Residents press DOT over potholes and shoulder failures; DOT says funding follows traffic and data-driven rules

Residents and county officials pressed the Department of Transportation during the June 17 Montgomery County Fiscal Court meeting to address longstanding road problems — potholes, edge drop-offs, failing shoulders and a stop sign with poor reflectivity — while DOT representatives explained how state funding is allocated.

Commissioners described problem stretches including Route 11 and local bypass areas used by large trucks and said visible deterioration is creating safety hazards for motorists. One resident said widening and utility work promised two years earlier had not occurred and that the community feels neglected.

A DOT representative answered that the rural secondary resurfacing program is heavily data-driven and considers road condition plus average daily traffic (ADT) and vehicle-miles-traveled when allocating funds. “ADT or the average allocation of funds that we receive … is because there is more vehicle miles traveled,” the DOT representative said, explaining that counties adjacent to major commuting corridors often receive larger allocations because traffic volumes are higher.

Officials discussed options such as seeking alternative federal funds, modifying district assignments (which multiple counties would have to agree to), and targeted resurfacing versus full-width reconstruction. DOT staff cautioned that some capital projects require right-of-way clearances and additional engineering and are not addressed by routine maintenance funds.

The court and DOT representatives agreed to continue collaboration about prioritizing specific county segments for available resurfacing and maintenance funds; residents were encouraged to continue submitting photos and exact locations to county staff so they can be evaluated for future programming.