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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1975 Robertson County Transportation Plan1 Physical Features Colonel Sterling C. Robertson came from Tennessee to Texas in 1823 to explore the land and assess its potential. He found suitable land in the Brazos River Valley and purchased a Mexican colonial grant for a settlement of 800 families in 1834. The area where Colonel Robertson planted his colonies is now Robertson County. It was officially created in 1837 and organized in 1838 and named for Robertson. The new county was one of the first in Texas and one of the largest initially. Later it was to be divided into many other counties. As early as 1830, an early settler named Code Brown established a stagecoach inn at Brown Springs near the present site of Hearne. In 1856, the Houston and Texas Central Railroad began construc- tion northward from Houston. By 1872, the International and Great Northern Rail- road Company also entered Robertson County and intersected the H &TC line near the present site of Hearne. It took only a short time for the business district to develop. Calvert, in western Robertson County on the Southern Pacific Railroad line, was established in 1850 by Robert Calvert who donated land for the townsite in 1863. In 1871, Calvert boasted the largest cotton gin in the world. Between 1860 and 1879, Calvert was the county seat of Robertson County. Franklin was es- tablished in 1871 and became the county seat in 1879. The town of Bremond was a junction point for the Waco Tap Railroad in 1870 and was headquarters for exten- sive Polish immigration in the late 1870's. By 1885, the town had four mills and gins, four churches, three schools, and a bank. During the Civil War, the Con- federate Government established the first cotton mill in Texas near Hearne, in- tending to export cotton into the world market via :Matamoros, Mexico, for all the confederate ports were then under blockade. The market price for cotton went to one dollar per pound, but the money was hard- earned, for it involved shipment by oxcart a distance of 650 miles. Cotton subscribers in the county provided over a half - million dollars in cash for the Confederacy. Robertson County is located in central Texas in the Post Oak Belt of the Gulf Coastal Plains. The climate is predominantly maritime, with January temperatures averaging 40 degrees and July temperatures averaging 96 degrees. The growing sea- son is 268 days and annual rainfall averages 35.8 inches. Land elevations range from 250 -500 feet above sea level. The county covers 877 square miles. Hearne, the largest city in Robertson County, is located approximately 20 miles north of Bryan - College Station. Robertson County is predominantly in the post oak savannah uplands, and the major soil formations are the Axtell, Crockett, Lufkin, Padina associations. A thin strip of Blackland Prairie uplands extends along the southeastern boundary of the county and soils in this area are of the Crockett and Normangee association. In the Brazos River bottomlands, the rich soils are the Ships- Norwood - Yahola series. Vegetation in this secondary forest region includes varietiesof oaks, elm, pecan, hickory, mesquite, and yaupon. Wildlife species include deer, squirrel, rodents, rabbits, coyotes, wolves, and game bird species such as dove and quail. Water resources include both underground and surface water supplies. The Brazos and Navasota Rivers form the west and east boundaries of the county respectively. A reservoir is now under construction on the Navasota River and will be used as a cooling lake for an electrical generating plant to be located in northeast Robert- son County. Large quantities of underground water are available from three prin- cipal aquifers in the county; the Carrizo - Wilcox, the most prolific of the three, and the Queen City and Sparta aquifers. Recharge to these aquifers is principally derived from precipitation on their outcrops. Each of the formations outcrops in the county. Natural resources in Robertson County include natural gas, stone, gravel, oil and lignite coal. Land Use Agriculture is the dominant land use in the county and accounts for over 7070 of the total land area. The major trend in agricultural usage is from cropland to improved pasture and grassland, and this trend is expected to continue. A tabu- lation of acreage by land use category was developedin 1973 by consultant for the Brazos Valley Development Council's planning region and is shown below: Urban or Rural Settlements Industrial 10,350 239 Road System The map on the reverse of this Plan shows the highway system for Robertson County by functional classification. Federal standards have been established outlining the recommended percentages of roads for each functional category. The highway system in Robertson County appears to be fairly well balanced within the func- tional categories; although the collector system exceeds the recommended limits by two percent. Robertson County's highway network includes 934 miles of roadway serving a population of 15,000 and a land area of 877 square miles. This ratio provides 329 feet of roadway per capita and an average of 1.07 miles of road for each square mile of land area. Average daily traffic volumes range from 2,495 vehicles on the arterial system to 32 vehicles on the rural local road system. The categories of classification and the mileage in each category in Robertson County are shown in the chart below: Classification Miles Arterial Collector Local. Rural Roads Local City Streets LOCAL ROADS BY PRECINCT Precinct 2 3 81.0 257.1* 501.3 95.0 County Road Mileage 69 107 192 179 Average Daily Vehicle Miles 202,116 62,752 15,891 2.4,782 Total System 934.4 305,541 327 *Includes 43.4 miles of unpaved county road Woodland Agricultural Total 154,203 396,360 561,152 Average Daily Vol wue In Robertson County, as in most rural Texas counties, the responsibility for main- tenance of the local road system is vested in the county, under supervision of a County Commissioners Court. A total of the rural local road mileage by precinct is shown in the chart below. Local road condition by type of surface treatment is also shown in a chart below. Surface Tyne 2,495 244 32 261 LOCAL ROAD CONDITION Primitive or Unimproved Graded & Drained Gravel or Stone Surface Paved Federal 7 lu..co uncndcd System 7. System 97, 6 - 121 27'7. 20 - 25 6470 65 - 757, 7, Rural Local Roads 177. 437. 397, 17, Since State and Federal funding is limited at the present time, all construction dollars will be expended primarily to upgrade and improve the existing highways. Little new construction is envisioned at the present time. Recognizing this limi- tation in funding, the County has established the following list of priorities. County roads which were selected for improvement are important collector routes in their precincts and the county. The priorities have been listed randomly, and without order of preference. The priorities are shown in red on the map at right. Preparation of this Robertson County Transportation Plan was authorized by State Commission Minute Number 65741, dated January 31, 1972. The Plan was developed by the State Department of Highways and Public Transportation, cooperating with the local governmental agencies and the regional planning council, Brazos Valley Development Council. This County Plan is based on limited population, economic, and transportation studies. Effects of the proposed transportation plan on the social, economic, and environmental characteristics of Robertson County have been considered. This multi -modal transportation plan is intended to be a base document for organ- ized and methodic improvements to the existing highway network. The purpose of this document is to make available to all planning agencies an inventory of all existing transportation facilities and to set forth a basic plan for priority im- provements. It is recommended that all agencies involved utilize this Plan as a guide for future development of the transportation system in Robertson County. Robertson County has numerous historical markers designating sites of historic in- terest. Some of the more important of these sites are described briefly in the following chart and their locations are noted in green on the map below. County Road No. 112 265 201 -203 229 -329 Environmental & Cultural Resources Hammond House 2 Wheelock Bremond 4 Wooten Wells 5 Franklin 6 El Camino Real ALR QUALITY OLIVER BURNS Precinct 1 ALVIS BISHOP Precinct 2 Robertson County is located in Air Quality Con- trol Region 3. Air quality is good and should not decrease as long as regulations are enforced. Major industries are widely dispersed, and prob- lems arising from industrial concentrations are few. Vehicular Emissions should decline as the pollution control devices become prevelant. The county has no history of air stagnation advisor- ies. Robertson County is not now and is not ex- pected to be designated as an air quality main- tenance area. All highway projects now under construction are consistent with the State Imple- mentation Plan. All future projects should be evaluated to determine impact of construction on air quality, in accordance with current guide- lines, regulations, and directives. The Plan does not constitute an offi- cial endorsement of any route, nor does it commit the State Department of Highways and Public Transportation nor the cities and counties to the development of any particular project. Local officials, together with the State Department of Highways and Pub- lic Transportation, will coordinate their efforts toward the proposed proj- ects as the traffic volumes warrant and as funds become available. COUNTY ROAD PRIORITIES From FM 2549 to US 79 9.8 near Franklin 377 From FM 979 to Proposed Generating Plant 444 -455 From FM 2954 to SH 7 12.5 and 477 477 -480 From SH 7 to Proposed 7.7 Lake Introduction FOR INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS TRANSPORTATION PLAN CONTACT JOE G. HANOVER DISTRICT ENGINEER STATE DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAYS AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION P. 0. BOX 3249 BRYAN, TEXAS 77801 713 -82.2 - 0 1 5 1 WESLEY k . PEYTON County Judge Commi3sioners Limits Mileage From FM 1644 to CR 109 3.6 From US 190 into Hearne 1.6 From Benchley to Mumford 7. 1.1 D. 0. CALDWELL Precinct 3 BENNETT HEARNE Precinct 4 In Calvert, this unusual gothic revival structure was originally built as the County Courthouse. When the county seat was moved, the building was converted to a private residence. It now houses the Robertson County Museum. It is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Calvert has many other historical build- ings in its central business district in- cluding Cobb's Market. Small farming community established in the early 1830's. Old Cavitt Log Cabin is on north side of FM 391. Headquarters for extensive Polish immi- gration in the 1870's. St. Mary's Church is listed in "Cultural Sites Inventory, Historic Preservation in Texas." Old health resort opened in 1883 around a mineral well. Included three hotels, bathhouses, cottages and stores. Closed in the 1890's after several fires. Fort Welch, scene of a Comanche massacre, is nearby. Robertson County Courthouse located here was built in 1883. Many historical sites are located in the area. The Old San Antonio Road, also known as the King's Highway, linked Mexico with missions of East Texas. Parts of route follow the 1691 'Trail of the Padres ", a great thoroughfare of early Texas. 7 State Champion Tree Slippery Elm located north of US 79 near Easterly. (Private) The effects of the transportation network on the environment of the area must be carefully studied, so that any potential adverse impacts can be eliminated or, at least, minimized. Two areas which are especially affected by transportation cor- ridors are the noise environment and air quality. In Robertson County, prelimi- nary studies indicate that no adverse impact can be expected to occur as a result of improvements to the highway system. A brief summary of noise conditions and air quality in Robertson County is included below: NOISE LEVELS As in most areas, parts of Robertson County ex- perience intermittent noise levels in excess of National standards. Construction, manufacturing and industrial sites, urban areas, and transpor- tation corridors are examples of noise generators. Traffic- generated noise levels within transporta- tion corridors often exceed recommended standards at the right of way line bwcause of high traffic volumes and/or heavy duty vehicles. For most existing situations, sound attenuation measures such as barrier walls and open space are not fea- sible because of space limitations, cost, and the necessity for access. However, for future devel- opment, attention should be directed to locating sensitive receptors far enough from the highway facility to avoid severe noise impacts. Based on average traffic projections, it is recommended that all sensitive receptors be located a minimum of 50 feet from right of way of collector roads and 150 feet from right of way of arterials. County Priorities 6 Environmentally Sensitive Areas As in most rural Texas counties, Robertson County's population has shown a down- trend in recent years. The county's population peaked at over 31,000 in 1900 and has been declining steadily since that time. Census data indicates a decline of 117 during the 1960 -70 decade. A provisional estimate for July 1, 1974, by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Census, indicates a population of 14,300 for Robertson County, representing a steadying of the population since 1970. Population projections for the study period continue to indicate a downtrend; how- ever the rate of decrease is anticipated to be less than that experienced in pre- vious years. Population figures, historical and projected, are shown on the graph and in the chart below. 3Q001 20,000 10,000 1930 POPULATION GRAPH DATA SOURCE: 1 -- University of Texas, Population Research Center 2 -- Hearne Comprehensive Plan 1990 1970 Based on the 1970 Census, the socio- economic characteristics shown in the following chart existed in Robertson County. 1970 CENSUS FACTS - ROBERTSON COUNTY 1950 1960 1970 Population 19,908 16,157 14,389 1990 Population aged 65+ Approx. 18.4% Median Age 35.8 Years Total Number Families 3,668 Median Family Income $ 4,562 % Families Below Poverty Level 36.1% Total Housing Units 5,665 Units without plumbing 1,552 Median Value Owner- Occupied Units $ 6,100 Median Monthly Rent $ 32 Owner- Occupied Units 60.07. In charts below, current populations and economic indicators are listed: PUBLIC SCHOOL ATTENDANCE (1975 -76 TERM) Hearne ISD Franklin ISD Calvert ISD Bremond ISD Mumford ISD PROVISIONAL ESTLMATES OF POPULATION July 1, 1973 ROBERTSON COUNTY 15,000 Hearne 5,500 Calvert 2,100 Bremond 1,150 Franklin 1,080 ROBERTSON COUNTY VEHICLE REGISTRATION Total Licensed Motor Vehicles 9,489 10,297 9,084 9,640 Economic Potential The development of Robertson County has been closely linked with agriculture. The Brazos River and land along its banks have, to a large extent, shaped the history of the county. These agriculturally rich lands which first attracted Indians and later American pioneers and developers are still important to the county. More than $15 million yearly income is derived from agriculture in Robertson County, with the largest percentage from livestock production. Principal crops include cotton, sorghums, small grains, watermelons, and tomatoes. Over 16,000 acres of the rich Brazos bottomlands are in cotton production at the present time. Hearne, the largest city in the county, has several small industries including an aluminum door company, a sheet metal industry, the headquarters of General Ameri- can Transportation Corporation, and a bituminous aggregate plant. Hearne is also a railroad center. Other industries within the county include a brick manufac- turing plant at Bremond and several agribusinesses in Franklin. Texas Power and Light Company and the Aluminum Company of America have plans to construct and own jointly a lignite -fired electric generating station about 10 miles north of Franklin on Duck Creek. Two 750,000 - kilowatt generating units will be constructed and placed in service in 1981 and 1982. The plant will be called the Twin Oak Steam Electric Station and built in the vicinity of lignite deposits in the area. The generating plant site will encompass about 6,000 acres of land and a large reservoir to hold cooling water will be constructed adjacent to the plant. During the plant's construction period, an average of 550 workers will be needed. In peak construction periods, about 1,000 workers will be required. Robertson County had a labor force of 6,015 in 1974. Future industrial devel- opment in connection with the power plant and energy resources could result in an influx of employees either commuting from the neighboring labor supply market or moving into the area, if adequate housing and basic support facilities such as shopping and medical centers can be provided. Public Transportation Despite being a railroad center, Robertson County depends almost exclusively on its excellent highway network for transportation of goods and people. The county has several principal arterial routes including US 79 and SH 6. SH 7 and SH 14 are also arterial highways. The Missouri Pacific and Southern Pacific Railroad Companies provide freight ser- vice to Robertson County. Both companies provide local switching and yard crews, and local agents in Hearne. Seven -day per week and 24 -hour per day switching service is provided to local manufacturers within the yard limits. Local ware- housing and a piggy -back loading ramp are also part of the Hearne facility. No ray -1 passenger service is available at the present time. The City of Hearne acquired an airport from the General Services Administration in 1960. The airport hasa 7,500 foot asphalt- surfaced runway with 4,000 feet lighted by a beacon, taxiing runways, and parking areas. Commercial air service is not available at the airport at the present time. Other county airports include the Bremond Airport and several private fields. Motor freight service is available along the major highways in Robertson County. North -south commercial bus service is available along SH 6 and a line extends west- ward from Hearne along US 79. The county would be benefited by an extension of the US 79 routing to the east to serve development which will probably occur near the proposed power plant north of Franklin. There is no true public transportation service available to the general public in Robertson County. Taxi service is available in the city of Hearne. Emergency medical transportation including ambulance service and the MAST Plan of Operation (Military Assistance to Safety and Traffic) is available, and the Brazos Valley Community Action Agency has initiated "Project Independence ", providing limited transportation for the elderly and handicapped. Two 12- passenger vans operate from Hearne and Calvert, serving approximately 1,645 individuals per month. A "Years for Profit" program provides meals five days per week at Hearne and four days per week at Calvert. The vans carry approximately 850 passenger trips per month in connection with this program alone. In addition, they pick up passengers in the rural areas of the county and transport them to nearby towns to shopping centers, medical facilities, recreational centers, and government offices. The vans also transport riders into the Bryan - College Station area. The program operates through funding grants provided under Title III, Older Americans Act, and the Department of Public Welfare's Non - Emergency Medical Transportation Program for Title XIX recipients. Indications are that additional public transportation for the general public is needed in Robertson County. C O U N T Y I i ME S T 0 N E 0 AREAS LEGEND COUNTY ROAD PRIORITIES ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE Population ETHNIC GROUPS Negro 35% Anglo 56 Year Ending Aug. 31, 1970 Aug. 31, 1972 June, 1975 June, 1976 SCA 1,582 563 508 353 93 , s " '`" ROBERTSON COUNTY TEXAS