Legislation honoring Texas’ disabled veterans was made good on this week by the Texas Department of Transportation, making life a little easier for those who have fought for our liberty.
The Texas Legislature passed a bill back in 2009, signed by the governor, giving disabled veterans and Medal of Honor and Purple Heart recipients free use of Texas’ toll roads.
The effort was held up as TxDOT worked to fit the plan into the bonding package for TxDOT-managed toll roads. (Our ‘Around Texas’ writer Michele Samuelson wrote about the issue a couple weeks back.)
The transportation commission this week voted to finally implement the plan. This token of appreciation is expected to cost less than $1 million.
From the TxDOT news release:
“We are able to celebrate our freedom each and every day due to the unwavering sacrifice of our military’s brave men and women, so making it a bit easier for them to move through our great state is the least we can do,” said Phil Wilson, Executive Director of TxDOT. “We thank Texas veterans for their service and hope the free use of our toll roads recognizes the price they paid for our freedom.”
The change goes into effect in January. According to the Austin American-Statesman, the Houston toll authority—which implemented the toll-free program 2009—found disabled vets made up 0.8 percent of traffic on their roadways.
