TXDoT should spend some of its new-found money on Eagle Ford-related road damage
By: Sen. Carlos Uresti
The development of the Eagle Ford shale has been a boon for the economy, a shot in the arm for local governments, and a steady source of jobs that’s put a welcome dent in the state’s unemployment rate.
But it has also caused a tremendous amount of wear and tear on South Texas roadways.
Every day, huge trucks hauling drilling rigs, oil field equipment, chemicals, or waste water are traveling on state highways and smaller farm and ranch roads that are more accustomed to automobiles, pickup trucks and tractors.
According to the experts, the number of truckloads of water for a single well are equivalent to adding the weight of 8 million car trips. With more than 1,000 active wells in the Eagle Ford and permits granted for 3,000 more, these roadways are taking a pounding that they were never designed to handle and more is on the way.
Some oil and gas production companies have chipped in to help counties with road maintenance and repair, and others should step up to the plate. But the state also has a major responsibility here, and a recent development at TXDoT could help.
The department said it found $2 billion for road projects across the state that it had not previously identified, including $750 million in federal funds, $600 million from the Texas Mobility Fund, and $650 million from ‘under-runs’ — money left over from projects that were cheaper to complete that originally estimated.
Now this doesn’t mean that TXDoT suddenly has an additional $2 billion in the bank that it can go out and spend immediately. But it does mean that the agency can start making plans for projects that had not been on the table. While there are many billions of dollars in highway infrastructure needs across Texas, it would be unfair and unwise to spend all of the windfall on interstate highways and urban freeways.
There is also a great need among the towns and counties who are sacrificing their roadways for the economic benefits the entire region is enjoying from the Eagle Ford play. To address that need, I have urged TXDoT Executive Director Phil Wilson to dedicate some of the money to help maintain and improve roadways affected by Eagle Ford shale development.
Wilson has now identified $40 million for this purpose, and I am confident that some relief is on the way. But counties will need more than a one-time fix. According to estimates, it can cost from $100,000 to $300,000 per mile to repair a county road. Over the course of the Eagle Ford, it’s clear the need will be very great. That means TxDOT’s commitment to rural roads must be ongoing.
Texas has been blessed by its abundance of natural resources. Its oil and gas reserves helped defend the free world, powered American industry and made the American dream a reality for many thousands of working Texans.
If that promise is to continue into the future, we must invest in our highway infrastructure. TXDoT should be congratulated for its diligence in finding new revenues, and it must be wise in how it decides to spend them. The roadways of rural Texas will make a great start.
