When it comes to budgeting for county roads, Wise County Commissioner Colby Shawn tackles a three-part challenge: Road failures are increasing, costs continue to rise, and public expectations remain high. “We have limited dollars but unlimited needs,” Shawn shared during a presentation on county roads during April’s West Texas Conference. “That is the reality.” While … [Read more...] about Commissioners Tackle Tough Road Question: How Do We Do More With Less?
Road & Bridge
The Good Roads Our Counties Need
Picture a grain elevator in rural Missouri on a harvest morning. A line of loaded semis snakes back a quarter mile. Each loaded truck then travels county roads to reach the rail silo, the barge, and the world market. The farmer’s margin – already thin – depends on that road holding under 80,000 pounds of corn. Now picture that road after a wet spring: a frost-heave crack … [Read more...] about The Good Roads Our Counties Need
County Roads: Precinct System and Unit System
Roles and Responsibilities
County Progress is often asked for information on county roads including an explanation of the “precinct system” and the “unit system.” The text below provides a simple explanation of each system and the related Commissioners Court responsibilities. Our thanks to the road experts who helped us prepare this article. The Basics A county road is a public road that has been … [Read more...] about County Roads: Precinct System and Unit System
Texas County Road Maintenance: Survey Report
Counties continue to face ever-increasing challenges in providing road networks that meet the transportation needs of commerce and industry while maintaining a reliable and safe system for their county residents. Many of these county roads handle traffic volumes and gross weights in excess of some of the highways maintained by the Texas Department of Transportation … [Read more...] about Texas County Road Maintenance: Survey Report
Transportation Infrastructure Grant
Usage Key to Program Renewal
Northeast Andrews County has suffered fire damage over the years resulting in burned out brush and grass and exposed sand. The county experiences a great deal of wind, which mixes the sand with the caliche shoulders, explained Andrews County Commissioner Jeanene Anderegg. Over time, the caliche is lost. “Hauling out the sand and replacing it with good material is not only time … [Read more...] about Transportation Infrastructure Grant