Texas lawmakers say funding for state transportation projects are headed for a crisis as state taxpayers face the prospect of paying more to repay debt for past road construction than to build new highways.
The gasoline tax for road maintenance and construction hasn't increase in 20 years, and more fuel-efficient vehicles means its proceeds have been falling since 2008.
Legislative leaders say the situation is complicated by the lack of awareness most Texans have of the problem.
State Sen. Tommy Williams, R-The Woodlands and chairman of the Senate Transportation and Homeland Security Committee, states it simply: The state will soon have no money to build roads. Furthermore, leaders say raising the gasoline tax isn't a realistic option for several reasons, including Gov. Rick Perry's no-new-taxes pledge.
