Concrete Costs

While the basic transportation conundrum facing Texas, and Austin in particular, has long been evident -- essentially, population growth fueling congestion in a highway-dependent, car-centric area during a time of constricted budgets -- state and local officials have had few figures to quantify just how big the hole was. Well, the bill is in, and it's a whopper. Planners at the Texas Dept. of Transportation are putting the finishing touches on their 25-year Texas Transportation Plan, a broad policy document that presents a staggering assessment of the looming transportation crisis and likely will create waves when the Legislature convenes in January.

For two years, TxDOT officials have worked to put price tags on the state's transportation problem and, over the past two months, traveled the state to solicit public comments on the 25-year plan's conclusions and recommendations, including a Nov. 14 presentation at TxDOT's Austin district headquarters. Among the grisly details, planners estimate that congestion in Texas has grown 333% in the past 20 years and will only get worse, with highway usage expected to rise more than 60% over the next 20 years. In response, TxDOT and its consultant Cambridge Systematics Inc. predict the state must spend an average $14.9 billion annually on highways alone, a massive increase over the current $5 billion yearly investment. Jack Foster, director of system planning at TxDOT, said the high spending will be necessary because "the state is still highway oriented, for better or worse," but added that the plan makes clear that "you can't build your way out of this with more roads." The 25-year plan recommends scrounging new sources of funding to enlarge and maintain the highway system, but also urges that the state shift more resources toward alternative modes of transportation.

Primarily, the plan recommends expanded use of freight rail to ease congestion by removing trucks from state highways. TxDOT planners estimate the state should spend nearly $600 million yearly on rail projects during the next 20 years. The plan notes that Texas contains more than 14,000 miles of railroad tracks, more than any other state, though too much of that track goes unused. Since rail's peak in Texas in 1932, TxDOT planners say, 37% of the state's tracks have been abandoned. "Abandonment can transfer greater volumes of freight on to trucks, posing safety concerns for motorists and increasing deterioration of state highways," reads the plan.

Besides rail, TxDOT planners urge more public transportation infrastructure, as well as pedestrian and bike trails. The plan notes that public transportation serves 91% of Texans, calls for spending increases in that department of $1.1 billion annually until 2025, and includes a call for expanded intercity bus and rail service. The plan also estimates $494 million total funding during the next 20 years on pedestrian and bicycle needs.

TxDOT officials will compile public comments and then present the plan to the Legislature in February or early March. Foster notes that the proposal is simply a "high-level policy document that's really trying to show a direction for the future as opposed to specific actions." He said TxDOT and Cambridge Systematics used complex computer models to come up with the proposed spending figures, and TxDOT officials believe the numbers are accurate.

"It just sucks a huge part of the state's functions when you add up the bill," Foster said. "If you have all these needs in the state, where are the funds going to come from?" That's the big question, and the sky-high spending estimates could affect transportation legislation this session. TxDOT recommends finding funding sources alternative to gas taxes and registration fees, including more regional and local money. That element of the plan seems to endorse the regional mobility authority idea -- in some areas, an RMA could replace TxDOT in building roads and finding funds for transportation projects. Numerous RMA bills have already been filed for the upcoming session -- Williamson Co. Rep. Mike Krusee alone has filed four bills, including HB 156 that would grant RMAs the power of eminent domain, and HB 157 that would give RMAs the right to issue turnpike revenue bonds. Krusee has filed two bills that would allow TxDOT to explore Gov. Rick Perry's Trans-Texas Corridor proposal, a grandiose proposal that would munch even more transportation funding.

You can view the 25-year plan online at www.dot.state.tx.us/tpp/transplan/transplan.htm.

Public comments can be submitted to mconkle@dot.state.tx.us.