Following-up on the depavement of 83 miles of "farm-to-market" roads, TxDOT now proposes a much larger budget-saving measure: "Turn back" control of 2,000 miles of these state roadways to counties and cities. TxDOT also wants to focus on urban roads.
Gail Delaughter explains the two major reasons for what is being called the "turnback" proposal. She also broadcasts her story on an accompanying 2:32 audio tape.
- Budgetary: Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) had requested "about $4 billion for future transportation needs" during the legislative sessions. As we posted here on August 12, a measure did pass to allow voters to decide next year "whether or not to divert about $1.2 billion of oil and gas revenues from the state’s Rainy Day Fund to the state's highway fund". Lacking sufficient revenue to maintain all of its 80,000 roads, the aim is to reduce the road burden by letting "local governments start footing the bill for things like resurfacing and pothole repair", Delaughter writes.
- Urban Focus: Delaughter reports that Texas Transportation Commissioner Jeff Moseley "says the money that now goes to local road maintenance could be better used for other projects, like increasing capacity on the state's congested freeways."
"We have 1,200 new Texans every day moving into our state. Many of these families are bringing two automobiles, and about 85% of those are coming into the urban areas of Texas, including Houston."
The five-member Texas Transportation Commission oversees statewide activities of TxDOT. It would seem that in addition to rural vs. urban, the choice the commission is considering is one of congestion mitigation over maintenance - a choice we questioned here last year.
Texas roads crisis Part 1 dealt with the proposal to convert 83 miles of farm-to-market, asphalt roads to gravel, partly in response to the significant toll that heavy trucks servicing the energy industry makes on these roads. No mention was made by Gail Delaughter of the road damage caused by these trucks, making it clear that that TxDOT's budgetary crisis goes beyond road damage caused by the state's booming energy industry.
These painful budgetary measures were forewarned by state Sen. Kevin Eltife (R-Tyler) when he proposed adding 10-cents to the 20-cent state gas tax, wrote Tom Benning of the Dallas Morning News on February 18.
Until we have the political courage to really find the robust, long-sustaining revenue, we’re going to damage to our state’s infrastructure and to this industry,” he said.
FULL STORY: Local Officials Concerned Over TxDOT Money-Saving Proposal

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”
The Make Autorail Great Again Act would withhold federal funding to the system until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), rebrands as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA).

The Simple Legislative Tool Transforming Vacant Downtowns
In California, Michigan and Georgia, an easy win is bringing dollars — and delight — back to city centers.

The Small South Asian Republic Going all in on EVs
Thanks to one simple policy change less than five years ago, 65% of new cars in this Himalayan country are now electric.

DC Backpedals on Bike Lane Protection, Swaps Barriers for Paint
Citing aesthetic concerns, the city is removing the concrete barriers and flexposts that once separated Arizona Avenue cyclists from motor vehicles.

In These Cities, Most New Housing is Under 441 Square Feet
With loosened restrictions on “micro-housing,” tiny units now make up as much as 66% of newly constructed housing.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)