Roadblocks to Texas Road Improvement

Posted on by Defensive Driving | in Defensive Driving Tips

roadblock

     As a result of a recent population boom–Texas boasts five of the nation’s eleven fastest growing cities–road improvement has become a hot-button issue. Major cities and roadways in Texas are becoming extremely congested, and the state has been faced with the request for both road building and road improvement. While some have decried the massive amount of funds being poured into transportation, lawmakers on both sides have agreed that something needs to be done. In an effort to fund new or improved roads, lawmakers have turned to methods other than taxes to raise the necessary money, such as toll roads. One celebrated attempt was the privately owned 41-mile-long southern portion of the State Highway 130 toll road that opened in 2012. Boasting the nation’s fastest speed limit, eighty-five miles an hour, then Governor Rick Parry was ecstatic, and believed it could be the beginning of a new era in Texas roads. However, by March of this year, the privately owned company that ran the road was filing for bankruptcy.

     Despite this toll road being celebrated during its initial success, most toll roads were not. Texans have resisted paying just to drive on their roads, even if it has meant fewer taxes, and lawmakers have been forced to turn elsewhere for solutions. Last November, with support from Texas Governor Greg Abbott, Texas voters passed Proposition 7, which called for the state to pour as much as $2.5 billion a year for the next decade into building and repairing Texas roads, without raising taxes. However, this new solution quickly hit a roadblock in early 2017 when plummeting oil prices substantially decreased the desired billions to hundreds of millions per year.  While Republican optimism still abounded then, other issues were also raised, such as taking money from education and healthcare, as well as lawmakers’ unwillingness to consider alternatives to the non-taxation funding approach. And now, as the year comes to an end, Texas lawmakers are again frustrated with the state of funding for transportation.

     In a recent statement from House Transportation Chairman Joe Pickett (D), he expressed frustration that despite last year’s bill, the biggest and most necessary projects–those that would help ease congestion in the cities where population growth is the greatest–will cost more than the state can provide. State Rep. Joe Simmons (R) has agreed, and pointed to a project to help ease congestion on the state’s busiest road in Austin as proof. Despite the recent proposition, the state simply cannot fund it. This reality has led many to ask whether or not enough can be done without raising taxes. Texans and Republican lawmakers continue to disagree with raising taxes, and do not seem willing to budge any time soon. However, because of the sheer amount of money it would take to combat the enormous population growth, it seems that this will be the question on everyone’s minds moving forward.

|

Customer Reviews

Defensivedriving.com has a ShopperApproved rating of 4.7 based on 123136 ratings and reviews.

Harleigh Sumrow united states
Easy and simple so far
Amber Brown Texas , united states
Very helpful
Miguel Teveni None, united states
quick and easy
Kathryn Johnson None, united states
quick and easy so far
Sheldon Hardwell Texas, united states
Easy to understand
Michael Thomas None, united states
Quick and easy
Jaime Barrera None, united states
Easy.
Jerome Parker II None, united states
great
Rhonda Hernandez None, united states
Easy to register and able to compete course in my available time .
Luis Sanchez None, united states
Good
Tania Saleem Tx, united states
Good
Kevin Guevara Texas , united states
Great experience, good courses
ELIZABETH S ETHERIDGE None, united states
fast easy to follow..
Francois Newkirk Texas , united states
Everything went good.
OSCAR ROMO None, united states
awesome
Maryam Shishesaz None, united states
It was great
Karen Coursey None, united states
Quick and easy sign up
Colby Forster Texas, united states
Used it before. Simple and straightforward
Kristi Geishauser Tx, united states
Great so far
Jasmine Redeaux Texas, united states
Very hands on, it explained everything from beginning to end, I would highly recommend.
Luis Ordaz None, united states
nice course
Vidal Hinojosa None, united states
quick
Tihomir Krtalic Texas, united states
Perfect
Mark Anthony Morales Texas, united states
Great service
Hayden Cooke None, united states
Great and easy
See all reviews on shopperApproved.com
Why DefensiveDriving.com
  • 20 Years in Business
  • Over 2 Million Customers Served
  • Highest Possible Better Business Bureau Rating
  • Award Winning Course