Ruby Road port-of-entry modernization. Rubin said a feasibility study is complete and that an environmental impact statement (EIS) is the next public federal step; he said construction remains several years away and will proceed in multiple phases. "We won't be seeing construction at least five years out," Rubin said, adding the port authority's current planning estimate places construction and supporting infrastructure in the multibillion-dollar range and anticipates state and federal funding packages.

Council members asked how the port authority coordinates with the Nogales Chamber of Commerce and with a county-led economic development position partially funded by the nearby South32 mine. Rubin said the chamber sits as an ex officio member of the authority and described a multi-jurisdictional committee model for the county position that would include city and chamber representatives.

No formal council action was required; the presentation documented ongoing coordination and advocacy efforts the authority will continue to pursue with ADOT, federal agencies and Sonoran partners.

"Nogales isn't just part of our mission. It is our mission," Rubin said.