Dallas-Fort Worth freeways among ‘major projects’ in Texas’ $100 billion transportation plan
.jpg "Texas plans to spend $100 billion on road projects over the next 10 years.")
Texas plans to have $100.6 billion available for road projects over the next 10 years.
The Texas Transportation Commission received an update Thursday to the state’s Unified Transportation Program, a plan that results in a list of projects the Texas Department of Transportation plans to develop or begin construction on over the next 10 years. TxDOT said the money would help to improve congestion, maintain roadways and increase safety.
The Unified Transportation Program is updated annually. Last year’s forecast was $85.1 billion. Abbott has teased the increase in recent speeches, including Wednesday in Arlington when he was joined by area officials and business leaders.
Abbott’s office sent a news release Thursday announcing the “record $100 billion plan to strengthen and improve our transportation infrastructure.”
“Under TxDOT’s 2024 Unified Transportation Program, we will dedicate critical funds to bolster our major roadway infrastructure to address the unique needs of Texans in rural, urban, and metropolitan communities,” Abbott said in a statement. “This 10-year plan will further boost our economy and keep Texas the economic juggernaut of the nation. Together, we are working to ensure that Texas remains the premier destination for people and businesses.”
The plan includes “major projects” on Interstates 30, 35, 20, 820 and 635, Abbott said. Projects on the highways in Dallas-Fort Worth, the fastest growing metro in the country, have been funded under the 2023 version of the plan.
“We know your needs, and we will address your needs in this region for transportation infrastructure,” the governor said Wednesday.
In addition to plans for Texas roads, the program identifies public transportation, maritime, aviation and rail investments.
The program is “neither a budget nor a guarantee that projects will or can be built,” TxDOT says on its website. Abbott’s office said projects are picked by TxDOT and local transportation leaders “based on effectiveness in addressing criteria such as safety, pavement condition, capacity, and rural connectivity.”
Next steps include updates on project selection between March and May, a June presentation of the draft 2024 Unified Transportation Program and asking the commission to adopt the plan in August, according to Thursday’s presentation. Members of the public will also have an opportunity to weigh in on the plan.
“We are just at the beginning of the UTP process and our portfolio of projects includes both existing and new projects,” TxDOT said in an emailed statement. “Those will be going through an analysis at a statewide level, and we’ll be able to provide a better list after this initial review. We expect to be able to provide a more reliable list of draft projects in a couple of months.”
Among changes between the proposed 2024 funding and the 2023 funding is an additional $3.1 billion for rural areas and $2.4 billion urban areas. It also includes a more than $2 billion increase for preventive maintenance and rehabilitation.
During the public comment during Wednesday’s commission meeting, Jay Blazek Crossley, executive director of the nonprofit Farm&City, suggested more money be included for safety initiatives. The proposed plan has $3.7 billion for such projects, about $7.5 million more than the 2023 version.
This story was originally published February 23, 2023 at 3:47 PM.
