Farm to Market Road 3078
Encyclopedia
Farm to Market Road 3078, Farm Road 3078, or FM 3078 is a 14.7 miles (23.7 km) road maintained by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)
that connects Interstate 10
to State Highway 17 in Toyahvale
. The route is in Jeff Davis County
and Reeves County
and connects Toyahvale to points farther west along I-10 including Kent
and Van Horn
. FM 3078 is part of the state's Farm and Ranch to Market Road System.
Between 1966 and 1983 the numerical designation was assigned to a road in Maverick
and Zavala
counties. The current road was previously assigned as SH 27 and then U.S. Route 290
before the completion of I-10 locally.
The road was formerly part of a major route connecting El Paso
to central and southern Texas and was accordingly constructed better than its current designation would suggest. The road is entirely rural in nature with no major intersections between its termini.
since 1971. In 1978, RM 3078 was extended an additional 4 miles (6.4 km) and was re-designated as a farm to market road. In 1980, the route was extended an additional 17.7 miles (28.5 km) through Zavala County to FM 481 at the county line between Zavala and Uvalde
counties. In 1983, the route was designated as an extension of FM 481.
The present route was originally part of SH 27. That highway had been proposed as early as 1919 and, after TxDOT's predecessor, the Texas Highway Department, gained authority to maintain state highways in 1924, SH 17 had become part of the state highway system by 1933 and concurrent
with US 290. By 1939, the SH 27 designation along the present day FM 3078 had been cancelled.
In the early 1980s, the I-10 bypass around Balmorhea
and Toyahvale had been completed. With the completion of the Interstate, US 290 through much of West Texas
became largely concurrent with the Interstate separating only to serve as a sort of business route
into towns bypassed by the Interstate. With the creation of Interstate business routes, US 290 became obsolete on the portion running along I-10 and its route designation over that portion was canceled in 1992. The entire portion of US 290 through Toyahvale and Balmorhea, part of which was concurrent with SH 17, did not become a new Interstate business route. Instead, Business Route 10-F separated from I-10 at FM 2903 to enter Balmorhea and rejoin the Interstate along SH 17. FM 3078 was designated in 1992 along the portion of US 290 between I-10 and SH 17 to allow that stretch of highway not concurrent with SH 17 to have a highway designation when the US 290 designation was canceled.
. The two-lane road has broad lanes and paved shoulders. The road has bridges over all water crossings and no sharp turns or curves allowing a 70 mile per hour speed limit. The road travels through ranch land just north of the foothills of the Davis Mountains
. There are no major intersections along the length of the road, and the road passes through no cities or towns before reaching its eastern terminus at Toyahvale. Along SH 17 about 0.33 mile (0.5310822 km) beyond the terminus at Toyahvale is a junction with Park Road 30 at Balmorhea State Park
.
The western terminus at I-10 is in Reeves County. The road enters Jeff Davis County 5 miles (8 km) eastward. The route is in Jeff Davis County for 4.7 miles (7.6 km) before returning to Reeves County for the remainder of the route.
Texas Department of Transportation
The Texas Department of Transportation is a governmental agency in the U.S. state of Texas. Its stated mission is to "work cooperatively to provide safe, effective and efficient movement of people and goods" throughout the state...
that connects Interstate 10
Interstate 10 in Texas
Interstate 10 is the major east–west Interstate Highway in the Southern United States. In the U.S. state of Texas, it runs east from El Paso, near the border with New Mexico, through San Antonio and Houston to the border with Louisiana in Orange, Texas....
to State Highway 17 in Toyahvale
Toyahvale, Texas
Toyahvale is an unincorporated community in southern Reeves County, Texas, United States. It lies along State Highway 17 and FM 3078 south of the city of Pecos, the county seat of Reeves County. Despite its similar name, Toyahvale is distinct from the town of Toyah, which lies 25 miles to...
. The route is in Jeff Davis County
Jeff Davis County, Texas
Jeff Davis County is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. It is named for Jefferson Davis, the president of the Confederate States of America. It is one of the nine counties that comprise the Trans-Pecos region of West Texas. In 2000, its population was 2,207, and 2,258 by 2009...
and Reeves County
Reeves County, Texas
Reeves County is a county located in the US state of Texas. It is one of the nine counties that comprise the Trans-Pecos region of West Texas. In 2000, its population was 13,137. Its seat is Pecos. Reeves County is named for George R. Reeves, a Texas state legislator and colonel in the...
and connects Toyahvale to points farther west along I-10 including Kent
Kent, Texas
Kent is an unincorporated village in Culberson County, in West Texas, United States. It lies just north of Interstate 10 at Exit 176, ten miles west of the beginning of Interstate 20 and four miles west of the eastern Culberson County boundary. It is sandwiched between the railroad, immediately...
and Van Horn
Van Horn, Texas
Van Horn is a town in and the county seat of Culberson County, Texas, United States. The population was 2,435 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Van Horn is located at ....
. FM 3078 is part of the state's Farm and Ranch to Market Road System.
Between 1966 and 1983 the numerical designation was assigned to a road in Maverick
Maverick County, Texas
Maverick County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, its population was 47,297. Its county seat is Eagle Pass. Maverick County is named for Samuel Maverick, cattleman and state legislator....
and Zavala
Zavala County, Texas
Zavala County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of 2000, the population was 11,600. Its county seat is Crystal City. Zavala is named for Lorenzo de Zavala, Mexican politician, signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence, and first vice president of the Republic of...
counties. The current road was previously assigned as SH 27 and then U.S. Route 290
U.S. Route 290
U.S. Highway 290 is an east–west U.S. Highway located entirely within the State of Texas. Its current western terminus is at Interstate 10 milepost 477 , southeast of Junction, and its eastern terminus is at Interstate 610 on the northwest side of Houston.-Route Description:West of Austin, U.S...
before the completion of I-10 locally.
The road was formerly part of a major route connecting El Paso
El Paso, Texas
El Paso, is a city in and the county seat of El Paso County, Texas, United States, and lies in far West Texas. In the 2010 census, the city had a population of 649,121. It is the sixth largest city in Texas and the 19th largest city in the United States...
to central and southern Texas and was accordingly constructed better than its current designation would suggest. The road is entirely rural in nature with no major intersections between its termini.
Maverick and Zavala counties
Ranch to Market Road 3078 was in 1966 originally the designation of a 7 miles (11.3 km) road in Maverick County extending northeastward from the former SH 76, a road that would become SH 57 that same year, and then US 57U.S. Route 57
U.S. Highway 57 is a north–south United States highway that follows a nearly east–west route in southwest Texas. The highway's northern terminus is about south of San Antonio, Texas, between Devine and Pearsall, at an intersection with Interstate 35...
since 1971. In 1978, RM 3078 was extended an additional 4 miles (6.4 km) and was re-designated as a farm to market road. In 1980, the route was extended an additional 17.7 miles (28.5 km) through Zavala County to FM 481 at the county line between Zavala and Uvalde
Uvalde County, Texas
Uvalde County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, its population was 25,926. Its county seat is Uvalde. The county is named for Juan de Ugalde, the Spanish governor of Coahuila. Uvalde County was founded by Reading Wood Black who also founded the city of Uvalde,...
counties. In 1983, the route was designated as an extension of FM 481.
Jeff Davis and Reeves counties
Concurrency (road)
A concurrency, overlap, or coincidence in a road network is an instance of one physical road bearing two or more different highway, motorway, or other route numbers...
with US 290. By 1939, the SH 27 designation along the present day FM 3078 had been cancelled.
In the early 1980s, the I-10 bypass around Balmorhea
Balmorhea, Texas
Balmorhea is a city in Reeves County, Texas, United States. The population was 527 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Balmorhea is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land...
and Toyahvale had been completed. With the completion of the Interstate, US 290 through much of West Texas
West Texas
West Texas is a vernacular term applied to a region in the southwestern quadrant of the United States that primarily encompasses the arid and semi-arid lands in the western portion of the state of Texas....
became largely concurrent with the Interstate separating only to serve as a sort of business route
Business route
A business route in the United States and Canada is a short special route connected to a parent numbered highway at its beginning, then routed through the central business district of a nearby city or town, and finally reconnecting with the same parent numbered highway again at its...
into towns bypassed by the Interstate. With the creation of Interstate business routes, US 290 became obsolete on the portion running along I-10 and its route designation over that portion was canceled in 1992. The entire portion of US 290 through Toyahvale and Balmorhea, part of which was concurrent with SH 17, did not become a new Interstate business route. Instead, Business Route 10-F separated from I-10 at FM 2903 to enter Balmorhea and rejoin the Interstate along SH 17. FM 3078 was designated in 1992 along the portion of US 290 between I-10 and SH 17 to allow that stretch of highway not concurrent with SH 17 to have a highway designation when the US 290 designation was canceled.
Route description
FM 3078 is unusually well built for a rural farm to market road due to its former status as a U.S. highwayUnited States Numbered Highways
The system of United States Numbered Highways is an integrated system of roads and highways in the United States numbered within a nationwide grid...
. The two-lane road has broad lanes and paved shoulders. The road has bridges over all water crossings and no sharp turns or curves allowing a 70 mile per hour speed limit. The road travels through ranch land just north of the foothills of the Davis Mountains
Davis Mountains
The Davis Mountains are a range of mountains in West Texas, located near Fort Davis, after which they are named. They are a popular site for camping and hiking and the region includes Fort Davis National Historic Site and Davis Mountains State Park...
. There are no major intersections along the length of the road, and the road passes through no cities or towns before reaching its eastern terminus at Toyahvale. Along SH 17 about 0.33 mile (0.5310822 km) beyond the terminus at Toyahvale is a junction with Park Road 30 at Balmorhea State Park
Balmorhea State Park
Balmorhea State Park is a state park located on the San Solomon Springs in Reeves County, Texas, opened in 1968. The closest major town is Balmorhea, Texas. The park is open year round.-Features:...
.
The western terminus at I-10 is in Reeves County. The road enters Jeff Davis County 5 miles (8 km) eastward. The route is in Jeff Davis County for 4.7 miles (7.6 km) before returning to Reeves County for the remainder of the route.
Major intersections
See also
- List of highways in Jeff Davis County
- List of highways in Reeves County
- List of Farm to Market Roads in Trans-Pecos Texas
- Farm to Market RoadFarm to Market RoadIn the United States, a farm-to-market road or ranch-to-market road is a state road or county road which serves to connect rural or agricultural areas to market towns...