Population growth estimates predict the number of people living in Texas will double by 2040.
On Thursday at the Brazos Center, residents were invited to give their input as to how the Texas Department of Transportation should manage long-term plans to accommodate the expected boom of new motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists flocking to the state.
About 50 people either stopped by the open house Thursday or gave input Wednesday at the Brazos Valley Council of Governments meeting.
"Instead of having a project-specific plan, this will be more of a visionary document to tell us what direction to head in," said Bob Appleton, director of transportation, planning and development for TxDOT's Bryan district.
Residents were encouraged to fill out surveys that will be used to craft the long-term plan. Questions on the form ranged from asking what types of transportation participants use to asking for a ranked order of transportation-related problems and solutions.
Appleton said the agency received criticism recently for not having updated its long-term plan since 1994. Now, the long-term plans for 2035 and beyond, he said, will be reviewed and updated every four years.
Grimes County Judge Betty Shiflett and Grimes County Commissioner John Bertling came to the meeting to voice their concerns about Texas 30, Texas 90 and Texas 105.
"We'd like to see more emphasis placed on shoulders and turning lanes," she said. "We need to have improvements made to some of the more major thoroughfares in our county. It's a health and safety issue, really."
Anyone who missed the meeting will have a chance to attend an open house this fall on a to-be-determined date. Those who wish to give input but not attend a meeting can do so by visiting www.txdot/gov/public_involvement/transportation_plan/. There, links can be found allowing users to submit comments and access other information.
"We're trying not to be constrained by finances or a budget with this plan at this time," Appleton said. "We want to take a hard look at what really needs to be done, rather than what we can do with the money we have."
Sharon Colson, a resident of College Station for 36 years, attended Thursday's open house because she has business interests that line highways locally.
"Additionally, though, I'm very concerned about farm-to-market roads," she said. "They're too narrow for farm equipment today and it's hard for people in agricultural communities to deal with that safely."
Appleton said turnout for the open house was better than expected, and he was optimistic about the feedback gathered.
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