Section 251.153, Transportation Code permits a Commissioners Court to “establish load limits for any county road or bridge." This same power is reiterated in Section 621.301 but provides an exception for vehicles that have obtained certain state permits. In Scurlock Permian Corp. v. Brazos County, 869 S.W. 2d 478 (Tex. App. – Houston (1st Dist.) 1993, writ denied), the courts … [Read more...] about Road Use Agreements
County Roads
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
Floodplain Management
What are the duties of County Commissioners when it comes to flooding and floodplains? It is likely you are doing most of those duties already, and you don’t even know it! When it comes to roads, the duties of a Commissioners Court can be found in and around Chapter 251 of the Texas Transportation Code. To paraphrase, the Commissioner’s role is to supervise the construction … [Read more...] about Floodplain Management
County Weight Enforcement
The Rolling Stones offered the following advice: “You can’t always get what you want, but you just might get what you need.” A recent Opinion from the Attorney General provides insight into the authority of county officers to enforce weight limitations on state highways and county roads. In AG Opinion KP-0458 (2024), Attorney General Ken Paxton held that a deputy sheriff … [Read more...] about County Weight Enforcement