Joe Raposo's great song and lyrics came to mind upon reading that the Texas Department of Transportation (TDOT) has removed the first three miles of 10 miles of median greenery along the Dallas Central Expressway and replacing it with rocks. TDOT says it is too expensive and the weather too difficult to maintain the landscaping. Officials say the median is especially hard to water and has suffered from drought and heat in recent years. Essentially, the city did not grasp the long-term maintenance requirements for the medians.

The expressway's green program began in 1995 and has cost $12.3 million??"$4.3 million for installation; $1.2 million to install a concrete-encased irrigation system; $5.6 million for past maintenance; and $1.2 million for the current two-year maintenance contract (including roughly $100,000 to remove the first three miles of median landscaping).

Landscaping between the main lanes and the frontage roads, and trees and plants on bridges and in "window boxes" along the expressway walls will stay??"for now.