Texas View history

Information related to using Waze in the State of Texas. All editors in the state are required to have a non usa_username, have their private messaging turned on, and turn live users on in the layers tool. Please pay attention to the chat window in the lower right hand part of the screen. You can find useful info there and ask questions.

Cities and towns

There are 6386 Cities and Towns spread across 254 counties in the state. See Cities in Texas for proper naming information.


Roads in Texas

Road naming

Interstates = I-XX
US Highway = US-XX
State Highway = SH-XX
Farm/Ranch to Market = FM XX
County Road = CR-XX

Interstates throughout the state

  • I-2 Rio Grande Valley
  • I-10 New Mexico to Louisiana
  • I-20 Midland/Odessa to Louisiana
  • I-27 Lubbock to Amarillo
  • I-30 Fort Worth to Arkansas
  • I-35 Mexico to Oklahoma
  • I-35E Hillsboro to Denton through Dallas
  • I-35W Hillsboro to Denton through Fort Worth
  • I-37 Corpus Christi to San Antonio
  • I-40 New Mexico to Oklahoma
  • I-45 Galveston to Dallas
  • I-69 Brownsville/Edinburg/Laredo to Texarkana (will follow US-59)
  • I-369 Spur to west side of Texarkana
  • I-410 Loop around San Antonio
  • I-610 Loop around Houston
  • I-635 Spur through DFW Metroplex
  • I-820 Loop around Fort Worth 

Special roads

Non-drivable roads

Generally, if a road can't be driven on (e.g. Walking Trail, Pedestrian Boardwalk, Stairway, Ranch road in the middle of nowhere) then it should not be mapped in Waze. This is due to the way the routing engine works, as Waze WILL route users to drive on these "Non-Drivable" road types. Please note there are several Railroads mapped in Texas, these railroads are mapped in a VERY particular manner by Senior Area Managers and Country Managers to prevent Waze from routing on them.

Miscellaneous

All freeways are set to ground level. If two freeways cross each other, look at the actual intersection to discover the layers of the intersection.

U-turns are labeled as "turnaround."

Functional Classification of Roads

See Road names/USA and Road types/USA.

Texas is participating in the new Functional Classification in a limited capacity. Cities/areas with a population greater than 250,000 will be turned over to functional class. At this time, rural towns and rural Texas are to be left alone. The counties listed below are approved for FC change over:

  • Bexar
  • Brazoria
  • Cameron/Hidalgo
  • Collin south of US-380
  • Dallas
  • Denton
  • Ector/Midland
  • El Paso
  • Ellis between I-35 and I-45 north of US-287
  • Fort Bend
  • Galveston
  • Harris
  • Lubbock
  • Montgomery
  • Potter/Randall
  • Rockwall
  • Tarrant
  • Travis
  • Webb
  • Williamson south of the northern city limits of Georgetown

FC cross reference


  • An Urban Interstate, Urban Principal Arterial Freeway & Expressway is a  Freeway 
  • Any road that acts, looks, & feels like a freeway should be set to  Freeway  road type.
  • An Urban Principal-Other is a  Major Highway 
  • An Urban Minor Arterial is a  Minor Highway 
  • An Urban Collector is a  Primary Street 
  • All other roads are to be classified as  Street 


 Fw   Freeway 
 Major   Major Highway 
 Minor   Minor Highway 
 PS   Primary Street 
 Street   Street 

Refer to this chart to determine the road type of a given road based on the functional class. (TXDOT map is here - click on Functional Class on the left).

To use this chart, first determine the functional class of a road, and whether it is a signed, numbered highway in a particular highway system.

Where the column for the road's highway system and the row for the road's functional class meet, you will find the proper road type for that particular road.

A number of examples are given below the chart.


Highway Systems
Interstate Interstate Business Loop/Spur US Hwy (incl. some special routes) US Hwy BUS, SPUR, LOOP State Hwy (incl. some special routes) Farm/Ranch to Market State Hwy BUS, SPUR[a], LOOP County Road
example I-10 E I-10 BUS US-83 US-83 BUS SH-23 FM 1560 SH-400 Loop CR-15
F
u
n
c
t
i
o
n
a
l

C
l
a
s
s
Interstate  Fw  n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Other Freeway n/a  Fw   Fw   Fw   Fw   Fw   Fw   Fw 
Other Expressway n/a  Major   Major   Major   Major   Major   Major   Major 
(Other) Principal Arterial n/a  Major   Major   Major   Major   Major   Major   Major 
Other/Minor Arterial n/a  Major   Major   Minor   Minor   Minor   Minor   Minor 
Major Collector n/a  Major   Major   Minor   Minor   PS   PS   PS 
Minor Collector n/a  Major   Major   Minor   Minor   PS   PS   PS 

^a When a state highway "SPUR" route is used to connect a state highway with another state highway, a US highway, or an Interstate (i.e., when it is used as a connector/CONN route), use the first state highway column.

Areas (formerly known as landmarks)

In late 2012 a discussion was started in the Connecticut Section of the Waze Forum that determined the existing worldwide guideline of "don't map individual businesses" wasn't enough and we needed a more complete set of guidelines for landmarks in worldwide. As a result of that discussion a set of guidelines was created. If you wish to propose changes to these guidelines, please do so in the forum. As always, the worldwide rule of "don't map individual businesses" still applies.

Please do not forget that a recent update to WME has enabled the Address properties for Landmarks (House number, street name, city, state & country) and ensure this information is filled out & correct.

When to use Area or Point in Texas

Here is the Texas guidance on selecting Area or Point for Places in the Waze Map Editor. All areas are to be landmarked from fence line to fence line to include all parking lots, roads, and anything associated with the property. Parking lot roads (PLRs), parking lots, and gas stations all serve the same purpose. There is no need to mark a PLR through a gas station or a parking lot.

The Primary Category for a Place is used to determine whether to use a Point or Area.

Parent Category Type Comments
Car Services Car Wash Point
Car Services Charging Station Point
Car Services Garage / Automotive Shop Point
Car Services Gas Station Area Many gas stations also have convenience stores and ATMs. Remember to use "Gas Station" as the primary category and the add any others which are relevant.
Car Services Parking Lot Both There are very few parking lots which should be mapped at all. Please see the Places/Parking lot article. Parking lots on universities are authorized.
Transportation Airport Area Special-handling
Transportation Bridge NONE
Transportation Bus Station Both Greyhound stations are area, city bus stops, point
Transportation Ferry Pier Point
Transportation Junction / Interchange NONE
Transportation Seaport / Marina / Harbor Area Size-dependent.
Transportation Subway Station NONE
Transportation Taxi Station Point
Transportation Train Station Point
Transportation Tunnel NONE
Professional and public Cemetery NONE
Professional and public City Hall Area
Professional and public College / University Area
Professional and public Conventions / Event Center Area Size-dependent
Professional and public Courthouse Area
Professional and public Embassy / Consulate Area
Professional and public Factory / Industrial NONE
Professional and public Fire Department Area
Professional and public Government Area
Professional and public Hospital / Medical Care Area
Professional and public Information Point Point
Professional and public Kindergarten Point
Professional and public Library Point
Professional and public Military NONE See below
Professional and public Offices NONE
Professional and public Organization or Association Point
Professional and public Police Station Area
Professional and public Prison / Correctional Facility None Prisons are not landmarked
Professional and public Post Office Area
Professional and public Religious Center Area
Professional and public School Area
Shopping and services Arts & Crafts Point
Shopping and services ATM NONE
Shopping and services Bank / Financial Point
Shopping and services Bookstore Point
Shopping and services Car Dealership Point Size-dependent
Shopping and services Car Rental Point
Shopping and services Convenience Store Point
Shopping and services Currency Exchange Point
Shopping and services Department Store Point
Shopping and services Electronics Point
Shopping and services Fashion and Clothing Point
Shopping and services Flowers Point
Shopping and services Furniture / Home Store Point
Shopping and services Gifts Point
Shopping and services Gym / Fitness Point
Shopping and services Hardware Store Point
Shopping and services Jewelry Point
Shopping and services Laundry / Dry Cleaning Point
Shopping and services Market Point
Shopping and services Music Store Point
Shopping and services Personal Care Point
Shopping and services Pet Store / Veterinarian Point
Shopping and services Pharmacy Point
Shopping and services Photography Point
Shopping and services Shopping Center Area
Shopping and services Sporting Goods Point
Shopping and services Supermarket / Grocery Point Standalone could be an Area, but a Point if it is part of larger shopping mall/center.
Shopping and services Swimming Pool Point
Shopping and services Toy Store Point
Shopping and services Travel Agency Point
Food and drink Bakery Point
Food and drink Bar Point
Food and drink Coffee shop Point
Food and drink Dessert Point
Food and drink Fast Food Point
Food and drink Food Court Point
Food and drink Ice Cream Point
Food and drink Restaurant Point
Culture & entertainment Art Gallery Point
Culture & entertainment Casino Area There's only one casino in Texas
Culture & entertainment Club Point
Culture & entertainment Game Club Point
Culture & entertainment Movie Theater Point
Culture & entertainment Museum Point
Culture & entertainment Music Venue Point
Culture & entertainment Performing Arts Venue Point
Culture & entertainment Racing Track Area
Culture & entertainment Stadium / Arena Area
Culture & entertainment Theme Park Area
Culture & entertainment Theater Point
Culture & entertainment Tourist Attraction / Historic Site Both Size-dependent. If not sure, ask
Culture & entertainment Zoo / Aquarium Area Size-dependent
Other Construction Site NONE
Other Residence / Home NONE
Lodging Bed & Breakfast Point
Lodging Camping / Trailer Park Point
Lodging Cottage / Cabin Point
Lodging Hostel Point
Lodging Hotel Point
Outdoors Beach NONE
Outdoors Golf Course Area
Outdoors Park Area
Outdoors Playground Point
Outdoors Plaza Point
Outdoors Promenade Point Unsure about mapping these at all
Outdoors Scenic Lookout / Viewpoint Point
Outdoors Ski Area NONE Not in Texas
Outdoors Sports Court Point
Natural features Farm NONE
Natural features Forest / Grove Area Only map official state/national forests, not every stand of trees.
Natural features Island NONE
Natural features River / Stream NONE
Natural features Sea / Lake / Pond NONE

Major construction projects

See TxDot for a list of LONG TERM road closures & changes to traffic flow that impact the Waze map.

Cameras

Currently, the only way to add cameras to the editor are from the app. When placing a camera in the app, drop a general error with "RLC W" where W = the direction the camera is facing. This will allow other editors to know which way the camera is facing when they go to approve it in the editor.

Red light cameras

Red Light Cameras are LEGAL in the State of Texas.

Contrary to popular belief, these cameras do not sit on the top of lights at an intersection. If you've gotten to an intersection, you've already passed the red light camera.These cameras mounted on traffic signals are used as part of the signal control. These compare sequential images of the intersection approach to determine if there is a vehicle (car, truck, motorcycle, bicycle, etc) waiting and will trigger the sequence. These devices CANNOT issue tickets.

There are traditional traffic monitoring cameras covering most of the major highways in the state. These send live feeds to the various traffic agencies around the state and are for monitoring traffic only.

Speed Cameras

Speed cameras are currently ILLEGAL in the State of Texas. Any request for a speed camera, or any approved speed cameras need to be removed from the map.

Military Bases

Texas has a long standing tradition for support the US military. If you have questions concerning any military base in the state, please do not hesitate to ask. All military bases in the state are set to the current installation standard.

  • All gates at the military bases are set to private road in/street out with some gates having restrictions on them for the various gate closures.
  • If you know of any changes in the hours of a gate, please let a US Champ know and they will adjust it accordingly.
  • All gates are locked at a level 5 or 6.

Landmarks approved for military bases are:

  • Commissary
  • PX/BX
  • Gas stations
  • Parks
  • Museums

To do list

Want to help out with the map in Texas? Stop adding parking lot roads everywhere, solve URs, ask questions to anyone listed below, and seek out advice when/where needed. Please adhere to the rules for editing. Parking lot roads do not need to go through gas stations. The gas station area suppresses traffic so map problems (MP) do not show up in the editor.

Mapping utilities

Editors in the State

Username Area Managed Comments Forum PM
Rank 6 Regional Coordinators
txemt
US South Central & US Territories Regional Coordinator Based out of Miami, FL born/lived/travelled through most of Texas

PM

jasonh300 US South Central Regional Coordinator Based out of New Orleans, LA

PM

Rank 5 Country Managers (Texas Based)
LittlestLou DFW Metroplex Based in the DFW Metroplex PM
pjlasl North Texas Based out of Weatherford PM
Rank 4 Editors
jstrangfeld DFW Metroplex PM
ctpoole Austin From New Orleans, Lived in Austin 25+ years PM
karlcr9911 Tyler
PM
Rank 3 Editors
jeigh17 El Paso PM
shadoh DFW Metroplex El Paso native (25+ years) - live in DFW Metroplex (15+ years). PM
MisterTodd East DFW Metroplex PM
tcalvert317 San Antonio PM
danofsatx San Antonio PM
PvilleT Austin Based of out Pflugerville, born in Corpus Christi
PM
randcon Houston PM

If you are an editor in Texas, or a USA Country Manager that does a lot of work in Texas, please add yourself to this list or ask to be added.

Discipline

Waze has been designed to be an open community with various levels of editors. Rank 5 and 6 editors are senior editors. They are here to help you and are to be respected at all times. Instructions from senior editors are to be followed, unless it conflicts with this page. If you have any questions or issues, please feel free to PM one of the rank 6s or 5s in the list (if you're having a problem with one, please PM the regional coordinators). We will try to handle the issue as quickly and peacefully as possible.

It is not possible to list every occurrence of problems which can occur in the editor, but the following are some examples of what has happened in the past:

  • Deleting and redrawing roads
  • Creating mass amounts of parking lot roads
  • Creating roads on top of already existing roads
  • Disrespect to higher ranking editors
  • Not cleaning up your own mess
  • Not responding to private messages
  • Willful damage to the map

Everyone is allowed one free pass, but disciplinary actions after the first occurrence for the above may include:

  • Formal mentoring
  • Temporary suspension of editing rights
  • Permanent suspension of editing rights