| (a) As authorized by Transportation Code, Chapter 204,
the department will publish the Texas Official Travel Map for the
general traveling public. The map will show cities, towns, and highways,
as described in this section, the mileage between selected points,
and the locations of Texas state parks, national forests, national
parks and wildlife refuges, safety rest areas, travel information
centers, major lakes and rivers, counties, and other geographic information
selected by the department.
(b) The map may include a city or town with a population
of 50 or more that is:
(1) located on the state-maintained highway system;
or
(2) near a significant park or recreational area, or
a historical, recreational, or scenic facility that is of interest
to tourists and regularly open to the public.
(c) The map will include highways that are designated
by the commission and regularly open to public traffic including:
(1) interstate highways;
(2) United States highways;
(3) state highways;
(4) farm-to-market, ranch-to-market, or recreational
roads that connect with one or more higher-grade highways or roadways;
and
(5) farm-to-market, ranch-to-market, or recreational
roads, spurs, loops, business routes, or park roads that provide access
to widely recognized parks, lakes, tourism attractions, or recreational
areas.
(d) The map may include map insets that show a few
primary highways or through routes in selected cities or areas of
the state. The department will select a city or area for an inset
in a manner to best use the limited space available on the map and
on the basis of annual traffic volume in each of the metropolitan
areas or on the basis of the city or area being a port of entry.
(e) The map may include a chart that shows the mileage
between selected cities and towns. In selecting a city or town for
the chart, the department will consider:
(1) the significance of its location as a geographic
reference point for calculating long-distance trips within Texas,
assuring a statewide balance in the selections;
(2) the importance of its location as a gateway or
entrance point to the state or as the site of significant highway
intersections;
(3) whether it is a primary travel or tourist destination;
and
(4) its population.
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