Drilling trucks have caused an estimated $2 billion in damage to Texas roads

[white cloud]

A state transportation official says oil production trucks and vehicles are tearing up local roads without providing enough money to pay for repairs.



The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports that a task force of county judges, state officials and industry representatives discussed the issue Monday. Texas Department of Transportation deputy executive director John Barton tells the newspaper that repairing damaged roads could cost $2 billion.

Barton says his estimate doesn't include damage to interstate and state highways.

While oil and natural gas drilling have created jobs and revenue, local counties say the road damage is outpacing transportation budgets. DeWitt County, east of San Antonio, says it projects $7 million in property taxes for the current fiscal year - and as much as $342 million in possible repair costs.
http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/07/02/4075195/drilling-trucks-have-caused-an.html

[HereSince1628]

1. The invisible hand of the free-market strikes again...

it always tries to move costs from corporations to citizens.

[Progressive dog]

2. Sorry- no sympathy for Texas

Hey, doesn't Texas still spend some money on things like schools, medicaid, or other social programs? They can take it from there. Maybe they could add the cost to auto registrations or even put a toll on all their roads.
AFTER ALL, GOTTA LET ALL THE JOB CREATORS DESTROY PUBLIC PROPERTY or they'll take their oil rigs and go home.