A New Boom for Oil, but a Bust for Texas’ Rural Roads

A New Boom for Oil, but a Bust for Texas’ Rural Roads

 

1) http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/13/us/a-new-boom-for-oil-but-a-bust-for-texas-rural-roads.html?ref=texas

2) Category of Problem/Issue: Financial/ Transportation

3) Level of Issue: Local/State Level

4) A potential policy that is being considered to help a problem/issue that individuals/families face

5) Why this is important to individuals/families OR How does this affect individuals/families:

     The South Texas drilling boom has added billions of dollars to the state’s funds but the transportation department of Texas planned to convert the road in the heart of the oil-drilling boom to gravel. The people and officials feel like they are being punished for their region’s boom.

6) What are your views on the issue/policy?

     I understand how the people of South Texas especially in Eagle Ford Shale feel about being punished for their region’s boom; because there was a financial struggle for the transportation department but now since their region added billions to the budget they are still getting the short end of the stick. Since drilling damaged their infrastructure they have to now drive on cracked asphalt, potholes, and splintering shoulder. They feel that if they convert their roads to gravel and lower the speed limit to 30 mph that it would be safer to drive, but the residents feels that it will be more accidents. I understand the frustration of the residents because they feel that the transportation department is giving all the money to the rest of the state for example Austin. But, the gravel plan is their best way to stretch its dollars while working on the congestion issues around the state.