BUDGET AND PLANNING OFFICE 36. Highways o Governor Clements, as Chairman of the Texas Highway Cost Index Committee, has supported a constant level of highway construc- tion, maintenance, and operations because state appropriations funding is indexed for inflation pursuant to the Highway Cost Index. o Annual highway contract awards (state and tederal tunds) continue to be substantially higher than in previous years. 1976-77 1977-78 1978-79 1979-80 1980-81 1981-82 $ 572,940,000 724,978,000 891,717,000 1,171,231,000 683,972,000 875,000,000 (estimate) These tunds have allowed the state highway construction program to maintain progress on schedule as provided in the Twenty-Year Highway Plan prepared by the State Department at Highways and Public Transportation. o Interstate Highway system over 91 percent complete with only minor gaps remaining. o Highway roadside rest areas number 1,036 as of June 1980. Of these, 168 are on the IH system and are complete with illumina- tion, parking, picnic, and comfort station tacilities. o New Tourist Information Bureau constructed at Harlingen, Texas at cost of over $800,000. o In October 1981, a total of $25,770,675 in state tunds was dis- tributed to Texas counties for use in their lateral road programs. o Effective July 1982, Texas counties are authorized to increase their portion of motor vehicle registration fees retained for the State/County Road/Bridge Fund from $175,000 a year to $350,000 a year. Governor Clements supported legislation to maintain this fund.
