Highway designations in Texas can be complex, with various types of roads such as Farm-to-Market (FM), Ranch-to-Market (RM), and even Business State Highways (BS). Texas has the largest highway system in the United States, which includes a wide range of road types from State Highways and Spurs to Loops.
The FM and RM roads have been part of Texas since 1937. They were created to help farmers move goods more easily. There are now over 3,400 such routes: most are labeled FM, while a smaller number are RM. 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 a unique Ranch Road One that leads to the LBJ Ranch, highlighting how diverse Texas highways can be.
Texans often use terms like "Loop" for major highways regardless of their shape. For example, I-610 in Houston is called “The Loop,” while I-410 in San Antonio is known as “Loop 410.” Some official State Highway Loops may not even form a loop at all; Austin’s Loop 1 (MoPac) goes through the city rather than around it.
Business routes in Texas have their own naming system. A small letter under the route number shows which town's business route it is along a highway.
Texas has more interstate miles than any other state, with 25 interstate highways crossing its territory.
Travelers can check all highway designations or get real-time traffic updates using Drive Texas.
In related developments across U.S. transportation:
- The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration recently awarded $19.6 million in grants to 24 small shipyards across 19 states to help modernize facilities and expand local employment opportunities through its Small Shipyard Grant Program (https://www.maritime.dot.gov/newsroom/maritime-administration-awards-nearly-20-million-funding-strengthen-us-shipyard-economic).
- In recognition of the Americans with Disabilities Act’s anniversary, USDOT announced winners for its first Inclusive Design Challenge—a competition aimed at improving mobility for people with disabilities—awarding $1 million to Purdue University among other prizes (https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/anniversary-ada-usdot-announces-winners-its-first-ever-inclusive-design-challenge).
- New federal guidance and $7.3 billion in formula funding was released by USDOT’s Federal Highway Administration to help states prepare for extreme weather events as part of President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/biden-administration-announces-new-protect-formula-program-73-billion-bipartisan).
- Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Port Envoy Gen. Stephen Lyons hosted a meeting for FLOW partners—an initiative designed to improve supply chain efficiency—where participants discussed new data sharing practices intended to address ongoing logistics challenges (https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/dot-supply-chain-companies-collaborate-speed-movement-goods-cut-costs-consumers).
