By Jacquinette D. Murphy
Highways and bridges are a part of the national transportation network and rebuilding and modernizing America’s infrastructure is one of the three ways President Barack Obama proposes to get the nation back to work according to the American Jobs Act submitted to Congress in September. For the unemployed citizens of Dallas County, the adoption of the Act could mean an influx of jobs and contracts. However, if the Act fails, the legislature the Texas employment numbers and its deteriorating infrastructure will continue to worsen.
Texas surface infrastructures, specifically bridges, remove the barrier of travel and create greater access to economic opportunities for its communities. However, the development and maintenance of these structures are the gateway to attract more sustained employment options to the region.
A list was release in September outlining the top ten states with the most deficient bridges by The Center for American Progress. Their list showed at least 9,433 bridges in Texas, including 929 bridges in Dallas County that are either structurally deficient (in need of repair) or functionally obsolete (in need of improvement) inn 2010. According to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), Dallas County has only three bridge repairs scheduled and funded for construction work in this fiscal year. Additionally, TxDOT estimated there are only 33 bridges with funding for construction in Dallas County between the fiscal years 2011 to 2016. Although many more bridges, streets and other infrastructures require some level of repair, it is clear the demand is much greater than the available funding.
In Subtitle E, Section 241 of the American Jobs Act, President Obama makes provisions for transportation infrastructure improvements and career training through the allocation of a $50 billion, 100-percent federally funded capital investment to be distributed to state, government and transportation agencies over a two year-period. Thus, if this program in Jobs Act becomes law, money should no longer be an obstacle to upgrading regional structures to full functionality.
The American Jobs Act bill failed to gain traction even in the Democratic controlled U.S. Senate. However, both parties suggest there remains hope specific parts of the bill will pass both the House and Senate.
Mark Pettit, a Public Information Officer for TxDOT Dallas District shared the reality of the money needed for repairs and why we are fighting a losing battle to make the repairs and improvements. “Recent studies show that Texas’ transportation needs are nearly $500 billion through the year 2035; however, we’ve only identified about 1/3 of the necessary funding.”
Pettit explained, “The problem is that demand has outpaced revenue. The state (20¢) and federal (18.4¢) gas tax (primary transportation funding) has not been raised since 1991 and 1993 respectively. This is compounded by diversions to non-transportation needs, inflation and rising construction costs, more fuel efficient vehicles, population growth and rising congestion, as well as the lagging economy.”
With the looming financial barrier, TxDOT’s structural inspectors use a need-based analysis process to determine the priority of bridge repairs. TxDOT inspects all bridges at least every two years. Inspectors consider several factors such as existing damage location and severity, traffic volumes, traffic loads, current load capacity, and underwater. The bridges with the lowest scores, frequently require repair, or functionally obsolete receive priority for replacement or repair.
“Many of our older bridges were expected to typically last between 30 and 50 years; however, many factors affect the life span, such as weather, traffic, and collisions. Once the deterioration reaches a certain point of disrepair, our engineers consider the cost to preserve the existing structure versus the cost to replace it.”
Pettit also distinguished the difference between bridges that need repair (structurally deficient), and bridges, which do not meet today’s transportation, needs (functionally obsolete). The functionally obsolete need to be improved to reduce congestion while the structurally deficient need to be repaired. Out of the 51,135 bridges in Texas, approximately 1553 are structurally deficient, but this does not mean that the bridges are impassable or dangerous.
“From the moment anything is built, it begins to deteriorate,” began Pettit. “Bridges are not unlike your car; it may have scratches and minor dents in it, but it’s still safe and functional.” A bridge determined to be dangerous is closed immediately until repairs or replacement can be scheduled.
Thankfully according to Pettit, “there are no bridges that have reached the point of closure due to a lack of funding.”
TxDOT is equipped to handle unique and emergency bridge repairs. But it comes at a cost to other transportation needs.
“Every time a collision damages a Texas bridge, we make the necessary repairs to keep it safe and operating.” But, Pettit adds, “the funds needed to make the repair have to come from somewhere, and it’s sometimes another project or maintenance program that suffers.” With a rapidly aging infrastructure, Pettit expects the numbers of bridge repairs to increase.
“Many of our bridges are nearing, and in some cases exceeding their expected life span. This will require an increase in spending to repair or replace these bridges. That will mean less available funding for other transportation related expenses -which will reduce maintenance or delay congestion relief projects.”
In the absence of the allocations of the American Jobs Act or other funding sources, it appears that the delays in repairs will likely continue.
Without additional funding, the long-term consequences could include closed bridges and the cost analysis of repair versus rebuild. “It will lead to more congestion and travel delay, as well as further deterioration of our transportation system.” Currently, there are 37 projects worth over $32 million scheduled to begin construction in Dallas County between September 2011 and August 2012 – the following are projects that include bridges: SH 180 at Mountain Creek, I-30 at White Rock Creek, and City Street California Crossing at Elm Fork Trinity.
