Texas has more roadway miles than any other state. Over a quarter of Texas’ 302,000 miles of public roads is state owned. From 1990 to 2003, the demand for roads in Texas increased 13 times faster than the state’s road system increased in capacity. As a result, travel delay due to congestion in Texas increased from 750 million hours per year in 1982 to 3.6 billion hours in 2000. Combine these road-demand statistics with the fact that over half the state’s population lives in ozone nonattainment pollution zones, and it becomes clear that Texas faces serious transportation problems needing solutions.
Winter Weather Worries
Another Texas summer is coming to an end soon, and despite the scorching temperatures, the electric grid has kept the A/C running. ERCOT didn’t falter when faced with a new all-time peak energy demand record on July 22. But hot, sunny days are only one end of the spectrum. According to a TPPF/Overton Insights poll released yesterday,...