Texas state legislators next year will face a number of highway issues, including how to pay for new highway construction to help solve congestion problems in the state.

Between the state's economic growth and traffic caused by the North American Free Trade Agreement, Texas' highways are carrying more traffic than ever before. Interstates 35 and 10 have attracted particular attention. But there just isn't enough money to buy more roads, according to the Texas Department of Transportation.
According to the Associated Press, the state can only fund about 36% of needed transportation projects. Most of the $5.2 billion highway fund comes from motor fuel taxes, vehicle registration fees and federal funding. The rest comes from state taxes on lubricants, title fees, interest and other sources. But about 17% of the budget goes for things other than highway projects.
The Texas DOT would like to see increased funding for highway projects and more flexibility in using existing funds.
Transportation commissioners are also urging lawmakers to make it easier to build toll roads in the state, suggesting an amendment to the state constitution to allow state funds to help pay for them.
Also likely on the agenda this year is a move to raise the speed limit from 70 mph to 75 mph on state highways. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Pete Gallego, failed last session. The bill would have raised the speed limit for cars, but not for trucks, which already are subjected to split speed limits in the state. Another bill to make the speed limit the same for cars and truck in the state also failed in the last session.