TxDOT History: 1950 to 1931

The Texas Legislature established the Texas Highway Department in 1917. This timeline lists major milestones and events during our history.

Present to 2001 | 2000 to 1971 | 1970 to 1951
1950 to 1931 | Through 1930

1950

• May 29 – First full day of operation for the Greer Building’s first air-conditioning system, installed at a cost of $171,000.
• Personnel Division is organized.
• The number of registered motor vehicles in Texas has jumped from 1.7 million to more than 3.1 million in five years.

• Legislature passes the Colson-Briscoe Act. The measure provides an annual $15 million appropriation from the State General Fund to build farm-to-market and ranch-to-market roads.
• June – Gulf Intracoastal Waterway opens between Corpus Christi and Brownsville.

• Front-end loaders and other heavy equipment have virtually replaced human- or mule-powered construction and maintenance equipment. In some areas, however, horse- and mule-drawn mowers are continued into the mid-1950s.

• November 5 – Voters approve an amendment to the Texas Constitution, a measure known as the “Good Roads Amendment.” The amendment makes the longstanding 75-25 percent State Highway Fund-Available School Fund distribution a matter of organic law.

• With World War II over, the speed limit is reinstated at 60 mph.
• Most earth-moving is still done by men using a Number 2 scoop – a big shovel.
• Legislature establishes the Texas Aeronautics Commission.
• Registration Division merges with Certificates of Title Division to create the Motor Vehicle Division.

• Congress passes the Federal Aid Highway Act describing a 40,000-mile network called a “National System of Interstate Highways.” But no money to build the system is appropriated.

• Because of wartime fuel and rubber shortages, the speed limit in Texas is dropped to 35 mph.

• Highway Commission raises the speed limit to 60 mph.
• Legislature moves Certificate of Title Division from DPS to the Highway Department.
• State begins taxing diesel at one cent per gallon.

• Highway Commission allocates $25,000 to repair and strengthen bridges and repair road surfaces in anticipation of massive Army maneuvers in East Texas. When the war games end, the commission has to come up with another $140,000 to repair highway and bridge damage caused by tanks and artillery.
• July 1 – Dewitt Greer is appointed executive director of the department. He oversees a highway system that has grown to 22,600 miles.

• October 1 – Certificate of Title Act takes effect to combat the growing problem of auto theft and ownership disputes.

• Office of Traffic and Safety Engineer is created to study accidents, congestion issues, parking problems, and to provide consulting services to municipalities.

• January – First farm-to-market road is completed between Mount Enterprise and Shiloh in Rusk County, a distance of 5.8 miles. Total cost: $48,000.
• Insurance Division is organized.

• With Texas celebrating 100 years of independence, the department has 13 tourist-information stations open.
• Department places 264 granite historical markers across the state during the state’s Centennial observance.
• Headquarters building for District 14 (Austin Division) is constructed at Camp Hubbard, a 16-acre tract named for former Commission R.M. Hubbard.

• Legislature creates the Department of Public Safety, removing the Highway Patrol from the Highway Department and merging it with the Texas Rangers.
• April 28 – Highway Commission establishes “information houses” across the state to serve travelers.

• Eight-story, art deco Highway Department Building opens at 11th and Brazos across from the Capitol. Designed by San Antonio architect Carleton Adams, the 85,000-square foot building costs $455,000.
• National Recovery Act allows use of federal-aid funds for urban and secondary roads.
• Department hires a landscape architect. Highway Engineer Gibb Gilchrist orders that as many trees as possible be retained along highway right of way. Department begins harvesting and redistributing wildflower seeds.
• First roadside park built on State Highway 71 between Smithville and West Point in Fayette County.
• The national Depression worsening, the Legislature passes an appropriations bill cutting Highway Department salaries. Department forced to lay off some employees. If a funded vacancy does occur, district engineers are instructed not to hire married women.

• Legislature enacts State Assumption Highway Bond Law, making the financing of highways a state responsibility. The law limits county participation to providing right of way. One cent of gasoline tax is dedicated to refunding the bonded indebtedness of counties and road districts.
• Number of districts increased to 25.

Present to 2001 | 2000 to 1971 | 1970 to 1951 | 1950 to 1931 | Through 1930