An additional $250 million could become available for Texas highways impacted by energy sector traffic in counties that are seeing heavy energy development, such as Atascosa, Duval, Guadalupe, Karnes, La Salle, Live Oak, McMullen, Wilson and Webb. At a recent hearing of the Texas Senate Select Committee on Transportation Funding, State Sen. Tommy Williams (R-The Woodlands) directed the Texas Department of Transportation to request the funding for 70 projects that had not been funded in a recent appropriations bill. On Oct. 9, the agency made the request to the Legislative Budget Board, which must approve it. The $250 million is in addition to $225 million for 39 energy sector-impacted state highway projects that the Texas Legislature approved during the 83rd legislative session (see Shale Daily, May 30).