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The State's Transportation System

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One of the challenges that the Texas government is failing to keep up with is the state’s transportation system due to the increased population. From 2000-2010 the population has grown by over 4 million people. As of now Texas also has the largest transportation infrastructure in the nation. So can the state of Texas keeps up with the projected increased population of fifty million people by 2040? Or will the state cuts corners and let the infrastructure fall by the weigh side? These are two of the concerns that Texans want answers to. As member of our communities we have to hold the Texas Department of Transportation accountable to their mission statement; which is to provide safe and reliable transportation solutions in Texas. To get …show more content…

The truth is, Texans already spend more than they should on the Texas transportation system. By failing to invest in highways, the cost is shifted to consumers in the form of wasted time stuck in traffic, damage to vehicles, accelerated tire wear, and increased likelihood of being in a serious accident (The Cost). Drivers, truckers, visitors spend countless hours stuck in traffic, costing businesses time and money, polluting the air, and the wear and tear of the roads (Agency 8). Also due to congestion, costs the Texas economy 10.8 billion per year, which they push onto the citizens through groceries and goods you buy that have transportation cost. The average annual hours of delay a commuter has in a Texas Metro area are at or above 37 hours. The city of Houston leads delays with about 50 hours per year. In 15 years if the transportation system is still underfunded could rise up to 74 hours (The Cost 2). Every driver in Texas should know what the differences that they are paying for the transportation system being underfunded and well-funded. Currently households are investing $232 per year, which comes out costing drivers $6,095 in total vehicle use and maintenance cost. If drivers invest an additional $279 reduces total vehicle cost to $4,228 and saves them $1,558. An additional $402 more each year will also cut their cost to $3,652 and save them $2,041. So raising highway investments will save drivers money in the long run. Drivers all know that vehicle

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