Highway designations in Texas can be confusing, with terms like FM, RM, and BS marking different types of roads across the state. The network is the largest in the country and includes a variety of unique route names.
The Farm-to-Market (FM) and Ranch-to-Market (RM) road system was established in 1937 to help farmers access markets more easily. Today, it has expanded to over 3,400 routes. Of these, most are FM roads (3,257), while 176 are RM roads. Michael Chamberlain, director of data management in TxDOT’s Transportation Planning and Programming Division, said: “RMs are predominately in the Texas Hill Country and west; typically ranches instead of farms. The roads themselves look about the same and are typically about the same size. So the only difference might just be cattle watching you on the side of the road instead of cotton.”
There is also one Ranch Road (RR), called Ranch Road One, which leads to the LBJ Ranch.
Other highway designations include Business State Highways (“BS”), Spurs, Loops—some of which are not loop-shaped—and interstate highways. For example, I-610 in Houston is known as “The Loop,” while Austin’s Loop 1 is referred to as MoPac.
Texas uses business route markers with small letters under route numbers to indicate their sequence through towns along a highway.
Travelers in Texas often use one of its 25 interstate highways; Texas has more interstate miles than any other state.
To check real-time traffic updates or see all official highway designations in Texas, drivers can use Drive Texas.
Recently at a national level, new guidance and $7.3 billion in formula funding was announced by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration to help states prepare for extreme weather events such as wildfires and flooding as part of President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (link). This federal initiative aims to support communities’ resilience against climate-related challenges affecting transportation infrastructure.
Additionally, $19.6 million was awarded through grants by the Maritime Administration for small shipyards across 19 states to modernize operations and increase employment opportunities.
In another effort supporting accessibility in transportation systems nationwide, the Department of Transportation recognized winners from its Inclusive Design Challenge aimed at improving mobility options for people with disabilities by encouraging innovations that provide equal access to automated vehicles.
Furthermore, Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced an expansion of FLOW—the Freight Logistics Optimization Works initiative—to improve supply chain efficiency by increasing data sharing among partners (link).
