There are thousands of miles to cover in Texas, from the abundance of highways around the larger cities, like Houston, to the far reaches of the Big Bend region. Our roads are integral in moving goods around the clock from our ports to other parts of the country. The Texas highway system keeps us connected locally and internationally to the rest of the world.
Yet, keeping Texas highways operational takes a lot of work, forethought, and planning. When traveling through Texas, you’re utilizing a highway system that must continually grow and expand to accommodate the needs and progress of our state. The professional team at The Krist Law Firm, P.C., explains what you need to know about the Texas state highway system.
When Was the Texas State Highway System Established?
As early as 1917, Texas leaders recognized the difficulty of traversing such a vast country without a state highway system. During that time, the Texas Highway Department was born. The governmental organization was responsible for the construction and maintenance of the state’s road system and was charged with registering automobiles in the state and licensing their drivers. Almost 200,000 Texans were ready to hit the highway during that first year.
Who Is Responsible for Maintaining Texas Highways?
Following World War II, federal funds began to support the expansion of interstate roads after a cut in funds for non-military projects had stopped development. The Texas Highway Department started to focus on the interstate system, utilizing funds provided by the Federal Aid Highway Act.
Additionally, creating farm-to-market roadways became a priority in developing a secondary rural road system throughout the state, allowing farms and ranches to connect with local markets. The Texas Highway Department kept its name until it was renamed the State Department of Highways and Public Transportation (SDHPT) in 1975.
TxDOT Contributions to the Texas State Highway System
The SDHPT was recognized as one of the leading state transportation agencies in the country by the 1980s. The Texas legislature voted to merge the SDHPT, the Texas Department of Aviation, and the Texas Motor Vehicle Commission in 1991 to create the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). Except for roads maintained by cities and counties in Texas, TxDOT is responsible for the intricate state highway system, which spans 314,000 miles.
According to TxDOT, the Texas Highway System would stretch from the Earth past the moon if the roads connected end-to-end. Approximately 72% of Texas motor vehicle traffic moves across state-owned roads.
Maintaining the Roads Is a Joint Government Effort
Maintaining and operating the Texas Highways system is a vast undertaking by multiple agencies. TxDOT is responsible for maintaining and preserving the on-state system network of highways and is owned by TxDOT. An off-state highway network system also exists in Texas and is owned by other governmental entities, such as counties, towns and municipalities, and federal agencies.
Some roadways in the Texas highway system are also designated as part of the National Highway System (NHS), which includes interstate and non-interstate highways. Share of public road ownership in Texas is divided as follows by these agencies:
- County: 47%
- Town, township, or municipal: 26%
- TxDOT: 26%
- Federal agency: 1%
If you are injured in a Texas car accident due to road conditions, it’s vital to your case to determine which agency is responsible for road maintenance where your crash occurred. The statute of limitations laws for filing personal injury lawsuits against government agencies in Texas vary. Time limits may also vary from that of other personal injury actions. Failing to act within the time limits prescribed by law will likely result in an inability to seek compensation for damages.
What Are the Types of Highways Within the Texas State Highway System?
You’re likely to travel on multiple types of roadways when driving in Texas daily. Many of these roads began as routes in the Texas highway system before being designated as part of other systems, such as the Interstate Highway System. The Texas State Highway System consists of the following types of roadways:
Interstate Highways
Interstate highways in Texas stretch over 3,233 miles. I-10 has the longest section of interstate highway in Texas, extending 878.7 miles from El Paso to Orange, TX. The first section of Interstate Highway in Texas was the Gulf Freeway, or I-45, in Houston, opening in 1952. Houston also boasts the most congested Interstate Highway in Texas at W. Loop Fwy/IH 610. Texas has 16 Interstate highways running through it.
U.S. Highways
The Texas State Highway System also consists of 45 U.S. Highways. Many of these highways have been replaced by the Interstate system in Texas. In many parts of Texas, U.S. highways only consist of two-lane roads. U.S. Hwy 90 extends from Beaumont through the thriving Houston metropolitan area, winding west to Van Horn, TX. U.S. Hwy 90, once leaving the city of Del Rio, becomes a lonesome two-lane highway with sparse amenities but plays a critical role in connecting rural West Texas with the Interstate System and larger metropolitan areas.
State Highways
Texas state highways also have a network of state highway loops and spurs. Loops are short links generally connecting two state or national highways. Spurs are designated as connections between state highways and farm-to-market roads or other lesser roads. One of the most well-known examples of a loop is Beltway 8, which funnels traffic around Houston.
Business Highways
Business highways are roadways that begin and end on a through highway and are designated by the Texas Transportation Commission. Business highways may be incorporated in interstate, U.S., and state highways throughout Texas. Business highways most often consist of older segments of these roads that have been bypassed throughout the years to allow for highway expansion.
Farm-to-Market Roads
TxDOT is responsible for constructing and maintaining these rural roadways in Texas once a city or county acquires the right-of-way. You can only find Farm-to-Market or Ranch-to-Market Roads in Texas. Roads east of U.S. 281 are farm-to-market roads, while roads west of this U.S. highway are called ranch-to-market roads.
Other Highways in the Texas State Highway System
Texas highways also consist of roads within recognized recreational areas in Texas, such as national and state parks. The Texas state highway system encompasses state park roadways. Toll roads and bridges are also part of the state highway system in Texas in major cities such as Austin, Fort Worth, and Houston. Toll roads provide an optional funding source for building and maintaining the Texas state highway system.
Facts About the Texas State Highway System
The growth of the Texas state highway system also spurred an increase in litter throughout the state. The cost of cleaning the growing litter problem in Texas increased annually by 15-20%, prompting leaders in Texas communities to seek creative ways to approach the costly challenge. In 1984, the Adopt-a-Highway program was born in Tyler, Texas, based on the ideas of an engineer in Texas who witnessed the growing litter problem first-hand. Today, volunteer programs have been initiated across the U.S. to provide more economical avenues to keeping highways clean.
The Texas State Highway System is incomplete without mentioning Texans who commute on foot and bicycle throughout the region. Pedestrians and bicyclists in Texas face alarming risks from increased motorized vehicle traffic. To date, TxDOT on-system roadways also encompass 4,457 miles of sidewalk and 447 miles of bicycle lanes.
The state’s highway system also includes 55,000 bridges, equaling almost 28,000 more bridges than other states. The in-state system is responsible for maintaining 36,000 of these bridges. TxDOT is responsible for 28 international bridges and border crossings connecting Texas and Mexico. International crossings are a significant part of U.S. trade with Mexico.
Texas State Highway System Accident Facts
The dangers of driving across Texas have increased as traffic and the state’s population continues to grow. According to TxDOT statistics, October has been the deadliest month on Texas highways for over a decade. Less daylight and weather during this month may contribute to higher accident rates. The peak fatality hour on the Texas state highway system is between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Over five years, the most significant contributors to Texas highway accidents included:
- Failure to control speed and driving at unsafe speeds
- Failing to drive in a single lane
- Driver inattention
- Alcohol influence on a driver
The Texas State Highway System is vital to our country and economic growth. Traveling safely across Texas has become more challenging, requiring Texas drivers to keenly practice situational awareness wherever they travel.
Injured on a Texas State Highway? Contact Us Today
It is your legal right to advocate for your ability to use the Texas state highway system safely and demand compensation when an accident occurs. The Houston car accident lawyers at the The Krist Law Firm, P.C. provides substantial experience as trial lawyers and record-setting recoveries for personal injuries on Texas highways. We are ready to speak with you and answer your questions about the Texas state highway system and your accident claim when you contact us and schedule a consultation today.