Interim Report to the 83rd Texas Legislature: House Committee on Transportation Page: 7
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Committee Action
The Committee met on March 22, 2012 to hear testimony regarding the current state of Texas'
transportation infrastructure and long range plans by the Texas Department of Transportation
(TxDOT) for maintaining those assets. Testimony was given by the following people and/or
entities: Texas Department of Transportation; Texas Transportation Institute; Christopher Evilia
for Waco Metropolitan Planning Organization; and Ashby Johnson for Texas Association of
Metropolitan Transportation Organizations Houston-Galveston Area Council.
Background
TxDOT manages and maintains a comprehensive transportation system of over 80,000 miles of
roadway; over 51,000 bridges; approximately 300 general aviation airports; and over 390 miles
of railroad.' Over the next 25 years Texas' population is projected to more than double; freight
traffic is expected to grow at twice the rate of passenger vehicle traffic; and many miles of roads
and bridges are expected to require re-building. As traffic levels increase so will wear and tear
on the existing infrastructure, and the demand for additional capacity. At current funding levels
the condition of Texas' transportation infrastructure will deteriorate over the next 10 years. State
funding for transportation covers just the maintenance costs of the current system, with no
money for new projects, while the number of new road users grows each day leading to even
more wear and tear on the existing transportation structure. Insufficient maintenance of roads
and bridges will mean the need for major reconstruction projects, and as the population grows
congestion will increase. Poor road quality, structurally deficient bridges, and increased
congestion all contribute to dangerous driving conditions, and affect the safety of the public.
Ensuring the state's transportation infrastructure is safe, reliable, comprehensive, and efficient is
paramount to maintaining the wellbeing of the growing number of Texans.
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Texas. Legislature. House of Representatives. Committee on Transportation. Interim Report to the 83rd Texas Legislature: House Committee on Transportation, report, December 20, 2012; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth531933/m1/8/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.