Brownsville has a variety of modern services to meet traveler needs. The Brownsville-South Padre Island International Airport has scheduled and charter flights. Continental Airlines provides service connections with Houston on five daily flights. At the airport, several national and regional car rental companies operate. Taxi service is readily available and shuttle services operate seasonally.

Some of the local ground tour operators provide shuttle service in the Rio Grande Valley and connections into Matamoros. The Brownsville Urban System, BUS, operates an extensive system of bus routes around the city.

Banking services include convenient ATM service with all the popular network connections, currency exchanges, and wire transfers, along with the standard services found in the United States.

The daily newspaper is The Brownsville Herald which publishes seven days a week. Several tabloids with shopper or tourist orientations are also available. The local radio stations present the standard variety of formats in both English and Spanish.

Brownsville Parks and Recreation operates a park system with athletic fields, pools, playground, picnic, and recreation facilities.

Industry
Manufacturing, agriculture, shipping, and retail are the principal industries in Brownsville. NAFTA has brought cross-border manufacturing to the area with operations spanning the border. These are known as "Maquiladora plants." In fact, the Port of Brownsville is referred to as the homeport of NAFTA.

Port of Brownsville
first-class cargo and fishing port connects to the Gulf of Mexico via a 17 mile, 42 foot deep channel. Products going to and from the Rio Grande Valley and northern Mexico locations pass through the Port. One of its more visible features is Keppel Amfels’ offshore oilrig rebuilding and steel processing facility. The Port is also home to the local shrimp fleet. In combination with neighboring Port Isabel, the fleet is the largest in the world. Rail lines and truck routes from both sides of the border connect for cargo transport with the Port.