The Texas state Legislature is looking for ways to fund projects to address the state's traffic congestion problems in its cities and at the border.
According to a report in the San Antonio Express-News, the outlook is "bleak," especially for South Texas.
The Legislature is considering raising the state's gasoline tax by a nickel, adopting a revolving bond fund for transportation projects, and authorizing the department to issue bonds repaid from future federal highway dollars. But none of these will even get the state close to paying for all its transportation needs, said the paper.
In addition to funding problems, projections of future transportation needs have failed to keep pace with real demands. Nearly 80 percent of U.S.-Mexico truck traffic travels through Texas, and the number of border crossings has more than doubled since 1990. If the Bush Administration opens the border to more Mexican trucks, that will only get worse. And the border region gets only $8 of every $100 in state road funds.
Gov. Rick Perry and some legislators are calling for changes to the Texas Transportation Commission. They want the three-person commission to be expanded to seven members, with each member selected from a distinct region. The commission has not had a member from south of San Antonio in more than 20 years, reports the paper. And although a performance review of the Commission found no evidence that it favors one region over another, some feel the border region is not getting the representation - or funding - it deserves.
According to a report in the San Antonio Express-News, the outlook is "bleak," especially for South Texas.
The Legislature is considering raising the state's gasoline tax by a nickel, adopting a revolving bond fund for transportation projects, and authorizing the department to issue bonds repaid from future federal highway dollars. But none of these will even get the state close to paying for all its transportation needs, said the paper.
In addition to funding problems, projections of future transportation needs have failed to keep pace with real demands. Nearly 80 percent of U.S.-Mexico truck traffic travels through Texas, and the number of border crossings has more than doubled since 1990. If the Bush Administration opens the border to more Mexican trucks, that will only get worse. And the border region gets only $8 of every $100 in state road funds.
Gov. Rick Perry and some legislators are calling for changes to the Texas Transportation Commission. They want the three-person commission to be expanded to seven members, with each member selected from a distinct region. The commission has not had a member from south of San Antonio in more than 20 years, reports the paper. And although a performance review of the Commission found no evidence that it favors one region over another, some feel the border region is not getting the representation - or funding - it deserves.
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