Aug. 31--Want to know the 100 most congested roads in Texas? Without actually driving on them?

On Tuesday, the Texas Department of Transportation will unveil an online list of the state's 100 most-congested roadways. They're not doing this just out of idle curiosity -- most likely, the list will only result in their getting inundated with more complaints -- they're doing it because the law requires it.

The state Legislature added a rider to the department's newest budget, mandating the list go live on Sept. 1. Eventually, the list must include the most recent plan to "mitigate" the traffic tie-ups on each segment. I can't wait to see it.

I learned about the list while attending a speech by Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst on "The State of Transportation in Texas." Dewhurst spoke at a Greater Houston Partnership luncheon last week, where he predictably described a good transportation system as a "business prerequisite."

He also called transportation a "very important issue," instructed TxDOT to "work smarter" and called for a "public dialogue and a frank discussion about toll roads."

He mentioned few, um, concrete recommendations.

But he correctly identified lack of revenue as the chief problem. He said he wants to reduce the "diversions" of gasoline tax revenue from TxDOT. (Education gets more than quarter of the state's gasoline money and the Department of Public Safety gets about 20 percent.)

Dewhurst also said that DPS isn't doing enough to protect roads from heavy commercial trucks, which damage road beds. Only 55 percent of weigh stations run by DPS are open, and then only for limited hours. Keeping them open will cost money, as will building reinforced truck lanes on highways, another Dewhurst suggestion.

Dewhurst lamented the recent failure in the Legislature of the "local option tax" bill -- which would have allowed local voters to tax themselves for specific transportation projects. He said that the Legislature will need to explore similar funding mechanisms in the future, and continue to explore "public-private partnerships" to build roads.

New streetlights

If you can't find anything to do, or are extremely interested in street lighting technology, you can drive to southeast Houston and help the city select new streetlights! In the Bridgegate subdivision near Hobby airport, the city is testing more than 10 different types of light emitting diode bulbs in street lamps. The LED bulbs will be tested for six months, to see how they handle Houston weather, humidity and so forth. But the city would also like your opinion on the bulbs' color and brightness.

$3 million a month

The energy-saving bulbs will help Houston reduce its electric bill and carbon footprint. The city spends $3 million a month on the 177,000 streets light installed in city rights-of-way.

You can find a map of the test area at www.houstontx.gov/ledpilot.html and submit your thoughts there after your visit. I can't guarantee it will be as exciting as a driving tour of Christmas lights, but you will feel like a conscientious contributor to civic life.

traffic@chron.com

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