Relating to the designation of a portion of U.S. Highway 180 in Gaines County as the Bob Ford Memorial Highway.
The bill would amend the Transportation Code by adding Section 225.152, thereby officially designating the highway section as a memorial highway. This change in the law mandates the Texas Department of Transportation to design and construct markers that will indicate the new designation, ensuring that the memory of Bob Ford is preserved not only locally but also in a manner visible to all who travel that roadway.
Senate Bill 877 proposes the designation of a specified portion of U.S. Highway 180 in Gaines County as the Bob Ford Memorial Highway. This legislation aims to honor the memory of Bob Ford by explicitly naming a segment of a public highway after him, suggesting a community acknowledgment of his contributions or significance. The designated stretch of highway will run between its intersection with Farm-to-Market Road 1757 and the eastern municipal boundary of Seminole.
While the bill serves a commemorative purpose, discussions surrounding the need for such designations may arise. Some legislators and community members might question the allocation of state resources for signage and maintenance of memorials when there are pressing infrastructure needs within the transportation system. However, the bill's straightforward nature, focusing on memory rather than contentious policies, is likely to garner broad support in the legislature.