Texas has a more sophisticated infrastructure ranging from road networks to the railway as well as other critical infrastructure that enhance movement in the state of Texas. Texas is the largest continental state, as well as an economic powerhouse for the US. The state leads the way in the production of the wind power energy, population growth as well as some massive infrastructure which has been developed in line with the increasing population in the state (Quiroga et al., 2012). It is considered the central theme in 2017 Report Card in Texas’ Infrastructure which was developed by the Texas Section of American Society of Civil Engineers. In the review update, several categories of infrastructure that were reviewed showed that there had been a satisfactory performance.
Utilities
With substantial population growth in Texas, there is a need for the updating of the existing infrastructure as well as the social amenities such that the ever-increasing population could be catered for. Texas’ population grows by approximately 100 people per day. It is critical and ethical for the civil engineers of Texas to provide the citizens with a solid working infrastructural plan so that their daily lives could be facilitated appropriately (Mathis et al., 2008). Most individuals always think about infrastructure when the critical components have been broken, they do not look at it from the larger picture.
Texas has a wind power energy which they generate and use it in the industries. Some of the generated power is additionally used in ensuring that the population gets access to power (Mathis et al., 2008). There exist a variety of Utility companies in Texas that provide energy as well as electric transmission to the population. One of these companies is Sharyland Utilities which offers electricity transmission for about 54,000 customers who are spread in the 29counties in the west, central as well as south of Texas.
The sewer system in Texas is also more advanced as it serves the population given the number of people who get to Texas on a daily basis. Water is primarily essential to the community as it qualifies as the most significant social amenity for the people. The civil engineers in the state of Texas have the role and responsibility of safeguarding the life, health property as well as the welfare of the population as well as the members of the public such that they are free from any harm that they could be exposed to.
The civil engineers believe that it is their responsibility to ensure that they provide the public as well as the elected leaders with critical information regarding the present state of infrastructure. With such kind of knowledge about the current state of infrastructure, the public will have an awareness and support the improvement as well as maintenance of the infrastructure. Policies have been implemented in Texas that are aimed at ensuring that the growth and expansion of infrastructure have been enhanced to accommodate the ever-increasing population at Texas.
Transportation in Texas
Texas began the construction of the freeways back in the late 1940s, and these roads alongside the early interstates provided a massive increase in the capacity of roadways in Texas. In 1956, President Eisenhower signed the interstate highway bill which established not only the systems approach but also the design concept as well as the financing mechanism (Mathis et al., 2008). All these changed the trajectory of the infrastructure of Texas and also provided them with a more sophisticated road network which expanded and also eased the transportation within the state. With an advanced road and communication network, there has been increased business at Texas and hence enhance the economic growth (Quiroga et al., 2012).
It indeed appeared that the state had been designing the roads for the lanes per vehicle rather than vehicles per lane. The super highways have served Texas very well improving business as well as communication within the state. With the migration to Sunbelt, Texas attracted a massive development in their economy and as such the population also swelled up. The modern and a new system of the urban roadways thus accommodated the lifestyle that was desired by a significant number of Texans. The populations were in a position of living in houses on individual lots, drive on the roadways that are not congested as well as the park next to their destinations.
However, as the populations kept increasing and no substantial expansion of the road networks, there was the problem of congestion that came up as a result. Therefore, the federal government of Texas implemented various policies which would expand the road networks, expand the airports as well as use trains for movement within the state. The expansion and inclusion of a variety of infrastructure helped in easing the traffic congestion as well as address some of the substantial problems that came with an increased population in Texas (Quiroga et al., 2012).
Infrastructure Vulnerability and Protection
With the implementation of various strategies in Texas, some policies were formulated to protect the infrastructure that had been invested in substantially. The infrastructure is vulnerable to damage as well as wear and tear. Therefore, the state recommended that the road networks needed to be reviewed occasionally and be maintained to ensure that the already established system is not affected due to wear and tear.
Conclusion
In short, the most relevant portions of the topic is the aspect of improvement of the infrastructure networks in Texas. These aspects could be presented in order of the most significant elements all through to those that are less significant. My ideas relate to each other especially now that infrastructural development is intertwined with the economic growth of any given state. My topic is of interest as well as importance as we have been looking at the topic concerning other aspects that are critical for infrastructure development.
References
Mathis, M., Kunkel, G. A., Howley, A. C., & Texas Water Development Board. (2008). Water loss audit manual for Texas utilities. Austin, Tex: Texas Water Development Board.
Quiroga, C. A., Fernando, E., Oh, J., Texas, Texas Transportation Institute,& United States. (2012). Energy developments and the transportation infrastructure in Texas: Impacts and strategies. College Station, Tex: Texas Transportation Institute, Texas A & M University System.
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