Gas stations are part of everyday life in Texas. We don't think twice about what part they play in keeping Texans on the move, much less what they might tell us about who we are, and where the road ahead might take us with changes to our environment, our infrastructure, our communities 鈥� our way of life.
There are more than 11,000 of them scattered across the state 鈥� along major highways and tiny backroads alike, they fuel up long haul trucks, hungry commuters and sometimes whole communities. In some ways, the gas station is the backbone of our economy and the center of conversation and community. In other ways, they're a blight on the landscape and, many feel, a soon-to-be anachronism.
The Texas Standard's producers and reporters hit the road to bring you an in-depth report on gas stations' history and prominence in our state, from pricing to transportation infrastructure to the future of electric vehicles.
is an exploration of an often-overlooked staple of our life. We'll bring you stories from the past, as well as introduce you to folks from communities around Texas whose lives have been shaped in some ways by gas stations:
Flashy logos, customer giveaways and attendants are memories of a bygone era as stations have evolved over the past century.
It would take a major shift in priorities to design cities in a way that wouldn鈥檛 rely on personal vehicles. But some progress is being made.
JD鈥檚 Market has 15 locations in the Austin area, and each comes equipped with a full kitchen.
Mahi Food Mart owner Daniel Shaikh has focused on location, a clean store and regularly updating his inventory to meet the needs of his community.
Let鈥檚 answer all the questions you鈥檝e ever had 鈥� and some you never knew you had 鈥� about gas prices.
These truckers are defying stereotypes while balancing their love of the road with their love of family.
Snapshots from three Texas gas stations.
It takes a lot longer to charge an electric vehicle than it does to fill your gas tank 鈥� and the future likely holds more charging options, and more ways to occupy your time while you wait.
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