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The Rural Context For Transportation Consultations

Texas is the 2nd largest state in the U.S. in land area, 2nd largest in population, and 28th most densely populated. Approximately 35 percent of Texas's population and jobs, and 98 percent of the land, is non-urban. Approximately 83 percent of its roads are rural. Federally owned lands amount to less than one and a half percent of the state's land area.

Texas is a quickly growing state, as measured by population, however, the growth in employment is minimal. The portion of the state's jobs that are in the uniquely rural agricultural and mining sectors is small (6 and 3 percent, respectively). Most jobs in the state's rural areas are in sectors also common in urban areas: services and government (35 percent), business and trade (26 percent), manufacturing (15 percent), and construction, transportation and utilities (15 percent).

Demographically, the state's non-urban population is slightly more diverse than some states, with the majority being white (82 percent), followed by other (9 percent) and African American (8 percent). Compared to the other states, the proportion of the non-urban adult population who did not graduate from high school is in the top quarter (12th highest), and the proportion that did graduate from college is in the middle (24th highest). The 19 percent of Texas's non-urban people who are poor ranks in the top quarter of states. About 44 percent of the state's non-urban population is in non-working age groups (31 percent 18 years or younger, and 13 percent 65 years or older).

Governmentally, Texas has 254 counties, the most of any state. Texas also has 1205 incorporated cities, but no towns or townships. This is in the top quarter in terms of the number of sub-county governments among all states. Texas has three recognized Indian tribes.

In addition, the 1997 U.S. Census of Governments has identified 29 independent, special-purpose governments in Texas that have transportation responsibilities. This number is larger than in many other states. These special-purpose governments include 23 for water transport, five for transit utility, and one for airports. Texas also has 40 other public transit providers serving rural areas and an additional 336 organizations that provide specialized transit services to elderly and disabled populations in those same areas.

There are 24 regional councils in Texas that cover 100 percent of the state, and 25 MPOs. These regional units help to coordinate the large number of other local governments.

Texas has a total of 300,424 miles of roads of which approximately 26 percent are on the state system. This includes 6,421 miles of frontage roads. Of the total miles of non-federal roads (i.e. not Interstate highways or United States numbered highways), 22 percent are State Highways, 50 percent are county roads, and 27 percent are city streets. An additional 625 miles are off-system-non-county maintained roads and 149 miles are designated on the state system, but maintained locally.

Processes For Consultation And Cooperation With Local Officials In Non-Metropolitan Areas

Rural transportation planning is conducted through the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) engineering districts. The planning and programming system is decentralized for all projects except those on the National Highway System (NHS); these are prioritized statewide. The 25 district offices, along with rural counties/cities and transit providers, cover the full range of planning, including long-range planning, feasibility studies, TIP, and transit planning support. Preparing the 3-year STIP, the 10-year Unified Transportation Program, and a 3-year financial plan are the basic processes in developing projects for the inter-modal transportation network in Texas. There is also a 20-year long-range plan.

The district offices are in constant communication with county and local officials. Maintaining open and friendly relations with those officials has been and is a stated priority in the TxDOT Strategic Plan. Local elected officials may participate in rural transportation planning through involvement and collaboration with the TxDOT district engineers and the councils of government. The Texas Administrative Code requires that district offices have a public involvement policy for development of the rural TIP; this policy must include public meetings, which local elected officials may attend. The STIP is made available for comment at the district level annually. Members of the Texas Transportation Commission visit district offices and meet with local officials. Additionally, local delegations can make appearances before the regularly scheduled Commission meetings to discuss problems. Also, the TXDOT Executive Director is accessible by mail, phone, e-mail or in person.

In those districts where Tribal governments exist, the district offices ensure that they are included in planning. The district offices also include federal land management agencies as appropriate. Although the district offices are willing to discuss issues such as land management and economic development, TxDOT may not have any authority to affect those issues. (The MPO public involvement process requires MPOs to notify rural areas within the MPO boarders as part of the TIP development process. TxDOT also presents the needs of those rural areas to the MPO.)

Rural transportation is funded with federal, state and local funds. The district offices are responsible for balancing rural and metropolitan needs for the various categories of funding. Local matching funds are required for various funding categories. There is a state program for economically disadvantaged counties under which the state pays a portion of the required local match. The State Infrastructure Bank has funds available for those rural counties/cities that wish to apply. Local elected officials have no independent discretion over any transportation funds, although they may assist in finding additional funding for projects.

Texas uses these practices:

State Hearings: The TIP development process requires public meetings at the district level; the STIP is made available for public comment at the district level.
State Processes for Interactive Exchanges of Views with Local Officials: Transportation Commission members visit district offices and meet with local officials.
State Policy-Making and Advisory Bodies: Texas State Transportation Commission.
Other Practices: The district offices have ongoing communication with local officials; the TxDot Executive Director is accessible by phone, e-mail, etc.

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