At this time of year, most people add 15 to 30 minutes to their daily commute – school is back in session, which means more traffic. But it’s road construction throughout San Antonio that turns many of our major highways into parking lots, and tacks on time to our travel.
Brian Purcell, local area network manager in educational media resources, became interested in the traffic system at a very young age. So, as both a hobby and a method of keeping San Antonians up to date, after putting in a days work at the Health Science Center, Purcell will work on his exclusive Web site:
www.TexHwyMan.com.
The Web site features all major highways in the San Antonio Metropolitan area, as well as general facts about Texas highways. He gathers information from valuable sources, such as the Department of Transportation (TXDOT), which commends his work. In fact, Purcell has been deemed the “Texas Highwayman.”
“TXDOT gives me statistics for my Web site so that I can provide San Antonians with information they want to know,” Purcell said. Purcell can answer any question about the San Antonio highway system from “why is the construction taking so long?” to “what new projects are under consideration?”
Each major highway in San Antonio has its own page on the Web site. Some pages include information about population growth in particular San Antonio regions. Other sections include the following:
• Texas Highway Primer
• Texas Traffic Laws
• Traffic Signal Cameras
Purcell initiated the Web site in 1998. The site, which has grown significantly since then, also includes information about the highway system in Germany.
“When I visited Germany a few years ago, I couldn’t find much information about traveling in Germany. So I put together my own information about the country’s traveling system,” Purcell said. “It may be of use to others, as well.”
Purcell plans to continue his long-time hobby of studying the highway systems. His expertise has gained him recognition, including a recent interview with local news station WOAI-TV.
To ask the Texas Highwayman questions about the San Antonio Metropolitan area, send an e-mail to
Purcell@uthscsa.edu. To view the Web site, visit
www.TexHwyMan.com.
