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The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT, pronounced “tex-dot”) is a state agency responsible for the construction and maintenance of state highways
TxDOT maintains more than 73,000 centerline miles of paved road. Measured in lane miles (total centerline mileage multiplied by the total number of lanes), it maintains more than 180,000 miles of road (view map).
These roads are classified as interstate highways, U.S. highways, state highways, farm-to-market (or ranch-to-market), frontage road, and park roads. TxDOT isn’t responsible for maintaining city and county road networks.
The state’s largest source of funding for roadbuilding and maintenance is the federal government, which levies taxes on motor fuels and then distributes a share of those collections to each state. Texas also dedicates a portion of state taxes on oil and gas production.
In addition to maintaining roadways, TxDOT oversees aviation, rail, and public transportation systems in Texas.
Facts About Texas Roads
- About 26% of roadways in Texas are state-owned, but 72% of all vehicle miles traveled occurs on state-owned roads.
- TxDOT sows about 30,000 pounds of wildflower seed each year along Texas roadways. Since 1934, the department has delayed seasonal mowing until wildflower season is over.
- 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.
- There are about 55,000 bridges in Texas, including about 36,000 on the state system. The remaining 19,000 bridges are off the state system (city streets, county roads, etc).
- TxDOT maintains 6,500 traffic signals throughout the state.
Structure and Staffing
With approximately 12,000 employees, the Texas Department of Transportation is one of the largest state agencies. The department is organized into 25 geographical districts that oversee the construction and maintenance of state highways.
Additionally, the department has more than 30 divisions that handle toll operations, maintenance dredging in waterways, environmental regulation, the inspection of bridges, and other services.
Most of these divisions report to TxDOT’s chief engineer, who in turn reports to the executive director of the agency.
A policy-making body oversees the work of the agency, the Texas Transportation Commission.
This five-member board is appointed by the governor and meets monthly to set agency policies.
An internal audit and compliance office maintains autonomy from the department itself and reports directly to the Transportation Commission.
History
Texas created the state highway department in 1917, after Congress passed the 1916 Federal Highway Bill to allocate funds to states. Only states with a highway department were eligible to receive federal money for reads.
Since 1933 the department has been headquartered in the Dewitt C. Greer Building at 125 East 11th Street in downtown Austin, located across from the Texas Capitol.
