Texas Department of Transportation

Overview

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT, pronounced “tex-dot”) is a state agency responsible for the construction and maintenance of state highways, ensuring safe and efficient travel across Texas. With Texas being the second-largest state in the U.S., TxDOT plays a crucial role in keeping millions of residents and visitors moving smoothly every day.

TxDOT maintains more than 73,000 centerline miles of paved road. When measured in lane miles (the total mileage multiplied by the number of lanes), the network extends to over 180,000 miles. These roads fall into several categories:

• Interstate highways (e.g., I-10, I-35, I-45)
• U.S. highways (e.g., U.S. 59, U.S. 281)
• State highways
• Farm-to-market (FM) and ranch-to-market (RM) roads
• Frontage roads
• Park roads

TxDOT does not maintain city streets or county roads, which fall under local government jurisdictions.

In addition to highways, TxDOT oversees aviation, rail, and public transportation across the state, ensuring a well-connected transportation system.

Sources of Funding

The primary source of funding for road building and maintenance comes from the federal government, which collects taxes on motor fuels and redistributes them to states. Texas also allocates a portion of its state taxes on oil and gas production to support highway infrastructure.

Organizational Structure

With approximately 12,000 employees, TxDOT is one of the largest state agencies in Texas. The department is divided into 25 geographic districts, each responsible for construction and maintenance in its respective region. Key positions include

TxDOT’s headquarters is in Austin, housed in the Dewitt C. Greer Building at 125 East 11th Street, just across from the Texas Capitol.

A policy-making body, the Texas Transportation Commission, oversees the work of the agency. This five-member board is appointed by the governor and meets monthly.

Department History

Texas formally established its State Highway Department in 1917 after the 1916 Federal Highway Act required states to create an official highway department to receive federal funding for road construction. Over the years, TxDOT has expanded significantly, overseeing everything from highway maintenance to public transportation and aviation.

Major Historical Milestones

• 1917: 🛤 Establishment of the Texas Highway Department – Formed to administer federal highway construction and maintenance following the Federal Road Act of 1916. 
• 1933: 🏢 Headquarters Relocation – TxDOT moved its headquarters from a 1918 state office building to the Dewitt C. Greer Building in Austin, where it remains today.
• 1949: 🌾 Colson-Briscoe Act Enacted – This legislation provided dedicated funding for the expansion of farm-to-market roads, enhancing rural connectivity across Texas.
• 1951: 🚧 First Urban Freeway Opens – A 50-mile section of the Gulf Freeway (now I-45) became Texas’ first urban freeway.
• 1950s-1970s: 🛣 Interstate Expansion – Texas saw massive highway construction, including major interstates like I-10, I-35, and I-45.
• 1975: 🔄 Agency Merger – The Texas Highway Department merged with the Texas Mass Transportation Commission, forming the State Department of Highways and Public Transportation, expanding its responsibilities to include mass transit.
• 1986: 🗑 “Don’t Mess with Texas” Campaign Launches – Initiated as an anti-littering slogan, it has become a cultural touchstone and remains widely recognized. 
• 1997:🚦 Texas Turnpike Authority Integration – The pre-existing Texas Turnpike Authority was divided, with the North Texas Tollway Authority taking responsibility for assets in four North Texas counties, and the Turnpike Authority Division of TxDOT overseeing toll facilities in the rest of the state. 
• 1991: 🛣 Formation of TxDOT – The Texas Department of Transportation was officially created by merging the State Department of Highways and Public Transportation, the Department of Aviation, and the Texas Motor Vehicle Commission.
• 2002: 🚗 Texas Tollway System Introduced – The state launched toll roads like State Highway 130, designed to reduce congestion and provide alternative routes.
• 2021: 🤖 Autonomous Vehicle Study – Texas became the first U.S. state to mandate a study on converting major interstates into autonomous vehicle corridors, signaling a shift toward future transportation technology.

Issues and Controversies

Although TxDOT plays a crucial role in managing the state’s vast transportation network, but several of its projects have sparked criticism. Key concerns include traffic congestion, environmental impact, financial transparency, and public engagement.

Major infrastructure plans, such as the expansion of Interstate 35 in Austin, have raised questions about their long-term effectiveness and community impact. Critics argue that widening highways may increase, rather than reduce, congestion due to induced demand, while also leading to displacement and environmental harm.

TxDOT’s environmental reviews have also come under scrutiny, particularly regarding air quality and emissions projections. Reports on projects like the I-35 expansion have been criticized for underestimating potential pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions, raising concerns about inadequate mitigation efforts.

Additionally, some argue that alternative solutions, such as improved public transit and urban planning strategies, are being overlooked in favor of large-scale road expansions.

While TxDOT faces the challenge of maintaining and expanding transportation infrastructure in a rapidly growing state, critics argue that a more balanced approach is needed that adresses environmental concerns and considers alternative transit solutions.

Did You Know?

• TxDOT operates over 6,500 traffic signals statewide to regulate traffic flow.
• Only 26% of Texas roads are state-owned, but they handle 72% of all vehicle miles traveled.
• Road fatalities on Texas roads are extremely common and significantly higher than the national average. From 2015 through 2019, 18,271 people died on Texas’ highways, an average of 3,654 annual fatalities.
• Texas has about 55,000 bridges, with 36,000 maintained by TxDOT and the rest managed by cities and counties.
• The Katy Freeway (I-10 in Houston) is the widest highway in the world, with 26 lanes at its widest point.
• Texas’ first paved road was built in 1918 in Denison.
• Each year, TxDOT plants about 30,000 pounds of wildflower seeds along Texas roadways, a tradition dating back to 1934. This program was championed by Lady Bird Johnson, former First Lady of the United States, to preserve the state’s natural beauty. The department delays seasonal mowing until wildflower season is over.
• Route 66, the legendary “Mother Road,” crosses through Texas for 178 miles, attracting tourists worldwide.