On the Texas-Sized Failure of Regional Transportation Planning

The Dallas Morning News investigated over promising and under delivering by regional mobility authorities in Texas.

2 minute read

May 2, 2015, 9:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


James Drew launches the story by citing some example of how little local transportation agencies have to show for millions of dollars spent in planning:

  • A plan in Grayson County to extend the Dallas North Tollway to Oklahoma. "The result six years later: at least $2.2 million in state funds spent, but no toll road."
  • A 2004 proposal in Tyler "to build a $248 million outer loop to absorb traffic and rake in tolls from a county of about 220,000 people." But only half the beltway has been completed, even after "the state wrote off a $55 million loan that was supposed to be repaid with toll dollars."
  • A proposal in San Antonio to "build 50 miles of toll lanes stretching across the traffic-choked north side of Bexar County" has produced zero miles of road and also led to an overhaul of the local transportation agency.

Drew traces the trend to authority of regional mobility authorities (RMAs) with the power "to use bonds build transportation projects and pay them off with tolls." The agencies do not, however, have the power to levy taxes. "The theory is that the tolls stay home, boosting area economies," according to Drew's explanation of the scheme.

But here's the rub, to sum:

"But nearly 15 years after the Texas Legislature changed state law so the agencies could be created, most of the nine RMAs have struggled to live up to their ambitions while burning through about $1 billion in tax dollars, an investigation by The Dallas Morning News has found."

The article goes on to provide a great deal more in-depth discussion of the promise and disappointment of RMAs—not only in theory but by taking a close look at case studies provided by examples like those summarized above.

Friday, May 1, 2015 in The Dallas Morning News

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Redlining map of Oakland and Berkeley.

Rethinking Redlining

For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.

May 15, 2025 - Alan Mallach

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

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

May 14, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Front of Walmart store with sign.

Walmart Announces Nationwide EV Charging Network

The company plans to install electric car chargers at most of its stores by 2030.

May 7, 2025 - Inc.

Aerial view of Albuquerque, New Mexico at sunset.

New State Study Suggests Homelessness Far Undercounted in New Mexico

An analysis of hospital visit records provided a more accurate count than the annual point-in-time count used by most agencies.

May 16 - Source NM

Close-up on white bike helmet lying on pavement with blurred red bike on its side in background abd black car visible behind it.

Michigan Bills Would Stiffen Penalties for Deadly Crashes

Proposed state legislation would close a ‘legal gap’ that lets drivers who kill get away with few repercussions.

May 16 - Wood TV 8

Muni bus on red painted bus-only lane in downtown San Francisco, California.

Report: Bus Ridership Back to 86 Percent of Pre-Covid Levels

Transit ridership around the country was up by 85 percent in all modes in 2024.

May 16 - Mass Transit