At today’s meeting of the Brown County Commissioners Court, approval was given for the County to join TEX-21, an organization of Texas cities and counties that advocates for improved transportation infrastructure in Texas.

Commissioner Gary Worley explained that the Texas Department of Transportation is planning major improvements to State Highway 377 in the coming years.  By joining TEX-21, Brown County will have a voice in the recommendations for those improvements.

Highway 377 runs 461 miles from Del Rio on the Rio Grande southern border, to the Red River state border north of Dallas.  Brownwood and Brown County are almost exactly at the halfway point of the highway.  377 is heavily traveled by both private vehicles and commercial traffic.  Freight tonnage hauled on Highway 377 is projected to more than double by the year 2050.

It is also a dangerous highway, with a crash rate 55% higher than the statewide average.  The most dangerous portion of 377 is the stretch between Stephenville and Granbury, where 33% of the highway’s fatal crashes occur.  More separated four-lane highway is likely to be built to improve safety.

Brown County will pay $5,000 per year to be a member of TEX-21, which will come from the County’s Road and Bridge fund.

In other business:

*** Commissioners voted approval for a private water line to be installed on County Road 192.

*** Commissioners voted approval for a private electrical line to be installed by Oncor on County Road 294.

*** Commissioners voted approval of a Notice of Primary Election to be held on March 5, and Primary Run-off Election (if necessary) on May 28.

*** Commissioners took no action on a burn ban, leaving the current No Burn Ban in place.