By Scott Harvey
Commerce – Statistics outlining transportation needs and challenges over the next 25 years were on display yesterday in Commerce, as representatives with TxDot's Paris District Office sought feedback on the state's long-range plan.
Analysts have been evaluating trends in a range of items like population; vehicle miles traveled (VMT), rail and aviation.
The good news, they project population growth to continue at a similar pace. But the increase in VMT has and will continue to outpace the growth.
Locally, the counties of Rockwall, Hunt, Hopkins and Van Zandt are expected to see significant growth in the years to come. The VMT in each county, however, is expected to increase even more, by as much as 2.5 million by 2035. In Kaufman County, it could increase by as much as 5 million, with even more traffic in Dallas and Tarrant counties.
The biggest concern is funding, forcing officials to explore finding additional sources of revenue, doing more with less, changing demand, or even accepting a lower level of performance.
A final public hearing will take place this fall in Austin.