ODESSA, Texas — In the Permian Basin, we see plenty of freight on our roadways, and as we look to the future, the amount will only grow.
The State of Texas as a whole is expecting a 100% increase in freight by 2050, prompting early planning by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT).
It's a state-wide effort to anticipate growth and how to accommodate it. Connecting Texas 2050 is TxDOT’s long-range transportation plan, and as they currently gather public input, the plan will look to solve the needs for future commutes.
Some people live life one day at a time. TxDOT cannot afford to do that.
“The types of projects that TxDOT undertakes require years, and in many cases, decades between planning, funding -- all those sorts of things," said James Beauchamp, president of the Midland-Odessa Transportation Alliance.
Input gathered already by TxDOT shows Texans’ concerns include safety and quality of life. Mobility is just one of several needs.
“Being able to get to where you want to go in an efficient manner," Maryann Cedillo, public information officer for TxDOT's Odessa District, said. "So, whether it’s walking, whether it’s riding the bus, whether it’s traveling on your own – we want to be able to get you there in an efficient manner.”
TxDOT’s Odessa District is a unique one in Texas with energy production.
“There’s a lot of truck traffic, so our roadways we need to be probably bigger, maybe a little bit wider," Cedillo said. "Our farm-to-market roads, all of those roadways that are being impacted by that truck travel, we’re looking at those to be able to make those roadways conducive to that traffic.”
Enhanced connectivity is another area of focus, according to Beauchamp.
“A lot of their long-range plan for TxDOT is really dealing with more of the rural areas and we have a lot of that throughout the Permian Basin -- that’s a big part of our freight system just outside of Midland and Odessa and the urbanized areas," Beauchamp said. "So, this is really kind of the building block for that plan and how it comes about and how we address those issues.”
Issues that impact our economy as well, says Cameron Walker, who works for the Permian Basin Metropolitan Planning Organization as the executive director.
“You can’t have slowdowns in the freight network because that will negatively impact the things we’re trying to make happen," Walker said.
With 12 million more Texans expected by the centuries halfway point, the time to prepare is now.
“As we look at our growing population, at our growing truck traffic, we really want to make sure that those roads are really of a high standard and that we’re accommodating for that traffic," Cedillo said.
TxDOT is seeking public input on creating this long-range plan for 2050 until Dec. 15, with Beauchamp noting that there has been low comment from the Permian Basin in the past.
Your input can help shape the future of transportation in our region and state decades from now, so click here for more information and to participate.