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Taking a cleaner road, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has created more than a half-dozen programs to address environmental needs ranging from the protection of bat habitat and the use of old tires as roadway material to the improvement of wetland territories.

Leading by example, more than 4,400 TxDOT employees have signed up for the agency’s internal air quality program that enables them to track their own actions to reduce environmental impact and monitor their impact on air quality. The TxDOT vehicle fleet also has more than 3,300 vehicles that use either compressed natural gas or propane.

Roads are another major area of focus. Over the past three years, TxDOT has reused more than 11 million tons of roadway materials. This saves landfill space and reduces emissions generated by producing and transporting new materials. To further cut emissions in areas that do not meet federal Clean Air Quality Standards, the agency replaced fossil-fuel-powered engines with solar power on 250 roadway signs. TxDOT also uses compost to assist with vegetation growth and reduce erosion along roadsides.

To preserve and support wildlife habitat, TxDOT has developed bat-friendly designs for bridges and culverts and established more than 9,000 acres of wetland banks.

As an active environmental partner, the Texas Department of Transportation promotes a wide range of programs that underscore the agency’s commitment to help drive our state toward a cleaner future.