Farm-to-market road

In the United States, a farm-to-market road or ranch-to-market road (sometimes farm road or ranch road for short) is a state road or county road that connects rural or agricultural areas to market towns. These are better quality roads, usually a highway, that farmers and ranchers use to transport products to market towns or distribution centers.

Specifically, in the state of Texas, the terms Farm to Market Road and Ranch to Market Road indicate roadways that are part of the state's system of secondary and connecting routes, built and maintained by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). Texas established this system in 1949 to improve access to rural areas. The system consists primarily of paved, two-lane roads, though some segments are freeways, including a segment of FM 1764 (the Emmett F. Lowry Expressway between Interstate 45 and Texas City, Texas).

These roads are signed with route markers that contain the words FARM ROAD or RANCH ROAD, but the formal name is Farm to Market Road and Ranch to Market Road (hence the abbreviation "FM" and "RM" on signs). The only road that explicitly uses the name Ranch Road is Ranch Road 1, which runs near the former ranch home of former President Lyndon B. Johnson.

Farm to Market Road 3005

Farm to Market Road 3005 is a farm to market road in Galveston County, Texas.

Route description

FM 3005 has a western terminus at the approach to the toll bridge over San Luis Pass; the bridge connects to the Bluewater Highway (County Road 257) on the Brazoria County side. It travels to the northeast along Termini–San Luis Pass Road, through Galveston (and briefly Jamaica Beach), crossing Galveston Island State Park and passing Scholes International Airport before entering the Galveston central business district. Beginning near Cove View Boulevard, the route is signed as Seawall Boulevard, as it runs alongside the Galveston Seawall. The FM 3005 designation ends at Spur 342 (61st Street), which provides access to Interstate 45. Seawall Boulevard continues under county maintenance to SH 87 on the eastern side of the island.

History

FM 3005 was first designated in Galveston County in 1966; its western terminus was at 13 Mile Road. The route was lengthened to the boundary of Galveston Island State Park in 1972, and through the park and to the San Luis Pass Toll Bridge in 1988. The designation was officially changed to Urban Road 3005 (UR 3005) in 1995; as is the case with other urban roads, TxDOT continues to sign the route using the "Farm Road" shield.

Farm to Market Road 2255

Farm to Market Road 2255 (FM 2255) is a farm to market road located in Lubbock, Texas. The entire highway is internally designated as Urban Road 2255 (UR 2255) by TxDOT.

Route description

FM 2255 begins at an intersection with Spur 309 in Lubbock near Reese Center. The highway runs east, meeting FM 179 (Inler Avenue) at a stop sign-controlled intersection. Between Inler Avenue and Milwaukee Avenue, FM 2255 runs in a rural area of northern Lubbock. East of Milwaukee Avenue, the highway sees much more development along its route, including commercial developments and numerous subdivisions. From Quaker Avenue to US 82 (Marsha Sharp Freeway), FM 2255 runs through the northern half of Texas Tech University and passes by University Medical Center. The highway ends at an interchange with the Marsha Sharp Freeway.

The entire highway is known locally in Lubbock as 4th Street.

Junction list

The entire route is in Lubbock, Lubbock County.

References

Farm to Market Road 1472

Farm to Market Road 1472 (FM 1472) is a farm-to-market road that connects the Laredo, Texas Industrial Area to the Colombia – Solidarity International Bridge, then running roughly parallel to the Rio Grande into rural Webb County. In the urban sections of Laredo, it is a six-lane route known locally as Mines Road.

Route description

The southern terminus of FM 1472 is in Laredo, at IH 35 Exit #4. The route travels to the north and crosses I-69W/US 59/Loop 20. It then takes more of a northwesterly direction, paralleling the Rio Grande. It has a junction with SH 255, the Camino Colombia Toll Road, near the Laredo city limits. The route continues through unincorporated Webb County before reaching the end of its designation north of Carricitos Creek. The unimproved roadway continues as Eagle Pass Road, which becomes the paved FM 1021 after crossing into Maverick County.

History

FM 1472 was originally designated in 1948 on a route from US 82 in Crosbyton to Wake School in Crosby County; this route was cancelled and combined with FM 28 in 1954. The current FM 1472 was designated in 1955, from the junction of what was then US 81 to the community of Dolores. The designation was extended four times: by approximately six miles in 1962, by four miles in 1969, by another four miles in 1971, and by another two miles in 1981 to its current length. The portion of the route between Interstate 35 and SH 255 was officially redesignated as Urban Road 1472 in 1995 due to the growth of the Laredo urban area and the construction of the Columbia-Solidarity International Bridge northwest of the city. As with other urban roads, the signage retains its Farm Road shields.