Most of the attention for November elections has been on the governor鈥檚 race and battles between candidates.
But voters will also decide whether to use some of the oil and gas tax money that would go into the Rainy Day savings fund to pay for roads.
The two lawmakers who oversee transportation in the state Senate and House are touring Texas to gain support for what will be Proposition 1 on the ballot.
They say the state will run out of money for new roads in two years if nothing is done.
Proposition 1 would raise about $1.7 billion annually that could be used to build new roads and bridges or maintain current ones.
Republican Robert Nichols of Jacksonville, the Senate Transportation Chairman, wants voters to know the new money couldn鈥檛 be used for toll roads.
鈥淭here was this fear that, oh gosh, what keeps you from spending it all on toll roads? By saying it cannot be used on toll roads we eliminated that objection,鈥� said Nichols.
Each part of the state would get some of the new money. It might not be enough to build an entirely new project but El Paso Democrat Joe Pickett, the House Transportation Chairman, says it could be enough to finish a local one.
鈥淚f I鈥檝e got a $40 million project that I鈥檓 trying to do but I鈥檓 $12 million short, I鈥檝e just done a $40 million project instead of waiting and nickel and diming. So this gives us an opportunity,鈥� Pickett said.
The lawmakers say Proposition 1 would only be a first step in meeting the state鈥檚 transportation needs. The next legislature will have to look at ways to raise additional revenue.
The Texas Department of Transportation says the state needs at least $4 billion more a year just to keep today鈥檚 congestion from getting worse.
The lawmakers say chambers of commerce, realtor groups and business organizations will be among those coordinating a campaign to pass Proposition 1. So far there's been no organized opposition.
