Heavy Loads, Some from Wind and Gas, Damage Texas Roads

I would point out that if this rural economic opportunity and impact were compared to the impacts on roadways in urban areas created by economic opportunity, the increased transportation costs in the urban areas are much greater.  It requires significant investment to expand and maintain urban highways and alternative modes of transportation.  That urban investment is important because energy and transportation drives the economy. It is far more costly than the shorter term impacts of the energy sector in rural areas. Yes, there is an impact in rural areas and TxDOT is right to discuss it, but the benefits certainly outweigh the impacts.  These vehicles pay vehicle registration fees and significant fuel taxes.  The needed rural investments in energy and transportation are beneficial nationwide.

Whether it be Texas, North Dakota, Wyoming or Colorado, the energy industry works closely with local governments to improve and maintain local roads.  I would further point out that the energy industry is developing rural resources for urban markets.  Urban areas benefit from the transportation system and the transmission systems developed in and through rural areas.  I am glad to see the increased rural economic activity. Let’s not place a heavier responsibility of the development of rural resources because it is easy to measure the increased activity and point to one sector as responsible. Let's support a user-pay system that provides a safe, efficient transportation system that benefits the economy and the benefits of energy to that economy.

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The Texas Tribune (complete article)

Photo illustration by: Todd WisemanOctober 19, 2010

"Now you can see how bad this is," says Stacey Young, a Lubbock-based pavement expert at the Texas Department of Transportation. She is driving along Farm to Market Road 97 in Floyd County, which has been so heavily repaired that one lane is a gray, black and sandy-colored patchwork. The cause: convoys of trucks lugging materials to a nearby wind farm that was built several years ago…