Texas Business reports:  AUSTIN - Nearly 1,200 loaded trucks are needed to bring just one gas well into production— the traffic equivalent to roughly 8 million cars.

Increased energy exploration and production activity throughout the state means more impacts to state highways, leaving the Texas Department of Transportaion with immediate and long-term infrastructure concerns that need to be addressed.

TxDOT recently formed a work group to study the situation and plan to join with representatives of the Department of Public Safety, the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Railroad Commission, counties and the energy sector to find ways to address the issue.

“The energy sector is critically important to the state,” said Phil Wilson, TxDOT executive director in a prepared statement. “TxDOT will work closely with industry and state and local officials to address any impacts on infrastructure and continue our efforts to provide safe and reliable transportation solutions for Texas.”

The multi-agency task force will focus on gathering data and sharing information with statewide transportation partners to study the impact these trucks are having on the state’s roadways. The task force is challenged with developing long-term funding strategies and plans to address infrastructure concerns well into the future.

“The energy resources being produced in these areas are vital to the state for a number of reasons,” said Fred Underwood, member of the Texas Transportation Commission. "Besides being a fuel source for citizens, these oil, gas and wind energy resources are necessary to keep Texas economically strong and vital."

TxDOT will use the information gathered by this task force to support the work of the Legislature on interim charges focused on oversize/overweight vehicles and the energy industry. 

The work group plans to convene its first meeting in April with key stakeholders.