Technical Report Documentation Page 1. Report No. 2. Government Accession No. 3. Recipient's Catalog No. FHWA/TX-99/1437-1 4. Title and Subtitle 5. Report Date THE RURAL TRANSPORTATION NETWORK IN TEXAS August 1999 6. Performing Organization Code 7. Author(s) 8. Performing Organization Report No. Katherine F. Turnbull, George B. Dresser, and Laura L. Higgins Report 1437-1 9. Performing Organization Name and Address 10. Work Unit No. (TRAIS) Texas Transportation Institute The Texas A&M University System 11. Contract or Grant No College Station, Texas 77843-3135 Project No.: 0-1437 12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address 13. Type of Report and Period Covered Texas Department of Transportation Research: Research and Technology Transfer Section September 1995 - August 1997 Construction Division 14. Sponsoring Agency Code P. O. Box 5080 Austin, Texas 78763-5080 15. Supplementary Notes Research performed in cooperation with the Texas Department of Transportation and the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration. Research Project Title: Role of the Rural Transportation Network in Texas and the Impact of Funding Levels 16. Abstract An efficient multimodal transportation system is critical to the economic vitality of large metropolitan areas, smaller communities, and rural areas. The transportation issues in urban areas are receiving a good deal of attention, with less focus on the needs of rural areas. This research project examines the rural transportation system in Texas. It explores the demographic and economic characteristics of the state’s rural population. The history and current status of highways, roadways, public transit services, intercity buses, airports, and railroads serving rural portions of the state are examined. Case studies are presented on selected modes. Available information on future funding needs is reviewed. A multimodal approach needed to enhance the mobility and economic development in rural parts of Texas is presented and discussed. 17. Key Words 18. Distribution Statement Rural Transportation, Rural Highways, Rural No restrictions. This document is available to the Transit, Rural Airports, Rural Economic public through NTIS: Development, Railroads National Technical Information Service 5285 Port Royal Road Springfield, Virginia 22161 19. Security Classif.(of this report) 20. Security Classif.(of this page) 21. No. of Pages 22. Price Unclassified Unclassified 120 Form DOT F 1700.7 (8-72) Reproduction of completed page authorized THE RURAL TRANSPORTATION NETWORK IN TEXAS by Katherine F. Turnbull Research Scientist Texas Transportation Institute George B. Dresser Research Scientist Texas Transportation Institute and Laura L. Higgins Assistant Research Scientist Texas Transportation Institute Report 1437-1 Project Number 0-1437 Research Project Title: Role of the Rural Transportation Network in Texas and the Impact of Funding Levels Sponsored by the Texas Department of Transportation In Cooperation with the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration August 1999 TEXAS TRANSPORTATION INSTITUTE The Texas A&M University System College Station, Texas 77843-3135 DISCLAIMER The contents of this report reflect the views of the authors, who are responsible for the findings and conclusions presented herein. The contents do not necessarily reflect the official views or policies of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) or the U.S. Department of Transportation. This report does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation, and is not intended for construction, bidding, or permit purposes. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This research was performed for the Texas Department of Transportation, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration. Dr. Jeffery Memmott was Texas Transportation Institute’s Research Supervisor on the study. Dr. Memmott left the Institute before the completion of the study and this report. Dr. Katherine F. Turnbull, Dr. George B. Dresser, and Ms. Laura L. Higgins finished the research project and completed this report. Ms. Bonnie Duke was responsible for word processing, and Mr. John Hobbs assisted with many of the graphics. The authors would like to recognize and thank TxDOT’s Project Director, Mr. James Randall from the Transportation Planning and Programming Division, and members of the Project Panel, Ms. Linda Howard, from the Aviation Division, and Ms. Karen Dunlap from the Public Transportation Division. The help and guidance of these individuals throughout the study are greatly appreciated. TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................... ix LIST OF TABLES ............................................................ xi CHAPTER ONE—INTRODUCTION .............................................1 Research Objectives......................................................1 Research Approach ......................................................1 Report Organization .....................................................3 CHAPTER TWO—POPULATION AND ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF RURAL TEXAS .....................................................5 Rural Population Trends ..................................................5 Per Capita Personal Income Trends..........................................8 Total Personal Income Trends .............................................11 Earnings ..............................................................11 General Economic Trends ................................................11 Farm and Non-Farm Income ..............................................14 Predominant Industry ....................................................14 CHAPTER THREE—RURAL ROADWAY SYSTEM IN TEXAS .....................17 Historical Overview of Rural Roadway System in Texas ........................17 State-Maintained Roadway System in Texas..................................18 Funding the State-Maintained Roadway System ...............................20 Rural Roadways and Population and Economic Characteristics ...................23 Rural Roadway Conditions and Needs ......................................24 CHAPTER FOUR—RURAL TRANSIT AND INTERCITY BUS SERVICES IN TEXAS ..................................................27 Historical Overview of Rural Transit Services in Texas .........................27 Metropolitan and Municipal Transit Systems in Texas ..........................28 Existing Rural Transit Systems in Texas.....................................29 Characteristics of Rural Transit Services in Texas .............................35 Section 5310 Program ...................................................37 Funding Rural Transit Systems in Texas .....................................38 Economic Impacts of Rural Transit Services and Case Studies ...................40 Intercity Bus Service in Texas .............................................44 Assessment of Rural Transit Services and Future Needs ........................49 CHAPTER FIVE—GENERAL AVIATION SYSTEM IN TEXAS......................61 Historical Overview of Aviation in Texas....................................61 Aviation System in Texas ................................................62 Current General Aviation Airports in Texas ..................................63 Funding General Aviation Airports in Texas ..................................70 Attributes of Viable Rural Airports in Texas..................................72 General Aviation Case Studies ............................................74 General Aviation Economic Impacts and Future Needs .........................76 CHAPTER SIX—RURAL RAILROAD SYSTEM IN TEXAS .........................79 Historical Overview of Railroads in Texas ...................................79 Freight Rail Services in Texas .............................................80 Rural Rail Transportation Districts .........................................87 Economic Impacts of Freight Railroads and Case Studies .......................91 Passenger Rail Services in Texas...........................................96 Excursion Trains in Texas ................................................98 Future Needs ..........................................................99 CHAPTER SEVEN—MULTIMODAL APPROACH TO RURAL TRANSPORTATION IN TEXAS ...........................................................101 REFERENCES .............................................................103 LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page 1. Metropolitan and Rural Counties in Texas and Composite Regions .................6 2. 1998 Estimated Population by County ........................................7 3. Percent Change in Population by County—1990 to 1998 .........................9 4. Percent of Elderly Population in Texas Counties, 1990 .........................10 5. 1992 Per Capita Personal Income by County ..................................12 6. Texas Highway Trunk System .............................................19 7. Distribution of Total TxDOT Receipts - Fiscal Year 1997 .......................22 8. Rural Public Transit Operators in Texas .....................................32 9. Thunderbird Transit Minibus ..............................................37 10. Counties with Section 5310 Vehicles .......................................39 11. Intercity Bus Routes in Texas .............................................47 12. Counties without Metropolitan, Small City, or Rural Transit Service ...............52 13. Counties without Metropolitan, Small City, Rural Transit Services, or Section